CAN Peru cure their away day blues and recapture the form that saw the Incas finish third at the 2011 Copa America? Tim Vickery (@Tim_Vickery) and Mark O’Haire (@MarkOHaire) talk you through their chances of success.
Peru
- Outright Winner: 80/1 (SkyBet)
- Group C Winner: 18/1 (SkyBet)
- Top-Two Group C Finish: 7/1 (SkyBet)
- Highest Scoring Team: 250/1 (SkyBet)
- Form Post-World Cup: W5-D0-L3
Tim Vickery’s View
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Mark O’Haire’s View
Peru hold one of the worst away records in living memory – it’s 11 years since their most recent road victory – but Copa America success has been far more fruitful. Four years ago an injury-ravaged squad led by Sergio Markarián managed a third place finish but it’s been downhill before that false dawn and ever since.
Ricardo Gareca’s the new man in charge and he’ll be assisted by Newcastle legend Nobby Solano for the tough task that awaits in Group C. Gareca has only been in the job a few months and although the Argentine was well received back home, has had little time to prepare and drill the team. In fact, up until a month ago, the former Velez Sarsfield boss hadn’t had a chance to impose an identity upon the team.
According to Nick Dorrington, a Peruvian football expert, Peru were primarily a counter-attacking side under Markarián but Gareca’s reign with Velez saw his troops attempt to work the ball forward through midfield yet still maintain a strong focal point up front to facilitate a more direct approach when necessary. Whether the 57-year-old can get this group working towards the same end goal remains to be seen.
Mental and emotional weakness has often been sighted as an area for concern but La Blanquirroja’s major weakness comes at the back. The haphazard Carlos Zambrano is without a reliable centre-half partner whilst full backs Luis Advíncula and Yoshimar Yotún are more adept at getting forward than their excelling in their defensive duties.
Peru have plenty of potential goal-getters in the group but the 2011 Copa America top goalscorer Paolo Guerrero, Claudio Pizarro and Jefferson Farfán are all the wrong side of 30 and have endured fitness problems in recent years. Whether La Blanquirroja’s forward line gets the desired service is up for debate with two incredibly testing group games in store either side of the key encounter with Venezuela.
It’s hard to have any faith in the Incans coming close to their 2011 achievements. Victory over Venezuela may not be enough to secure last eight qualification with potentially heavy losses in their two other group games. Time is against Gareca but a three-point haul from three Group C outings should be deemed a success for a side in need of a cure for their away-day blues.
The View From The Inside
“The top two third-place finishers from the three groups will progress to the quarter-finals, but to take one of those places Peru will have to beat Venezuela and most likely pick up a point from one of their other two fixtures. To achieve that so soon into Ricardo Gareca’s reign would be an impressive and praiseworthy feat.
If it is achieved, it’s difficult to imagine them beating one of the likely group winners to progress any further than the quarter-finals.”
– Nick Dorrington (@chewingthecoca)
Fixtures
- Peru vs Brazil | 14th June 2015 | 22.30 | Premier Sports
- Peru vs Venezuela | 19th June 2015 | 00.30 | Premier Sports
- Peru vs Colombia | 21st June 2015 | 20.00 | Premier Sports
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*All stats and form correct until 30 May 2015*
TOPICS Copa America
