Peru come into this year's Copa America tournament looking to go one better than in 2019, when they fell short at the final hurdle in a 3-1 defeat to Brazil.
The moment of jubilation following talisman Paolo Guerrero's equaliser from the penalty spot on the stroke of half time was quickly drowned out as the pre-tournament favourites retook their lead through Gabriel Jesus, and a late Richarlison goal sealed the result.
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Nevertheless, that still provides plenty of reason to be positive for Peru, having defied the odds to reach the final, and they will come into this year's competition with the confidence that they can repeat that feat.
With the expectations of the nation on their shoulders, having failed to lift the trophy since 1975, Peru will definitely come into the Copa America looking to cruise through the group stage before they set their sights on the final once again.
Here, Sports Mole assesses Peru's chances at the Copa America.
GROUP
With the Copa America now made up of just two groups, sides are always bound to take on some strong outfits in the group stage, clearly shown in Peru's first fixture as they take on Brazil in Rio de Janeiro, in a repeat of the 2019 final.
After that clash with the defending champions, Peru take on a Colombia side who sit 15th in the FIFA world rankings.
Those first two difficult encounters are followed by games against Ecuador and Venezuela that could decide which sides progress with the expected candidates of Brazil and Colombia, as all three sides will be desperate to reach the final eight.
FIXTURES
June 18: Brazil vs. Peru (1am BST, Olympic Stadium, Rio de Janeiro)
June 21: Colombia vs. Peru (1am BST, Estadio Olimpico Pedro Ludovico, Goiania)
June 23: Ecuador vs. Peru (10pm BST, Estadio Olimpico Pedro Ludovico, Goiania)
June 27: Venezuela vs. Peru (10pm BST, Estadio Nacional de Brasilia, Brasilia)
RECENT FORM
Peru come into the tournament on the back of a 2-1 win over Ecuador in World Cup Qualifying, as they led 2-0 through Christian Cueva and Luis Advincula before Gonzalo Plata pulled a goal back for the hosts in the dying minutes.
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They will hope that is a sign of things to come, as Ecuador are one of the sides they are competing with in the group stage, with both sides aiming to reach the quarter-finals.
However, that victory followed a run of four straight defeats in qualifying for Gareca's men, as they lost to Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Colombia to send them to the foot of the qualifying group.
They will hope to have turned a corner with that win, and will look to carry that momentum into the group stage of the Copa America.
SQUAD
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Goalkeepers: Pedro Gallese (Orlando City), Carlos Caceda (Melgar), Jose Carvallo (Universitario).
Defenders: Aldo Corzo (Universitario), Luis Abram (Vélez Sarsfield), Jhilmar Loro (Sporting Cristal), Christian Ramos (Club UCV), Anderson Santamaria (Atlas), Alexander Callens (New York City FC), Miguel Araujo (FC Emmen), Miguel Trauco (Saint Etienne), Marcos Lopez (San Jose Earthquakes), Renzo Garces (Club UCV).
Midfielders: Martin Tavara (Sporting Cristal), Sergio Pena (FC Emmen), Christian Cueva (Al-Fateh), Wilder Cartagena (Godoy Cruz), Renato Tapia (RC Celta), Andre Carrillo (Al Hilal FC), Yoshimar Yotun (Cruz Azul), Alexis Arias (Melgar), Raziel Garcia (Cienciano).
Forwards: Luis Iberico (Melgar), Alex Valera (Universitario), Gianluca Lapadula (Benevento), Santiago Ormeno (Club León).
STAR PLAYER - Christian Cueva
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With veteran players like Raul Ruidiaz and Paolo Guerrero omitted from the squad with priority placed on the future, Peru may have to turn to midfielder Christian Cueva for some much-needed experience.
The 29-year-old has featured 72 times for his country since his debut in 2011, netting an impressive tally of 11 goals in that time.
Cueva was a key man in Peru's journey to the final in the 2019 Copa America, as he netted their first goal of the tournament in a narrow 2-1 defeat to Brazil before being named as one of the best midfielders of the competition.
Currently plying his trade in Saudi Arabia for Al-Fateh, he comes into the tournament on the back of a strong run, having hit four goals and two assists in 12 domestic games since his winter arrival from Yeni Malatyaspor.
If Peru's new young stars are to flourish, they could be reliant on the tournament experience of Cueva in the middle.
MANAGER - Ricardo Gareca
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Nicknamed el Tigre as a player, Argentine manager Ricardo Gareca has brought his strong football pedigree into international management, arguably leading Peru to overachieve in the last six years.
Having been prolific as a striker, especially with Boca Juniors, Gareca quickly worked his way up the ladder in domestic management in South America, before he took the Peru job in 2015.
Since that appointment, he has overseen 73 matches, picking up an impressive tally of 29 wins while only suffering 27 defeats.
Appointed shortly before the 2015 Copa America, the former Argentine international defied the odds by taking his side to the semi-finals in a tough time for the national team, as they went above expectations to finish third.
The 2016 tournament quickly followed, and Peru again qualified for the knockout stage but were unable to make it past the quarter-finals, but Gareca would make up for that with an excellent showing in the 2019 tournament, as the Peruvians reached the final.
Having undoubtedly performed above expectations to guide them to their first final since 1975, Gareca should definitely be looked upon fondly, and he could again guide them deep into the tournament this time around.
COPA AMERICA RECORD
Best finish: Winners (1939, 1975)
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Peru have lifted the South American continental trophy twice in the nation's history, and once since its renaming as the Copa America in 1975.
In the inaugural edition of the Copa America as it is now known, a Hugo Sotil goal fired Peru to a 1-0 win over Colombia in the final, after they previously triumphed in 1939.
Their international form has been far more bleak since that 1975 glory, with their final defeat in 2019 being the first time that the nation has reached that stage since the last time they secured the trophy.
However, Peru have shown that they have a knack of reaching the knockout round, having featured in the quarter-finals in every edition of the tournament since the turn of the century.
PREDICTION
With reliable forward Guerrero no longer in the squad, Peru may be a tough side to predict as Gareca gears his young guns up for future success.
Despite their recent impressive showings in reaching the latter rounds, we would not be surprised to see Peru, without several key players, just miss out this time, given how competitive their group is.
Brazil and Colombia are expected to lead the way, while Venezuela and Ecuador will be equally pushing for the final two spots, and we see Peru falling short on this occasion.
VERDICT: Group stage
Sam Varley
