Peru and Venezuela will meet this Saturday in Porto Alegre, in a vital duel for the ambitions of both teams in a Group A of CONMEBOL Copa América Brazil 2019 completed by Brazil and Bolivia.
With a base team that played in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, in Peru's successful return after 36 years without attending the event, Ricardo Gareca faces a new challenge: to fight for a Cup that the Incas won only twice (1939 and 1975).
After the friendly matches against Costa Rica and Colombia, before the tournament, the TD assured that his team will "get well to the beginning of the Cup", but the day will be on Saturday when the Inca team faces Jose Salomon Rondón and others.
For Edinson Flores the unity of the Inca team and the continuity achieved in recent years can make the difference in the beginning of the tournament.
"Most of us know each other very well, we have had a lot of games together and I think that's going to be part of the strength for the team", he said after the team's first training session in Porto Alegre.
This Friday, the second training of the Incas took place in a relax atmosphere that included some game between Gareca and his small grandson and greetings from the players to André Carrillo, on his 28th birthday.
Guerrero loves the Cup
The presence of Paolo Guerrero in the CONMEBOL Copa América increases the condition of the national team of Perú. The Copa America's top scorer, with 11 goals, is looking to continue making history and his goals can make all the difference. At his side will be Yeferson Farfan.
In the beginning of the Cup, Guerrero will have the extra support of the fans of Internacional de Porto Alegre. In Brazil, Guerrero "always plays at home", said Renato Tapia, pointing out that the striker went through Corinthians and Flamengo before reaching Inter.
La Vinotinto, with a clear objective
The Venezuelan team, coached by former goalkeeper Rafael Dudamel, set out "to reach the final. We know the ability of each of our players, is a combination of experience and youth", Ronald Hernandez said during training in Porto Alegre.
Beyond the Cup, Dudamel set the Vinotinto goal further: to achieve for the first time in history a World Cup classification by reaching Catar-2022.
With this purpose, the technical staff added as advisor the veteran Francisco Maturana, one of the South American coaches with more experience in international tournaments of national teams.
Salomón Rondón, the Vinotinto hero
If goals are loves, Solomon Rondón is the owner of the heart of the Venezuelan fans. The Newcastle striker proved he is in form by scoring twice in Venezuela's 3-0 win over the United States in preparation for Brazil.
His goals and the Venezuelan defense that begins with Wuilker FarÃñez, one of the most promising goalkeepers in the tournament, will be the keys to a team.
Against the clock, Dudamel completed the line-up on thursday with the arrival in Porto Alegre of Yeferson Soteldo, who replaced the injured Adalberto Peñaranda.
The duel will be played from 16 hours (Brasilia) at the Arena Do Gremio stadium and will be arbitrated by the Colombian Wilmar Roldán.
Possible line-ups:
Peru: Pedro Gallese; LuÃs Advincula, Carlos Zambrano, Luis Abram, Miguel Trauco; Renato Tapia, Yoshimar Yotún, André Carillo, Christian Cueva; Yeferson Farfán and Paolo Guerrero.
Coach: Ricardo Gareca.
Venezuela: Wuilker FarÃñez; Ronald Hernández, Jordan Osorio, Mikel Villanueva, Roberto Rosales; Jhon Murillo, Junior Moreno, Tomás Rincón, Yangel Herrera, Jefferson Savarino; José Salomón Rondón.
Coach: Rafael Dudamel.
Referee: Wilamr Roldán (COL)
*AFP
