Copa America preview: Venezuela vs. Uruguay on Thursday

GROUP C: URUGUAY vs. VENEZUELA

Where: Philadelphia. Time: 4:30 p.m. PDT. TV: FS1, UniMas, UDN.

The buzz: After losing to Mexico in its group-play opener, Uruguay will have a difficult time advancing to the second round without a win here. Lowly Venezuela, meanwhile, is riding a wave of momentum after upsetting Jamaica in its first game. Given the stakes, Uruguay is hopeful that it will have talisman striker Luis Suarez available. Suarez, who strained a hamstring playing for Barcelona in last month’s Copa del Rey final, sat out the Mexico game and his status is likely a game-time decision Thursday. Midfielder Matias Vecino will be missing from Uruguay’s lineup after picking up a red card in the Mexico game.

-- KEVIN BAXTER

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