Uruguay v Peru
Football : Copa America 2011
Tuesday 19 July 2011 - Kickoff 9:45pm (Local Time)
This game is live on TV

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Preview

At the start of the Copa America, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Chile were considered the 4 big favourites to win the competition; now we reach the Semi Final stage, only Uruguay remain in a tournament that has produced shock after shock.

Uruguay stunned the hosts Argentina in the Quarter Final in a penalty shoot out after drawing 1-1. They spent much of that game playing with 10 men and it will be interesting as to how much energy the players have with only 3 days rest between games.

The team had to beat Mexico to qualify through the group stages and that remains the only game they have won in the tournament in the 4 they have played. All 3 other games have finished 1-1 and Uruguay have failed to score more than 1 goal in any of their games.

Peru are perhaps the biggest of all the surprises so far in the competition as they did finish bottom of the World Cup Qualifying group and were not expected to make it through the group stages let alone reach the Semi Finals.

They actually were in the same group as Uruguay during the initial stages and also beat Mexico while drawing with Uruguay and losing to Chile in the last minutes. Peru beat Colombia in the Quarter Finals after their opponents missed a penalty in regulation before Peru won 2-0 in extra time.

It is clear from the statements made by the Peruvian management team that they expect to make their team much tougher to beat by focusing on the defensive side of things for this match. The word 'efficient' has been used heavily in the build up to this match.

Oscar Tabarez has compared the morale in the squad to the one that was garnered with their run to the World Cup Semi Final last Summer. He has admitted the team celebrated their win over Argentina while also trying to keep them focused on the task at hand.

Head to Head

The two teams played out a 1-1 draw in the opening game of the tournament for each team.

Peru have a very strong recent record against Uruguay and that result means they have now lost just 1 of their last 6 games against them.

Prediction

This has been a strange tournament and anyone picking the favourites for each match would be in a deep hole right now as Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil all won just 3 matches combined from the 12 they have played.

Uruguay are rightly the favourites to win this match, but it will be far from easy as their first meeting suggested. They have struggled to score goals and it is hard to gauge how much energy was taken out of them in their tough match with Argentina.

Peru also played extra time in their game with Colombia, but they could have an edge as Uruguay had to play with 10 men for a long time in their game.

Peru also have a strong record against Uruguay in recent meetings and there is a chance that they could frustrate their opponents again.

I just dont feel comfortable seeing Uruguay at odds against in a competition where so many odds on favourites have failed to win games. With Peru's recent record against them, the fact that Uruguay played with 10 men for a long period against Argentina, and the lack of goals scored by Uruguay, I can see Peru at least forcing extra time if not winning the game.

The Pick :

Uruguay 1-1 Peru

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll back Peru + 0.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.10 (Paddy Power)