The first World Cup qualifier in the CONMEBOL side of things takes place for Uruguay and Chile this weekend.
Uruguay were in attendance at the 2022 World Cup, but after 18 games in the World Cup qualifiers throughout 2020-2022, Chile finished nine places below Uruguay in third and ended up with just 19 points in total.
✖️𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨 𝐞𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐧̃𝐚𝐧𝐚#ElEquipoQueNosUne pic.twitter.com/vQmQnm8EhC— Selección Uruguaya (@Uruguay) September 8, 2023
✖️𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨 𝐞𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐧̃𝐚𝐧𝐚#ElEquipoQueNosUne pic.twitter.com/vQmQnm8EhC
This saw the nation secure only five wins and nine losses too, while also drawing four times. They also scored just 19 goals and would go on to let in 26 too.
After also missing out on the action in 2018 over in Russia too, the Chileans will be desperate to see something in this set of group stage matches.
Recently, Chile have smashed the Dominican Republic 5-0 where Ben Brereton Diaz managed to get his first hat-trick for his country with all three goals coming inside the first 25 minutes.
Bruno Barticciotto also scored twice with both finishes coming in the second half with Chile having a total of 74% of the ball and 15 shots on target.
They also went on to draw 0-0 with Bolivia just after that, but this does keep them unbeaten in 2023 after a 3-2 win over Paraguay back in March came in before a 3-0 win over Cuba.
Marcelino Nunez scored twice against Cuba alongside a finish from Rodrigo Echeverria, as Paulo Diaz and Alexis Sanchez bagged against Paraguay.
Paulo Díaz hasn't made this squad and at 40 years old, Claudio Bravo hasn't made the cut either. Sanchez has, however, and at 34, he can move level with Gary Medel in the all-time caps list, should the defender miss out.
As for Uruguay, Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez have both not been called up to the squad for the second time in 2023, and their international careers are likely over.
Darwin Nunez has, however, and he will be his country’s main man for the foreseeable future.
In 2023, the club drew with Japan in the Kirin Challenge Cup back in March before a 2-1 win over South Korea and then victories over Nicaragua and Cuba in the June internationals in Montevideo.
Forebet predicts a win for Uruguay in this game and for the game to see under 2.5 goals.