Defending champions Brazil remain favourites to win the 2021 edition of CONMEBOL Copa America, which they agreed to host at the 11th hour following complications [read: refusals] in Colombia and Argentina. Interestingly, Argentina and Colombia are two of the four teams still in contention for the title.
But hosts Brazil have extra motivation to win it -- considering the many protests, COVID-19 crisis, pitch controversies, etc. And a win against Peru in their semi-final will help Tite's Selecao move closer to their 10th continental title, which is still far behind Uruguay's 15.
Brazil won their group, with three wins and one draw. One of the wins was against Peru, a 4-0 thrashing at Nilton Santos Stadium, where they will meet again for a place in the final. Brazil, however, will be cautious not to be too adventurous, especially considering their struggle against Chile in the quarters.
Moments after Lucas Paqueta's strike in the 46th minute against Chile, Brazil lost Gabriel Jesus to a straight red card, and they were forced to defend the one-goal lead for the rest of the match.
Peru finished second in Group B behind Brazil, with two wins, one draw and one defeat. The two-time champions then survived a bad-blood quarter-final clash against Group A third-place finishers Paraguay. They won it on penalties 4-3 after the normal time ended on 3-3. There's no extra time. The semis and third-place play-off too will have no extra time, but the big final will have 30 minutes after the normal time to decide the winner if the scores are tied. Then, the shoot out.
Peru sure are the underdogs. But Ricardo Gareca's men will take inspiration from their famous win against Brazil in the Copa America Centenario in 2016 in Foxborough. Raul Ruidiaz scored a controversial goal in the 75th minute and it was enough to knock Brazil out. Brazil had failed to make the knock-outs, finishing third behind Peru and Ecuador. Yes, Neymar was conspicuously not in the squad which was managed by Dunga.
Head-to-head: This will be their 50th meeting. Brazil lead the head-to-head record, 35-5. Nine matches ended in draws. In the group stage, Brazil hammered Peru 4-0, with Alex Sandro, Neymar, Everton Ribeiro and Richarlison on the scoresheet.
Peru's last win against Brazil was a 1-0 victory in an international friendly in September 2019 at Los Angeles. Luis Abram scored the all-important goal in that match. Before that, that famous Copa America Centenario win in Foxborough.
Match and telecast details
Match: Copa America 2021, 1st semi-final match between Brazil and Peru
Date: July 6 (Tuesday), 2021
Time: 4:30 AM IST/ 8:00 PM local (July 5)/ 7:00 PM (Eastern Standard Time), 6:00 PM (Central Standard Time), 4:00 PM (Pacific Standard Time) on July 5 in UAS/ 12:00 AM On July 6 in UK
Venue: Estadio Olimpico Nilton Santos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
TV Channels: Sony Sports Network
Live Streaming: SonyLIV, Jio TV
Find your local broadcasters HERE.
Likely XIs
Brazil: Alisson Becker; Danilo, Eder Militao, Marquinhos, Alex Sandro; Casemiro, Lucas Pacqueta; Roberto Firmino, Richarlison, Neymar; Gabriel Barbosa.
Peru: Pedro Gallese; Miguel Trauco, Alexander Callens, Christian Ramos, Aldo Corzo; Yoshimar Yotun, Renato Tapia; Christian Cueva, Sergio Pena, Santiago Ormeno; Gianluca Lapadula.
Squads
Brazil: GK - Alisson Becker, Weverton, Ederson; DF - Danilo, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Alex Sandro, Emerson, Eder Militao, Renan Lodi, Felipe; MF - Casemiro, Fred, Everton Ribeiro, Fabinho, Lucas Paqueta, Douglas Luiz; FW - Richarlison, Gabriel Jesus, Neymar, Vinicius Junior, Everton, Roberto Firmino, Gabriel Barbosa.
Head coach: Tite
Peru: GK - Pedro Gallese, Carlos Caceda, Jose Carvallo; DF - Luis Abram, Aldo Corzo, Anderson Santamaria, Miguel Araujo, Miguel Trauco, Christian Ramos, Marcos Lopez, Alexander Callens, Renzo Garces, Jhilmar Lora; MF - Martin Tavara, Sergio Pena, Sergio Pena, Renato Tapia, Wilder Cartagena, Yoshimar Yotun, Alexis Arias, Raziel Garcia; FW - Gianluca Lapadula, Alex Valera, Luis Iberico, Andre Carrillo, Santiago Ormeno
Head coach: Ricardo Gareca.
