Peru vs Canada predictions: Defences to dominate Group A clash
- Canada lost 2-0 against Argentina in tournament-opener
- Peru have a point after draw with Chile
- Recommended Bet: Under 1.5 goals
Canada will be looking to kickstart their Copa America campaign when they meet Peru at Children’s Mercy Park, in Kansas City, having been beaten in their first fixture by tournament favourites Argentina.
Peru, meanwhile, claimed a valuable point in a goalless draw with Chile in their opener and will be aiming to upset the odds once again.
Team news
New Canada manager Jesse Marsch has used a 4-4-2 formation in each of his three games in charge.
After missing most of the club campaign for MLS side Toronto FC through injury, Richie Laryea has proved his fitness recently for Canada, featuring without any problems in his country's last two matches, collecting his 50th cap in the defeat to Argentina.
Star man Jonathan David will again lead the line for the Reds, while fellow forward Samuel Piette is pushing for a recall.
Head coach Jorge Fossati opted for a 3-5-2 formation in Peru’s 0-0 draw with Chile and he is expected to stick with that for this clash.
However, left wing-back Luis Andvincula is a major doubt after being replaced by Marcos Lopez in the first half versus Chile due to an Achilles injury.
Feyenoord man Lopez should be a straightforward replacement again if Andvincula fails to make it.
The stats
Canada had seven shots in the first-half against Argentina, the most of any side against the World Cup holders since November 2021.
Peru have won their last four games against opponents from the CONCACAF region.
Los Incas are unbeaten in their last six outings.
These two nations have only met twice previously, both in friendlies, with one win apiece in the head-to-head record.
Prediction
Marsch may have been in charge for three games since being appointed as Canada’s head coach, but this is the first match in which his team could have been reasonably expected to win.
His first game resulted in a 4-0 defeat to Netherlands, before a surprise 0-0 draw with France and then that 2-0 defeat to Argentina, in which Canada showed some promise.
As mentioned, they had an unusual amount of first-half shots against the reigning Copa America holders and ended the match having had 10 efforts at goal.
Now the tournament really starts for them and they can expect to be under a different type of pressure against a very solid Peru side.
Canada are favoured by the oddsmakers, but the South Americans enter this match in good form, with three wins and three draws from their last six games, keeping three clean sheets and only conceding a total of three goals.
Chile aside, the standard of the opposition has not been particularly strong during this sequence, but they have nevertheless shown improvement since Fossatti was appointed at the turn of the year.
After six games, Peru are bottom of the table in the CONMEBOL qualification process for the 2024 World Cup, so this tournament provides an opportunity to provide some optimism.
After earning an unexpected point against Chile, the Peruvians would be in a strong position to qualify should they win.
With Canada having not scored in three games and Peru defensively tight, this one could be decided by a single goal.
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