Uruguay vs. Japan: Varela likely starter, Arrascaeta to begin on the bench in Forlán’s debut.
Super Data FIFA returns to international grounds this Thursday (24th) with a friendly match between Japan and Uruguay. The game, to be held at the Q&A Stadium Miyagi in Japan at 7:05 AM (Brasília time), marks Diego Forlán‘s official debut as head coach of La Celeste. The matchup also brings changes to Uruguay’s lineup, with Flamengo’s full-back Guillermo Varela among the likely starters, while midfielder Arrascaeta is expected to start on the reserve bench.
The Uruguayan national team is undergoing a transition period following Marcelo Bielsa‘s departure, seeking to restructure the team after a performance below expectations in the World Cup. This series of friendlies will serve for Forlán to consolidate his ideas and adjust the sporting plan. The recent record is not encouraging, with the team on a seven-game winless streak.
Uruguay’s Probable Lineup
Under the command of Diego Forlán, the Uruguayan team is expected to take the field with the following formation: Cardozo; Varela, Cáceres, Ronald Araújo, Olivera; Torreira, Bentancur, Zalazar; Canobbio, Maxi Araújo, and Brian Rodríguez.
Hajime Moriyasu’s Japan
On the other side, Japan, also preparing for the 2026 World Cup, is betting on continuity. Under Hajime Moriyasu‘s guidance, the team maintains its core players and counts on stars like Takefusa Kubo and Ayase Ueda. The Japanese coaching staff will use the friendly to scout new talents. The probable Japanese lineup is: Suzuki; Seko, Itakura, Hiroki Ito; Doan, Sano, Kamada, Nakamura; Junya Ito, Maeda, and Ueda.
Uruguay’s Next Steps
After the clash against Japan, Uruguay will have other international commitments. On Monday (28th), the team faces South Korea at 8 AM (Brasília time) at the Seoul World Cup Stadium. The friendly sequence concludes on October 6th with a match against India at 1 PM (Brasília time) at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. Complete coverage of Flamengo players linked to national teams will be provided by Coluna do Fla.
By M360 Team
