Uruguay defender Ronald Araujo explained he was substituted at half time during his side’s Copa America group stage opener against Panama due to the heat and dehydration.
The 25-year-old played the opening 45 minutes during Uruguay’s 3-1 victory at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Sunday but did not reappear for the second half.
Araujo played down concerns that a knock he picked up in the first period was causing him problems but instead said he felt dizzy at the break, which the team doctor put down to dehydration, and he was told not to continue. However, he suggested he would be ready to return to action for Uruguay’s second group fixture against Bolivia on Thursday.
“The truth is I’m still a bit dizzy now,” the Barcelona defender said at full time. “My (blood) pressure went down. When the first half finished I was a bit dizzy and when I reached the dressing room my pressure went down. The doctor said it was a bit of dehydration and I couldn’t continue for the second half.
“The knock was fine, it was just a knock, but when I entered the dressing room I felt really bad and my pressure went down. (It was) too hot and maybe I didn’t take much care of my hydration during the day.
He continued: “The pressure got to me and I couldn’t go on in the second half. A scare? Yes, yes, we all had a bit of a scare. Maybe it was also the anxiety but well, I’m fine and ready for the next one. It’s always important to start winning, as in every debut there’s always a bit of anxiety, but happy for the victory.”
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Sunday’s game was scheduled for 9pm (ET), with the temperature in Miami around 83°F (28°C) when the match kicked off.
Uruguay led 1-0 at half time thanks to Maximiliano Araujo’s 16th-minute goal, before Darwin Nunez and Matias Vina added a second and third late on. Michael Amir Murillo scored a 94th-minute consolation for Panama.
Manager Marcelo Bielsa also admitted the heat had an impact on proceedings.
“We saw that with the weather, very high humidity, it is difficult to manage the energy,” he said.
“And Uruguay depends a lot on its dynamics. But if, out of 90 minutes, we were able to impose ourselves on the game in the way we wanted for 70 or 75 minutes, then the ratio is good.”
Uruguay sit top of Group C above the USMNT by virtue of goals scored following the opening round of fixtures.
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(Chris Arjoon/AFP via Getty Images)
