LAS VEGAS — Amid the glitz and glamour of a Saturday night in Vegas, one of the hottest acts in town was a pugnacious but courageous Uruguay, which beat Brazil to book its spot in the Copa América semifinals.
A hard-fought quarter-final victory at the Allegiant Stadium, which marked the second consecutive unbeaten run against the CONMEBOL giants since last year, was finally secured by winning a penalty shootout 4-2 after a goalless game. Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa and his players are now just one result away from a coveted place in the final.
Against Brazil, they did so thanks to Bielsa’s high-stakes strategy, similar to that of those sitting in casinos and at card tables just outside NFL stadiums.
“If you ask me if there are risks (with my style of play), yes, there are risks,” the Argentine coach said before the match. “(But) if you ask me how best to attack, taking risks or not taking risks, it is better to attack taking risks.”
“You can’t tell a player: you have to go out and play, but it’s impossible for him to make a mistake.”
Even in a game where a major mistake was made, with a red card for Nahitan Nández in the second half, Bielsa was able to make his bet pay off. It is results like this from his teams that have made him a cult hero in the world of football, who has become known for his eccentric nature but also for his stubborn determination to maintain his style of play.
Bielsa started the game with his usual aggressive approach and high pressing against the Brazilians. Not afraid to throw players forward, but also to engage in hard-hitting tackles, he showed boldness to get his team back in control of the opposition and turn the game into a Las Vegas boxing match. The dynamics changed slightly after the injury to central defender Ronald Araújo required a substitution in the 33rd minute, but by the start of the second half, Uruguay were once again crushing their opponents with a total of 26 fouls.
“It was a tight game, a tight game, there were very few attacking chances and we had to run all over the pitch to create those chances,” Bielsa said after the game. “The players are naturally good at defending. You have to say they are very good at keeping a clean sheet.”
By constantly trying to win the ball back and proactively move it forward, the players from this country of just 3.4 million, known for its above-average shooting, showed admirable spirit. Uruguay has won two World Cups and 15 Copa América titles in its history, and last reached a World Cup quarter-final in 2018.
Bielsa’s tactics have been tailored to a team that has everything it takes to win, but the coach’s model can also lead to difficult moments. In an effort to win back possession, Nández mistimed a diving tackle on Brazilian Rodrygo, earning him a red card in the 74th minute. And yet Uruguay held firm when they had to retreat.
“When we were down a man, we decided to focus on defending in our own half,” Bielsa said.
Still, traces of Bielsa’s mentality and spirit shone through. Sure, Uruguay went all out in the final minutes, but they also tested the limits of their 5-3-1 system by gradually moving up the pitch in a matter of moments. Interestingly, despite their disadvantage against Brazil and the general lack of shots on target, Uruguay ended regulation time with a better xG (0.89 to 0.58).
Bielsa’s men had won the game through sheer grit and it was no surprise that they went on to win the penalty shootout. After a save from Sergio Rochet in the first shootout, Uruguay had the momentum to allow Manuel Ugarte to score the decisive penalty. In front of over 50,000 spectators who had earlier in the day battled the 46-degree desert heat to get into the indoor arena, the Uruguayan fans in the stands (and some in the press box) erupted into frenzied, euphoric cheers.
The game was chaotic, but it became clear that Bielsa, who oscillates between his usual seat on a cooler and his wanderings on the edge of the line, can thrive in this situation. While other coaches would have been more cautious, Bielsa doubled down on his bet on Sin City and stuck to his risk-taking strategy against the five-time world champions. However, the coach himself noted that he can sometimes fall prey to the excitement of the game.
“Today there was a lot of suspense and you know how suspense works in human beings,” he said. “When you can’t predict how to resolve situations, it leads you to explosive emotions and I’m vulnerable to that as well.”
Still, the Argentine and his team collected their full reward at the end of the penalty shootout, with a semi-final against Colombia on Wednesday as their reward. Time will tell how the game plays out, but one thing is for sure: Bielsa will not hesitate to take his chances with his risky approach.
