Coming Saturday evening, the group match in pool A between Venezuela and Peru is scheduled in Belo Horizonte. With top favorite Brazil in the group, it is crucial for both countries to start Copa America with a good result.
Venezuela:
Futbol is still in its infancy in Venezuela, but La Vinotinto has been working hard in recent years. The Venezuelan hope is mainly based on the upcoming golden generation, which managed to seize the silver medal two years ago at the Under 20 World Cup. The then national coach Rafael Dudamel is now in charge of the A-selection, and therefore knows exactly what kind of meat he has in the tub. Various talents from that so successful youth World Cup are now part of the flagship of Venezuela, and give the country the fresh impulse that it yearned for. Together with routiniers such as Samuel Rondon and Tomas Rincon, Venezuela may well provide a surprise this summer.
Venezuela was in any case well prepared for the Copa America. The country was not included in the South American qualification for last year’s World Cup, but has since moved up to 29th place in the FIFA world ranking – its highest ranking ever. In the last exhibition international before the Copa America, Venezuela played the non-nauseous United States with a 0-3 victory completely off the mat. If the Dudamel team is able to maintain that level, I will give the country a good chance of reaching the quarter-finals.
Peru:
The bookmakers see Peru as a favorite to qualify together with Brazil for the quarterfinals of the Copa America, but we cannot ignore the fact that Los Incas had a very poor preparation. Since last year’s World Cup, the red and white played ten friendly international matches, of which only three were won. Even against the trivial El Salvador, the team of national coach Ricardo Gareca managed to get down with a 0-2 defeat. With two victories in the last four international matches, things have been moving in the right direction lately, but Peruvian self-confidence is still on the back burner.
Fortunately, the Peruvian football association recently also had good news to report. Star player Paolo Guerrero is finally available again, after being suspended for months due to drug use. The former striker of Bayern Munich and HSV, among others, is already 35, so the question is to what extent he is still capable of pulling the Peruvian cart. Also the other star, former PSV player Jefferson Farfan, is now at age with 34 springs. The home front demands at least a place in the quarterfinals, but the players who have to make the difference are already well past their peak. Add to that the mediocre shape of the last months, and Peru could well become the big flop of the tournament.
PREDICTION: Over 1,5 goals @ 1,49
