Peru will play Paraguay in the Copa America 2015 third place playoff on Friday night in a game neither team wanted to be playing in. Both sides will be hugely disappointed to have missed out on the final at the last hurdle, and a third place playoff is a tough game to be part of. Nevertheless both teams would prefer to end the tournament on a high note and will be going for the win today. The game starts at 7.30 p.m. ET and can be watched on TV on the beIN Sports network or online through live stream via the link below.
Paraguay will have to play today without strikers Roque Santa Cruz and Derlis Gonzalez, which will make this really tough for them. They will already have a big task trying to lift the heads of the players after their 1-6 thrashing by Argentina, and without their two best attackers things could get even worse today.
Both Santa Cruz and Gonzalez went off injured within the first 20 minutes of the game with Argentina, and neither will make it back for today's game. Santa Cruz suffered a hamstring injury, and things went from bad to worse after that with Gonzalez falling badly just minutes later.
Nelson Haedo Valdez and defender Bruno Valdez are also both injury doubts, but decisions on them will be made closer to game time.
Meanwhile it is not all doom and gloom for Paraguay, and Nestor Ortigoza is likely to be back and ready to play after being absent for their games against Brazil and Argentina.
Peru will believe they can win this one. They will have seen how Paraguay were taken apart by Argentina and will see how injury-ravaged their side is, and that should give them a lift to believe they can claim third place today.
However, it would be good to remember that this Paraguay side managed to knock out Brazil in the quarter finals, and so this is a team that can compete with the best.
Coach Ricardo Gareca has said, "Paraguay are always dangerous, regardless of their thrashing. It's going to be complicated game no matter the absences."
Meanwhile, Paraguay boss Diaz has said: "We know that Peru have shown that they are in the process of growing and I'm sure both teams are going to give their best to finish in third place."
Peru managed to win third place four years ago and they will want to claim that position again at this year's tournament. However, today they will be missing Carlos Zambrano after his sending off in their semi final loss to Chile.
Today's big game between Peru and Paraguay has a scheduled start time of 7.30 p.m. ET and can be watched on TV on the beIN Sports network or online through live stream by clicking here.
