PLAY WITH DT: La Polla El Comercio Copa América USA 2024: Which team will win for you? Play and predict all the results of the tournament
For many, it was what was expected. The team arrived at the continental tournament last in the qualifiers (two points in six games), with a new coach (Jorge Fossati) who is trying to implement a new formation like the 3-5-2 that requires time to work on, and following four friendlies once morest lower-level rivals (Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Paraguay; the latter was also eliminated from the Cup). But the near future is still a cause for concern: in September they have to face Colombia in Lima and Ecuador in Quito for the qualifiers.
The competition also left some statements from the coach that have generated some controversy. Or they increased the criticism following a call-up that included Paolo Guerrero and Christian Cueva, two of the national team’s key players without a doubt, but whose current form is not at all good. That is why, at DT we selected the four statements from the Uruguayan to analyze and determine whether or not they are far from reality.
| The Fossati era | Tournament | Goal scorers | Shooting on goal |
|---|---|---|---|
INTERVIEW: Javier Saviola: “Paolo Guerrero reminds me of Batistuta, in Peru they must respect him”
“Paolo Guerrero and Christian Cueva are in full force”
Let’s start with an assertion: both Paolo Guerrero and Christian Cueva were fundamental in the historic qualification for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The hierarchy and legacy of both are not achieved around the corner, much less are they up for debate. But today, six years following the World Cup that made us cry with joy, they are far from their best level. And the fact that coach Jorge Fossati says they are “in full force” is totally debatable.
Let’s start with Paolo. The ‘9’ of César Vallejo arrived at the Copa América at 40 years old and scoring just three goals in nine games played in six months. “It is time to leave the historical figures in the museum showcase. I am not saying this for Tapia, Yotún or Advíncula –who have been sorely missed and who, presumably, maintain the level of Russia 2018–; I am saying this for Paolo Guerrero. Take care of him, Nonno. Take care of him from the reproach of the stands, but above all take care of him from himself; take care of him from his impetus, from his desire, from his stubbornness to continue fighting battles that are no longer his responsibility to fight.”wrote DT columnist Renato Cisneros in his last article in which he analyzed the future of the national team with a view to the Qualifiers.
Paolo arrived at the Cup without playing a single minute of play since the beginning of May, when he suffered a muscle tear. Since then he has recovered at the Videna under the watchful eye of Jorge Fossati. And in the continental competition he played just 95 minutes in three games (in the last one, once morest Argentina, he was a starter). And his numbers are the following: zero goals, zero assists, two shots on goal, zero chances created and only 54% of duels won.
Cueva’s case is even worse. He had no activity during 2024 before getting on the plane to play the championship in the United States. In fact, his last game, before playing 11 minutes once morest Canada, had been in October 2023. He was recovering from a torn posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Initially, he was going with the national delegation as a guest, to work closely with Professor Fossati thinking regarding the Qualifiers, but he ended up making the final list and playing a total of 24 minutes. He did not score any goals, assists or key passes.
“If this is regarding blows, it will be regarding blows. We are not going to run away.”
The phrase he said before the match once morest Canada illustrates what Fossati wants from the Peruvian team: to have eleven warriors who give their all on the field. In short: Uruguayan grit. Instilling that sense of belonging does not require as much work as making the 3-5-2 work, and the players understood this perfectly.
Despite the loss, Peru won 55% of duels and had 12 losses in divided balls, below the 19 of the Canadian team. In addition, it had a percentage of 61% in won entries, while its rivals only 35%.
The national team played one of its best matches, shooting four times on goal. However, it was unable to score its first three points. And the expulsion of Miguel Araujo affected the match, which ended in defeat.
“There are many positive things for Peru in this Copa America”
Jorge Fossati was clear before the Copa America: the tournament was going to serve to work towards the qualifiers. The goal is none other than to qualify for the World Cup. However, apart from consolidating a defense with Araujo, Zambrano and Callens, the Peruvian team had no other positive things to highlight.
The offense is a difficult debt to settle. In the three games (270 minutes), Peru only had nine shots on goal. Quispe showed that he cannot yet be the team’s leader, Lapadula only shot three times on goal and is far from his best level. Paolo and Cueva are not what they used to be. And those who were not there were missed: Tapia and Yotún.
The 3-5-2 system, which takes away space from skilled wingers like Bryan Reyna or Joao Grimaldo, has not taken hold either. “It seems that Fossati’s system does not suit the national team,” analysed journalist Michel Dancourt in a survey recently published in DT.
Even worse if we talk regarding how we fared in the Cup: eliminated in the group stage with just one point. “We were going to make every effort to celebrate having a little more time. That was what it was regarding and that was what we continued to do. What changes for me is that I can’t have the players for another week,” Fossati himself said following the elimination. The Cup, then, left us with many more bad things than good things.
****
Bonus:
“I wouldn’t be opposed to playing at the Monumental”
Perhaps it is because of his past at Universitario, but Jorge Fossati does not mind moving the Peruvian team’s home ground from the National Stadium to the Monumental de Ate. However, the Bicolor does not have pleasant memories of playing in that stadium.
For the qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup, Chemo del Solar -coincidentally also a former member of the team- chose the Monumental as the venue. That time we finished last with 13 points, two less than Bolivia. And at home we managed just two wins, four draws and two losses.
“For me, Peru should always play at home, which is the National Stadium. The Monumental is a spectacular stadium, but Peru’s historic home has always been, is and will always be the National Stadium,” said journalist Rodrigo Morales for DT El Comercio.
PLAY WITH DT: La Polla El Comercio Copa América USA 2024: Which team will win for you? Play and predict all the results of the tournament
Peru’s Performance at the Copa América: A Critical Analysis
For many, it was what was expected. The team arrived at the continental tournament last in the qualifiers (two points in six games), with a new coach (Jorge Fossati) who is trying to implement a new formation like the 3-5-2 that requires time to work on, and following four friendlies once morest lower-level rivals (Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Paraguay; the latter was also eliminated from the Cup). But the near future is still a cause for concern: in September they have to face Colombia in Lima and Ecuador in Quito for the qualifiers.
The competition also left some statements from the coach that have generated some controversy. Or they increased the criticism following a call-up that included Paolo Guerrero and Christian Cueva, two of the national team’s key players without a doubt, but whose current form is not at all good. That is why, at DT we selected the four statements from the Uruguayan to analyze and determine whether or not they are far from reality.
The Fossati Era – Copa América Performance
| The Fossati era | Tournament | Goal scorers | Shooting on goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peru 2-0 Nicaragua | Friendly | Grimaldo Lapadula |
6 |
| Peru 4-1 Dominican Republic | Friendly | Peña Castillo Quispe Warrior |
4 |
| Peru 0-0 Paraguay | Friendly | – | 0 |
| Peru 1-0 El Salvador | Friendly | Flores | 5 |
| Peru 0-0 Chile | Copa America | – | 4 |
| Peru 0-1 Canada | Copa America | – | 4 |
| Peru 0-2 Argentina | Copa America | – | 1 |
"Paolo Guerrero and Christian Cueva are in full force"
Let’s start with an assertion: both Paolo Guerrero and Christian Cueva were fundamental in the historic qualification for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The hierarchy and legacy of both are not achieved around the corner, much less are they up for debate. But today, six years following the World Cup that made us cry with joy, they are far from their best level. And the fact that coach Jorge Fossati says they are "in full force" is totally debatable.
Let’s start with Paolo. The ‘9’ of César Vallejo arrived at the Copa América at 40 years old and scoring just three goals in nine games played in six months. “It is time to leave the historical figures in the museum showcase. I am not saying this for Tapia, Yotún or Advíncula –who have been sorely missed and who, presumably, maintain the level of Russia 2018–; I am saying this for Paolo Guerrero. Take care of him, Nonno. Take care of him from the reproach of the stands, but above all take care of him from himself; take care of him from his impetus, from his desire, from his stubbornness to continue fighting battles that are no longer his responsibility to fight.” wrote DT columnist Renato Cisneros in his last article in which he analyzed the future of the national team with a view to the Qualifiers.
Paolo arrived at the Cup without playing a single minute of play since the beginning of May, when he suffered a muscle tear. Since then he has recovered at the Videna under the watchful eye of Jorge Fossati. And in the continental competition he played just 95 minutes in three games (in the last one, once morest Argentina, he was a starter). And his numbers are the following: zero goals, zero assists, two shots on goal, zero chances created and only 54% of duels won.
Cueva’s case is even worse. He had no activity during 2024 before getting on the plane to play the championship in the United States. In fact, his last game, before playing 11 minutes once morest Canada, had been in October 2023. He was recovering from a torn posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Initially, he was going with the national delegation as a guest, to work closely with Professor Fossati thinking regarding the Qualifiers, but he ended up making the final list and playing a total of 24 minutes. He did not score any goals, assists or key passes.
"If this is regarding blows, it will be regarding blows. We are not going to run away."
The phrase he said before the match once morest Canada illustrates what Fossati wants from the Peruvian team: to have eleven warriors who give their all on the field. In short: Uruguayan grit. Instilling that sense of belonging does not require as much work as making the 3-5-2 work, and the players understood this perfectly.
Despite the loss, Peru won 55% of duels and had 12 losses in divided balls, below the 19 of the Canadian team. In addition, it had a percentage of 61% in won entries, while its rivals only 35%.
The national team played one of its best matches, shooting four times on goal. However, it was unable to score its first three points. And the expulsion of Miguel Araujo affected the match, which ended in defeat.
"There are many positive things for Peru in this Copa America"
Jorge Fossati was clear before the Copa America: the tournament was going to serve to work towards the qualifiers. The goal is none other than to qualify for the World Cup. However, apart from consolidating a defense with Araujo, Zambrano and Callens, the Peruvian team had no other positive things to highlight.
The offense is a difficult debt to settle. In the three games (270 minutes), Peru only had nine shots on goal. Quispe showed that he cannot yet be the team’s leader, Lapadula only shot three times on goal and is far from his best level. Paolo and Cueva are not what they used to be. And those who were not there were missed: Tapia and Yotún.
The 3-5-2 system, which takes away space from skilled wingers like Bryan Reyna or Joao Grimaldo, has not taken hold either. “It seems that Fossati’s system does not suit the national team,” analyzed journalist Michel Dancourt in a survey recently published in DT.
Even worse if we talk regarding how we fared in the Cup: eliminated in the group stage with just one point. “We were going to make every effort to celebrate having a little more time. That was what it was regarding and that was what we continued to do. What changes for me is that I can’t have the players for another week,” Fossati himself said following the elimination. The Cup, then, left us with many more bad things than good things.
"I wouldn’t be opposed to playing at the Monumental"
Perhaps it is because of his past at Universitario, but Jorge Fossati does not mind moving the Peruvian team’s home ground from the National Stadium to the Monumental de Ate. However, the Bicolor does not have pleasant memories of playing in that stadium.
For the qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup, Chemo del Solar -coincidentally also a former member of the team- chose the Monumental as the venue. That time we finished last with 13 points, two less than Bolivia. And at home we managed just two wins, four draws and two losses.
“For me, Peru should always play at home, which is the National Stadium. The Monumental is a spectacular stadium, but Peru’s historic home has always been, is and will always be the National Stadium,” said journalist Rodrigo Morales for DT El Comercio.
