Tag: Ronald Araujo

Ronald Araujo leaves Uruguay vs. Brazil Copa America quarterfinal with injury

An emotional Araújo limped out of Saturday’s quarterfinal with a suspected hamstring strain

Ronald Araújo suffered an injury in the first half of Saturday’s 2024 Copa América semifinal between Uruguay and Brazil.

The Barcelona center back went down attempting to block a 30th minute cross, and immediately began holding the back of his right leg.

Araújo stayed down as trainers came to check on him, and Uruguay wasted little time in signaling for a substitution.

While the 25-year-old did manage to very slowly walk off under his own power, his emotions pointed to a worrisome injury. Uruguay sent veteran José María Giménez on in the 33rd minute, with the Atlético Madrid defender taking over at center back.

Araújo’s gestures indicated that he had injured his hamstring, which — barring a very minor issue, which this did not appear to be — would likely sideline him for the rest of this Copa América.

Despite later losing Nahitan Nández to a red card in the second half, Uruguay still managed to advance, eliminating Brazil 4-2 on penalties after a scoreless 90 minutes.

Two games now await Marcelo Bielsa’s side, whether or not Araújo plays any further part in the competition: a semifinal against Colombia on July 10, followed by either the Copa América final four days later, or a third-place game on July 13.

Traditionally, a hamstring strain tends to require four weeks to make a full recovery. However, a more severe strain can be a months-long issue, which would be a nightmare scenario for Uruguay and Barcelona.

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Ronald Araujo didn’t appreciate Ilkay Gundogan’s assessment of his red card

The defender does not seem happy with his Barcelona teammate

Ronald Araujo has offered a terse response to his Barcelona teammate İlkay Gündoğan’s assessment of his red card in a Champions League defeat to PSG on Tuesday.

With Barça up 4-2 on aggregate, Araujo was sent off 30 minutes into Tuesday’s second leg — a moment that ended up completely turning the quarterfinal tie on its head.

The Uruguayan fouled PSG’s Bradley Barcola, who was closing in on goal. Referee Istvan Kovacs deemed that Araujo had denied an obvious goalscoring opportunity, showing a red card.

Barcelona would completely fall apart after Araujo’s sending off, conceding four goals in a row to lose 4-1 on the night and 6-4 on aggregate.

Gündoğan didn’t mince words speaking to CBS Sports after the game, saying that Araujo would have been better off simply letting Barcola go rather than committing a costly foul.

Araujo appeared Thursday at an event promoting a book for charity, and was asked about the red card as well as his teammate’s response.

“I’m sad, like all culés (Barcelona fans), for the elimination,” he said. “We wanted to qualify. We had it in our hand and there is sadness. It was a play that was 50-50. If the referee doesn’t call a foul, nothing happens. But if he called it, he had to send me off. As a culé, it hurts.”

On Gündoğan, he added: “I prefer to keep what I think to myself. I have codes and values ​​that must be respected.”

What did Gundogan say?

“Disappointed, very disappointed actually because we were in such a good position. Not just after the first leg, after the first goal we scored. Everything was in our hands and we just gave it away in the most simple manner. We just gave it to PSG and that’s the most disappointing thing,” the Germany international told CBS Sports.

“If he fouled him, I guess it’s a red card. I haven’t seen the replay. Difficult to say, in these kind of crucial moments you need to be sure to get the ball, and if you don’t get it — and I don’t know if he touched the ball or not — you have to stay away. I’d prefer to concede the goal there or give the striker a one-v-one even though he played the ball quite far, so I don’t even know if he’d be able to reach the ball.

“But given the opportunity, maybe let the goalkeeper save us or even concede a goal because to go down one man and get a red card so early in the game just kills the game.”

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