I thought I knew it all.

I don’t carry a doctorate in world football, but I was confident I’d recognize every player in Uruguay’s starting 11.

Not so.

So who did I Google?

Diego Laxalt – The left back is currently at AC Milan. Though I didn’t hear his name mentioned once on podcasts this past Serie A season. Curiously, he’s also listed as an attacking midfielder on Wikipedia. Will he fit in with new Milan coach Marco Giampaolo’s tactical plans next season?

Fernando Muslera – Galatasaray’s #1. The former Lazio keeper looks so young I think every match is his debut.

Nahitan Nández – The Uruguayan number 8 is at Boca Juniors. Rumored (if you believe the internet) to want a move to Leeds to play under Bielsa.

Lastly Telemundo’s man of the match: Nicolás Lodeiro.

My first thought was Mexico – Liga MX. He’s got to be pulling up his socks for PUMAs or America, and I just never noticed. Or maybe Spain. A solid mid table La Liga side. Villarreal or Sociedad.

No.

“Nico” as he’s known on MLSsoccer.com slips on his shin-pads each week for the Seattle Sounders.

His playing resume reads like a gap year itinerary: Nacional, Ajax, Botafogo, Corinthians and Boca Juniors, all before dying his hair blonde and sailing in to Puget Sound.

An MLS player dictating a Copa America match? Doubtful any Copa America preview pieces predicted that.

Nice of football to again remind me, I don’t know it all.