USA receive lifeline ahead of crucial clash with Uruguay as Marcelo Bielsa suspended for STRANGE reason

With their sights set on qualifying for the Copa America, Gregg Berhalter and the United States were given a lifeline for Monday afternoon’s match against Uruguay.

Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa has been handed a one-match suspension by CONMEBOL, meaning he will not feature on the sidelines in the final group stage match.

This happened because Bielsa was late in getting his team out on the pitch at the start of the second half.

His first assistant, Pablo Quiroga, will take over the head coaching duties, including a press conference to be held on Sunday afternoon.

Bielsa is not the only coach at this tournament to receive such a suspension for delaying his return for the second half.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was suspended for the Copa America match, as were Chile’s Ricardo Gareca and Venezuela’s Fernando Batista.

The Americans face a do-or-die scenario after dropping points in Thursday’s loss to CONCACAF rival Panama.

Panama and the USA are now level on points, with the Americans having a slight advantage in goal difference.

With Panama playing the tournament’s weakest team – Bolivia – at the same time as USA-Uruguay, the Americans will likely need to score points to have any hope of advancing to the knockout stages.

If the USA and Panama win, the Americans will need to have a better goal difference than their opponents to advance.

The Americans advance automatically if they win and Panama draws. Meanwhile, if the USMNT draws, they only advance if Los Canaleros draw or lose.

If both teams lose, the Americans will have to rely on a better goal difference again to advance – and even that may be difficult. For example, if the USA loses 4-0 and Panama loses 1-0, then Panama will advance.

Failure to advance would raise many questions about Berhalter’s future, with constant rumours and speculation about him possibly leaving (or staying).