By Argentina and Peru are set to clash in their final Group A match of Copa America 2024 on June 29 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The 8 p.m. ET kickoff promises high stakes, particularly for Peru, as the tournament’s group stage reaches its climax.
Argentina, the reigning champions, have already secured their spot in the quarterfinals following a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Chile, courtesy of Lautaro Martinez’s 88th-minute goal. With Group A leadership all but guaranteed, Argentina’s coach Lionel Scaloni has opted to rest key players, including the talismanic Lionel Messi, who is nursing a minor injury.
In stark contrast, Peru finds itself in a must-win situation. Only a victory against the formidable Argentinians will keep their hopes alive for a place in the knockout stages. However, history doesn’t favor the Peruvians, who haven’t defeated Argentina in over 27 years.
Recent form and head-to-head statistics underscore Argentina’s dominance:
Head-to-Head (last five games):
– Argentina: 3 wins
– Peru: 0 wins
– Draws: 2
Their last encounter in October 2023 saw Argentina secure a 2-0 victory in a World Cup qualifier.
Current Form (all competitions):
Argentina:
– Chile 0-1 Argentina (June 25, 2024)
– Argentina 2-0 Canada (June 20, 2024)
– Argentina 4-1 Guatemala (June 14, 2024)
– Argentina 1-0 Ecuador (June 9, 2024)
– Argentina 3-1 Costa Rica (March 26, 2024)
Peru:
– Peru 0-1 Canada (June 25, 2024)
– Peru 0-0 Chile (June 21, 2024)
– El Salvador 0-1 Peru (June 14, 2024)
– Peru 0-0 Paraguay (June 7, 2024)
– Peru 4-1 Dominican Republic (March 26, 2024)
While Argentina’s decision to rest key players might offer a glimmer of hope for Peru, the South American champions’ depth and recent form make them favorites. Peru will need to overcome both their opponent and their own recent struggles to keep their Copa America dreams alive.
As the group stage concludes, this match could potentially reshape the knockout stage landscape, especially if Peru can pull off an upset against the odds.
