Copa America - Uruguay v Peru

I know it was late but I do hope you were all up late enough to catch the first Copa America preview as the draw came up trumps for us and the only team that looked like scoring for a second were Paraguay, which would have given us the 1-0, but we move onwards to Uruguay v Peru.

Uruguay’s status as the best alternative to Argentina and Brazil will only have been strengthened by the blanks that the big two have fired in their games so far, and with their upwardly mobile profiles it’s no surprise to see them as short as 4/11 to beat Peru tonight.

This is also as good a shot as they will get at winning this whole competition. Oscar Tabarez’s men were the most successful South American team at the World Cup finals, going through to the semi – finals in controversial style before going down fighting to Holland and Germany.

Surarez - One of the star men of the tournament

They’ve kept the form since then – They have scored 23 goals in their last 9 games –and they come here with a front line that many in world football would fear or envy in the shape of Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani, Diego Forlan and Diego Lugano, who are all in top form for their opening fixture against the Peruvians.

The Spanish pair of Pablo Garcia and Carlos Diogo, who play for Madrid and Zaragoza respectively, will also have a key role to play. Diogo and Diego Lugano, who plays for Fenerbahce, will be the key men in for Uruguay at the back.

Peru’s record is one of gradual improvement, with 7 clean sheets in a row, albeit against teams far less imposing than today’s opponents.

That’s a creditable achievement for a side who aren’t seen as one of South America’s leading lights but they suffered a massive blow when Jefferson Farfan and Claudio Pizarro, 2 of the best players in their team, were forced to withdraw from the tournament due to injuries, leaving Juan Manuel Vargas, considered as one of the best left backs in the Serie A, as the leading light. This would make it the plan for Peru to frustrate the favourites.

Peru finished bottom in World Cup qualifying and arrive without their two main men but they have a remarkable opening game record - the last time they lost their opening match at a Copa America was 1991. Add to that the slow starts made by many to the tournament (two 0-0 draws yesterday to add to only a 1—0 win for Colombia) and the appeal is taken away from lumping on Uruguay, who will have to work hard for anything they’ll get here.

Paddy Power will give 10/11 about Uruguay to Score No First Half Goals and that is well worth taking based on what we’ve seen so far – and it may well be worth adding the draw at half – time to that basket seeing as the results might go hand in hand if Peru lack the cutting edge.

Advice

1 pt Uruguay to Score No First Half Goals (11/10 Paddy Power)

1 pt Half – Time Draw (11/8 Betfred)