FOOTBALL
Uruguay defender Araujo out of Copa America after quarter-final injury
Ronald Araujo will miss Uruguay's Copa America semi-final against Colombia and the rest of the tournament due to a hamstring injury.
The Barcelona centre-back sustained the muscle issue before the interval in Sunday's shoot-out victory over Brazil in the last eight.
Araujo was removed by Marcelo Bielsa, who sent on Atletico Madrid's Jose Maria Gimenez as Uruguay and Brazil shared a goalless draw across 120 minutes of action.
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The Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) confirmed on Tuesday that Araujo will not be available for the remainder of the competition, starting with Wednesday's last-four clash against Colombia.
"After the studies carried out, it was confirmed that it was a muscular injury," the AUF said in a short statement.
?? ???????????Marcelo Bielsa y Maximiliano Araújo hablaron con los medios en la previa del partido con Colombia, por semifinal de la @CopaAmerica.https://t.co/qVMBrYKoRh y Youtube#ElEquipoQueNosUne pic.twitter.com/GVw6OFNyue— Selección Uruguaya (@Uruguay) July 9, 2024
No timescales were provided by the AUF for Araujo's recovery, though reports in Spain suggest the 25-year-old could be out for up to two months.
Araujo will be a sore miss for Bielsa, with the defender leading all Uruguay players at the tournament for aerial duels won (18) and clearances (15).
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