The final round of group matches in the Copa America begins on Saturday night with the first section to coclude being Group A where we already know that Argentina have qualified ahead of their meeting with Peru in Miami.
Peru are not yet out of the competition but they must win this final game and hope the other match goes in their favour. Argentina do still need a point in order to confirm themselves as the winners of the group.
Where to watch
The match will be shown live and in full on the Premier Sports 1 channel with the coverage for this one beginning at 12.50am ahead of the 1am kick off.
Argentina
It has been fairly plain sailing for Argentina in this tournament so far in that they have won both of their matches without conceding and are safely through to the next stage of the competition with a match to spare. It is fair to say that the goals might have taken longer to come than they would have wanted, certainly in their second match against Chile, but they had looked like they were coming and when they did Argentina were comfortable enough winners of both games.
That means that they can give a rest to anyone carrying a knock or who is on a yellow card and things like that. Lionel Messi has had an injury with Miami this season and although he would want to play just down the road from where he plies his club trade these days he is expected to be rested. Lionel Scaloni is expected to give chances to the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Valentin Carboni to shine on the big stage as he rotates his side.
Special Offer
Sign up for a Boylesports account and bet £10 to get up to £20 in free bets! Perfect offer for the Copa America! Click the image below for this great offer! New accounts only. 18+ T&Cs apply. Gamble Aware.
Peru
This certainly hasn’t been the tournament that Peru would have been craving when they set off for America but really it has been the one that was expected because this isn’t the greatest time there has ever been for Peruvian football. That is evidenced in the fact that Paolo Guerrero is still being looked on as the man to come off the bench to get them out of trouble in matches. They have a point to show for their efforts so far and have to win here to have any hope of progressing.
The big problem for Peru, as it looked like bring even before the tournament began, is the lack of a goal threat. They are yet to score in the competition and while the Canada keeper made the odd save or two they haven’t really looked like scoring. They then got a bit desperate in that second game knowing it was their best chance of getting the points they needed to qualify and were picked off. They look in a big hole which will take some escaping here.
Betting
Lautaro Martinez has scored off the bench in the last two matches for Argentina and with Lionel Messi not going to be around here he is near enough assured of a start in this one so it makes sense to snap up the bigger than 2/1 quotes that he scores for a third match in succession in this tournament. I get that Peru have to win the game and will be expected to have more of it against a rotated Argentina side but that might only play further into the hands of Martinez.
That should leave more space in behind for him to exploit or a bigger gap between the Peruvian midfield and defence so you would imagine that he isn’t going to lack for chances. Martinez has already scored twice against Peru in his international career so it is an opponent that he is comfortable playing. There may be no Messi to dictate the play but Argentina aren’t short of creative talent at their disposal and so I expect the Inter man to bag again off the back of that.
Tips
Back Lautaro Martinez to score anytime for a 2/10 stake at 3.40 with Unibet
