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Peru and Venezuela will try to repeat their success at the previous Copa America when they start their Group A campaigns. Both teams reached the quarterfinals of the Centenario Special Edition in 2016, but being in a pool alongside the host Brazil means that they'll probably be fighting for second place this time around.
From Venezuela record scorer Salomon Rondon is likely to lead the line, keeping Josef Martinez out of the team, while Peru will rely on Paolo Guerrero to achieve his goals. The veteran striker scored 11 goals in 19 career matches with the Copa America. Venezuela goalkeeper Wuilker Farinez is wary of his threat.
"This game will be the key for us" said Farinez. "Peru are a strong and powerful team, all their players are important, but Guerrero is their main reference. "Peru is a tough opponent, with a very direct game, Paolo and Christian [Cueva] are their key men. "
Venezuela can appeal to a player who scored 11 goals in the Premier League on a loan to Newcastle United last season. And West Brom striker, Rondon, showed that he remained in shape when he became the top scorer in his country by hitting a support in a friendly match before the tournaments. against the United States.
"There will surely be goals," he told EFE. "It will be a very complicated game and very physical, we must try to take advantage of the mistakes of the opponent."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Venezuela – Salomon Rondon
Likely to be in demand with Premier League clubs before the 2019-2020 season, Rondon has a chance to showcase. With four goals in his last five appearances in the club and country, he will line up for the Saturday match in Porto Alegre with full confidence.
Peru – Paolo Guerrero
Former Bayern Munich striker Guerrero remains Peru's 35-year-old leader and, although there is another Copa America next year, this could be her last international tournament. He only scored once in four appearances at the 2016 edition but was prolific the previous year, scoring four goals in Chile.
KEY OPTICAL FACTS
– Peru has won five of its seven Copa America meetings with Venezuela (D1 L1), with their only defeat on Venezuelan soil in 2007 (0-2).
– Venezuela have been eliminated from the group stage at 13 of their last 16 Copa America tournamentsalthough they have progressed from these stages in three of the last four, with their best result in 2011 (fourth place).
– Peru is undefeated under Ricardo Gareca in competitive matches against Venezuela, winning one (1-0 in Copa America 2015) and shooting two (2-2 both in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup).
– Venezuela won two Copa America matches under Rafael Dudamel (both in 2016); no coach from Venezuela has managed to win three games in the competition.
– Peru has not failed to break out of the Copa America group stage since 1995, although they have been eliminated in the quarter-finals in five of the last seven tournaments.
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