Uruguay manager Oscar Tabarez expressed his hope that key man Edinson Cavani would stay with the squad after the striker’s father was arrested following a fatal traffic accident.

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Paris Saint-Germain star Cavani was reportedly mulling whether or not to fly home to Uruguay to be with his father following the accident.

The 28-year-old trained with his Uruguay team-mates yesterday as they prepared for tonight’s crunch Copa America quarter-final against hosts Chile.

And Tabarez says Cavani would be given time to decide his choice of action. “In the next few hours we will speak to him again and hope that he will be able to sort things out and be able to focus on the game,” he said. “Obviously it has affected him, as it would affect anyone in his position.

“What will happen in between now and the game is we can assess how the player has been affected. In the coming hours we will continue to talk to him.”

Reports in Uruguay yesterday said Cavani could be allowed to leave the squad and would reunite with the team if they progressed to the semi-finals.

A 19-year-old motorcylist died after a collision with a truck driven by Cavani’s father Luis, Uruguayan media reported. Cavani’s father was arrested following the incident.

Meanwhile, Marcelo Diaz believes Chile were the standout side in the group stage as the remaining eight teams prepare for the quarter-finals. La Roja topped Group A and scored 10 goals with Jorge Sampaoli’s team’s only blip a 3-3 draw with Mexico, but Chile’s Diaz feels that his side got better with every game.

“The statistics are clear, I think Chile did very well in the group stages,” the Basel midfielder said. “Our performances were progressing with each game.

“There were very good teams in the other groups, but I agree that Chile were the best team in the group stages. “We are here now and a new tournament begins, one of life and death, and we must be prepared.”