Piquerez, from Palmeiras, is called up in Uruguay’s pre-list for friendlies in Asia

Left-back Piquerez, from Palmeiras, is back in the Uruguay national team. On Thursday night, the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF, for its Spanish acronym) announced on its official website and on social networks a pre-list of 34 players for friendlies against Japan and South Korea, in Asia, and the defender of Verdão was called up after not being called up for the World Cup in Qatar, at the end of last year.

Piquerez is on a pre-list drawn up by Marcelo Broli, the coach who led the under-20 team in the recent South American runners-up in the category. He was called by the AUF to be the interim team while the entity does not define the coach for the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.

At the end of March, Uruguay will play against Japan, on the 24th, at the National Stadium, in Tokyo, and against South Korea, on the 28th, at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, in Seoul.

📋 𝙍𝙀𝙎𝙀𝙍𝙑𝘼𝘿𝙊𝙎

List of reserved by Marcelo Broli for the March matches by FIFA Date of the Senior Team.

🆚🇯🇵 (24/3)
🆚🇰🇷 (28/3)

📺 https://t.co/qVMBrYJR1J #ElEquipoQueNosUne pic.twitter.com/8DEpc79oCQ

— Uruguayan National Team (@Uruguay) March 3, 2023

Even with the call-up, Piquerez will not miss Palmeiras. If Verdão advances in the decisive stages of the Paulista Championship, there will be no conflict of dates. The State semifinals are scheduled for the next 19th and the first match of the decision will take place on April 2nd.

In addition to Piquerez, other Brazilian clubs had players called up. These are the cases of right-back Varela and midfielder Arrascaeta, from Flamengo; right-back Pumita Rodríguez, from Vasco; midfielder Canobbio, from Athletico-PR; midfielder Carballo, from Grêmio; and striker Thiago Borbas, from Red Bull Bragantino.

Experienced strikers Luis Suárez, currently at Grêmio, and Edinson Cavani, from Valencia, were not called up.