ECUADOR VS PERU
Copa America 2021 has begun and teams are starting to find their groove as the group stage matches go on. The matches are getting more and more intense as the knockout phase approaches. Itโs still an open race for the bottom-placed teams in their groups with many games still to play. Ecuador is currently last in Group B but a win against Peru can send them to second place.
BRASIL SIGUE LรDER๐
Asรญ quedรณ el Grupo B, luego de la tercera fecha de la CONMEBOL #CopaAmรฉrica ๐ ๐ง๐ท ๐จ๐ด ๐ต๐ช ๐ป๐ช ๐ช๐จ#VibraElContinente pic.twitter.com/unk3Sfq5aM
— Copa Amรฉrica (@CopaAmerica) June 21, 2021
Ecuador will face Peru on Wednesday, June 23 in an important fixture for their hopes of finishing top four in the group. A close 1-0 defeat to Colombia despite having more control over the game gave a disappointing start to their Copa America campaign. Against Venezuela, they took the lead twice but the covid-hit team foiled Ecuadorโs plans with an injury-time equaliser.
#LaCrรณnicaโ๏ธ | ยกIlusiรณn hasta el final!
๐ค๐ค #LaTri empatรณ ante Venezuela y espera definir su paso a la siguiente fase en las prรณximas jornadas de la CONMEBOL @CopaAmerica.
๐ Mรกs informaciรณn: https://t.co/1K04n5UN8h#SiempreConLaTri๐ช๐จ pic.twitter.com/ZGJWXB1hev
— La Tri ๐ ๐๐คถ (@LaTri) June 21, 2021
Gustavo Alfaroโs side has won just one of their last five matches but this one would be an important game considering they are yet to play Brazil.
The Peruvian side came into the tournament completely out of touch and in worrying form, having won only one match in two years. In their opening game of the tournament, Brazil thrashed them 4-0, and the frustration was clearly visible. Ricardo Gareca motivated them to bounce back, and bounce back they did, defeating Colombia in the next match.
โฝ๐ช๐ป ยกPrimera alegrรญa para ๐ต๐ช @SeleccionPeru!
El equipo de Gareca triunfรณ por 2 a 1 frente a @FCFSeleccionCol ๐จ๐ด y sumรณ sus primeros tres puntos en el Grupo B de la CONMEBOL #CopaAmรฉrica ๐#VibraElContinente
๐๏ธ ESP https://t.co/S9mmpJBXlC
๐๏ธ PT https://t.co/mI2otu4GbC pic.twitter.com/vqai3IjRZV— Copa Amรฉrica (@CopaAmerica) June 21, 2021
La Blanquirroja defeated Ecuador in their last meeting in the World Cup qualifiers earlier this month and will aim to repeat the triumph.
TEAM NEWS
Ecuadorโs right-winger Gonzalo Plata got an injury in the first match and had to be substituted, but he returned against Venezuela as a substitute and scored an important second goal for his side. Gustavo Alfaro has no major injury concerns in the squad as of now and will play his strongest eleven against Peru.
โฝ ยกCon todo mi Selecciรณn!
๐ค๐ค #ECU ๐ #VEN
๐ CONMEBOL #CopaAmรฉrica
๐ Fecha #2 – Grupo B
๐ Nilton Saltos – Rรญo de Janeiro#VamosEcuador ๐ช๐จ pic.twitter.com/MDixQW8ez0— La Tri ๐ ๐๐คถ (@LaTri) June 20, 2021
Alfaro deploys a 4-4-2 formation, keeping his backline safe and secure while the two strikers and wide midfielders create the goalscoring chances.
Ecuador Probable Lineup: Ortiz; Estupinan, Hincapie, Arboleda, Angelo Preciado; Ayrton Preciado, Caicedo, Mendez, Plata; Valencia, Estrada
Ricardo Gareca has been feeling the absence of Paolo Guerrero in the starting lineup but the veteran striker spent most of the season out injured, forcing Gareca to keep him out of the squad. There arenโt any other injury concerns for Peru as they prepare to face Ecuador on Wednesday.
ยกSiempre unidos en busca del objetivo! ๐ต๐ช#UnidosPorNuestrosColores#ArribaPerรบ ๐ช๐ป pic.twitter.com/6C9sioJxP2
— Selecciรณn Peruana ๐ต๐ช (@SeleccionPeru) June 21, 2021
Peru is expected to go with the same 4-2-3-1 formation, with Yoshimar Youth and Renato Tapia as the central midfielders.
Peru Probable Lineup: Gallese; Lopez, Callens, Ramos, Corzo; Tapio, Yotun, Carrillo, Cuevo, Pena, Lapadula
GAME CHANGERS
Gonzalo Plata has scored two of Ecuadorโs last three goals and has been one of their primary attacking outputs when on the field. The 20-year old youngster will yet again be a crucial part of Gustavo Alfaroโs plans now that heโs fit and he will cause problems for the Peruvian defence with his wide range of skills and brilliant finishing ability.
๐คฉ ยกPlata, el chico de oro!
๐ ยกFelicitaciones a nuestro seleccionado nacional, #GonzaloPlata, por su consagraciรณn como campeรณn de la #LigaNOS de Portugal con el @Sporting_CP!
๐ ยกQue la cosecha de logros continรบe! pic.twitter.com/k2v3Hxw4u9
— La Tri ๐ ๐๐คถ (@LaTri) May 11, 2021
The Sporting CP winger is difficult to contain and likes to cut in and find a shot at the goal but is also a great passer of the ball who can create chances for the two strikers.
Peruโs goalscoring responsibility will yet again be on the shoulders of Andre Carrillo. The 30-year old winger has taken the leadership role in the attack since the absence of Paolo Guerrero and has been providing for the team in all possible ways. He has been quiet in Copa America till now, but the match against Ecuador can be the perfect stage for him to perform at.
ยกCelebra todo el Perรบ! ๐ฃ๏ธ
Andrรฉ Carrillo puso el primer gol de nuestra @SeleccionPeru ๐ต๐ช con un potente disparo de larga distancia a los 5'.
ยกGrande, 'Culebra'! ๐#UnidosSomosMรกsFuertes#ArribaPerรบ ๐ช pic.twitter.com/5Kn3PpYEPy
— Selecciรณn Peruana ๐ต๐ช (@SeleccionPeru) October 14, 2020
Ricardo Gareca plays him on the right-wing, giving him the freedom to play with the ball and use his creativity to split open defences. He, alongside Gianluca Lapadula, will pose the biggest threat to Pedro Ortizโs goal.
PREDICTION
Peru is the stronger side of the two and certainly the favourites to win. However, the Copa America is the finest stage for major upsets and the last editionโs runner ups canโt be casual about it. It looks like an evenly poised battle, with the team to score first likely to win.
FootTheBall predicts a 1-0 win for Peru.