- Russian victory would bring 'chaos': French FM
- Miura and Kihara claim Skate America pairs title
- PSG beat Strasbourg to reclaim top spot in Ligue 1
- Mbappe strikes as Madrid claim win at Celta Vigo
- Ex-general Prabowo to take office as Indonesia president
- Juve squeeze past 10-man Lazio to move level with leaders Napoli
- Liam Payne's sister shares touching tribute to late brother
- Morris stuns triple pursuit champion Dygert at track worlds
- French protesters urge calmer roads after cyclist killed
- Arsenal loss was 'accident waiting to happen' says Arteta
- Lizzo brings star power to Detroit for Harris
- 'Killer' Kane breaks drought to send Bayern back top
- Verstappen claims sprint win in Austin, Norris third
- 'Don't leave tennis', Djokovic tells Nadal after Saudi showdown
- Arsenal shocked by Bournemouth, Man Utd ease pressure on Ten Hag
- Ten-man Arsenal stunned by Bournemouth
- Kane hat-trick sends Bayern top past Leipzig
- Netanyahu says Iran-backed Hezbollah tried to kill him
- Ten-man AC Milan hold on to squeeze past Udinese
- Ten Hag urges goal-shy Man Utd to build on Brentford win
- G7 defence ministers concerned by attacks on peacekeepers, vow Kyiv support
- Life's a ditch as Neuville's world rally title hopes suffer
- Boeing and workers reach tentative deal to end strike
- Man Utd ease pressure on Ten Hag, Spurs run riot
- 'Are you crazy?': Mainz fans slam Klopp's Red Bull move
- Outsider Anmaat stars on British Champions Day
- Man Utd hit back against Brentford to ease pressure on Ten Hag
- Boniface sends Leverkusen past Frankfurt, Leipzig go top
- Gaza rescuers say 400 killed in two-week Israeli assault in north
- On-form Maqala fires Bayonne past Farrell-less Racing
- Liam Payne's sister posts poignant tribute to her late brother
- 'Our world collapsed': Brazil dam disaster victims seek justice in UK
- Threats and diplomacy: Iran's dual strategy on Israel
- Spurs destroy West Ham in eight-minute blitz
- Japan 'zombie' train spooks passengers ahead of Halloween
- Spurs run riot to beat West Ham
- New Zealand beat Britain to defend America's Cup
- New Zealand need 107 to win after Sarfaraz, Pant heroics
- G7 defence summit considers Gaza, Lebanon as conflicts rage
- Austrian far-right radical arrested after defying Swiss entry ban
- New Zealand hit back after Sarfaraz, Pant heroics in rain-hit India Test
- Jailed Guatemalan journalist Zamora granted house arrest
- Netanyahu residence targeted as Hezbollah launches barrage at Israel
- Green leads at LPGA in South Korea as Jeeno surges
- Electricity blackout puts Cubans on edge
- North Korea troop deployment locks in Russia military alliance
- New Zealand and South Africa face off in Women's T20 World Cup final
- Maresca defies expectations with Chelsea revival
- G7 defence summit convenes during 'historic moment'
- Harris, Trump deploy celebrity power in must-win states
Uruguay show they will be intense threat at Copa America
Marcelo Bielsa's Uruguay offered an instant reminder of why they will likely be among the challengers at the Copa America with an impressive 3-1 victory over Panama on Sunday.
But the team second in South American World Cup qualifying, behind Argentina, also showed there are vulnerabilities in how their coach approaches games.
Although Uruguay only led 1-0 until Darwin Nunez doubled their lead in the 85th minute and Matias Vina headed in a third in stoppage time -- before a late consolation for Panama -- their first-half display was an exhibition of Bielsa's high-energy, attacking, philosophy.
If there was any doubt about whether the Florida heat would lead Uruguay to adopt a more cautious, energy-saving approach, that was dismissed from kick-off as "La Celeste" swarmed their opponents with their relentless pressing.
At times it looked as if Panama were outnumbered. Uruguay threw men forward into every attack and offered no respite when their opponents had possession, pressing high and fast in packs.
When Maximiliano Araujo fired them in front in the 16th minute with a wonderfully struck left-foot shot from the edge of the box, the question seemed to be simply how long it would take for the next goal.
But while Uruguay peppered the Panama goal with shots and Liverpool striker Nunez threatened in the air and on the ground, Panama goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera proved up to the test.
Nunez and his team-mates also lacked a clinical touch at times as they failed to take advantage of a defence that looked shell-shocked.
"The first half was a performance where we showed our superiority and we could have scored more goals than we did," said Bielsa.
Panama head coach Thomas Christiansen said his team had shown "too much respect" to their opponents, but in truth they simply couldn't cope with the relentless attacks.
Somehow though the Central American side made it to the interval just a goal down and were able to regroup and rethink their game plan.
They returned with a more compact and narrower midfield, which troubled Uruguay.
- Heat factor -
The intensity of Uruguay's play came at a price.
They lacked the energy to continue with their aggressive approach and for the opening period of the second half, Panama were on top.
"The second half, there was 15-20 minutes or so where we didn’t play so well. They dominated these phases of play and created some chances, and there was only a goal in it," said Bielsa.
Bielsa conceded that his tactics had come up against the energy-sapping conditions in Florida and that had impacted his team.
"We saw that with the weather, very high humidity, it is difficult to manage the energy.
"And Uruguay depends a lot on its dynamics. But if, out of 90 minutes, we were able to impose ourselves on the game in the way we wanted for 70 or 75 minutes, then the ratio is good," he said.
"It could have become complicated for us. After 20 minutes of the second half we were dominating again and creating chances, and the result seemed to represent what happened on the field," he added.
It did on this occasion.
But for the USA, who face Uruguay in the final game in Group C, and for the big teams who could play Bielsa's men in the latter stages, there were also some hope.
A.Malone--AMWN