Mexico and Peru are both participating in the 2011 Copa America without their best attacking players, but in their first games, they fared differently. Mexico's only top class attacking player is Giovani dos Santos, and while he played well against Chile, he got little assistance as Mexico fell 2-1. Peru got a little luckier, as a seemingly brilliant and stacked Uruguay side played poorly en route to a 1-1 draw against the Peruvians. On Friday, both teams will be looking to notch their first win in the tournament.
Copa America 2011, Mexico Vs. Peru: Preview
Peru are without both Jefferson Farfan and Claudio Pizarro, who are almost certianly their best two attacking players. Their goal scorer against Uruguay was Paolo Guerrero, a man who has played very little football over the last two seasons after a promising start to his career in the Bundesliga. Both teams are seriously lacking in attacking talent and both teams are in seriously in need of a win to have a good chance at advancing.
Goals should probably be at a premium in this one thanks to the lack of attacking talent on both sides, but dos Santos should be the best attacking player on the pitch, while Mexico’s defense was unaffected by the prostitution scandal and is actually one of the strongest in the tournament. That should be the difference, but don’t take my word for it. As the early results in this tournament show, anyone who bets money on Copa America is a fool.
For more on Mexico vs. Peru, the Mexican national team, and Mexican football in general, visit SB Nation’s Mexican football blog FMF State Of Mind.
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