Colombia and Peru will face off in the Copa America 2016 quarterfinals on Friday.

Rest could be the difference

The Colombians looked like they might win Group A heading into their final game against Costa Rica, but coach Jose Pekerman opted for making 10 changes in the lineup and it cost him a 3-2 win and second place.

But that might have been a blessing in disguise for a few reasons. Colombia avoids the Argentina side of the bracket ensuring that the top team in the tournament is not going to be the team to impede their passage to the final.

Moreover, Colombia's top players got a much needed rest after contesting three games in one week. Soccer players are creatures of habit who occasionally play two games a week with their clubs; three games is already pushing it and with the tournament requiring seven games in under a month, these players are bound to burnout by the end of the big haul.

But Colombia's top players, with the exception of four starters, got extra rest and have the added benefit of a late start to the quarterfinals. Colombia's game with Paraguay was last Tuesday, so most of the team has gotten a full nine days of rest between games while four starters still got a solid five days of rest with only half a game played.

Compare that with Peru which played on Sunday with its top team and will only get four days of rest after playing its best team in three matches. Wear and tear could play a huge role in this match, as could sharpness.

Colombia's extra rest could make the team lack sharpness when it kicks off against Peru, but the team could grow stronger as the game progresses and Peru burns out.

Peru won its group after a controversial 1-0 win over Brazil. The team finished with seven points in group play and has been in a solid form thanks to the form of top goalie Pedro Gallese.

Player to Watch

James Rodriguez has had a good tournament thus far and was Colombia's star against Paraguay. He had a decent performance in his 45 minute stint against Costa Rica and clearly makes Colombia a threat. This is his biggest challenge to date as he has yet to lead Colombia out of the quarterfinals in any tournament he has been a part of.

Colombia Wins if...

It keeps the ball and keeps Peru with its back to the wall. Pedro Gallese is in top form, but he cannot stop everything if Colombia is constantly bullying his net. Colombia must take its leads from Ecuador's offensive performance when it mastered Peru after a poor start and came ever close to a tying goal. Moreover managing the stamina of Peru's players is huge as Colombia should be in better shape for the long haul.

Peru wins if...

Paolo Guerrero gets the space he needs to carve out Colombia's defense. The Colombia defense is solid but can be suspect when the team pushes forward so a quick up to Guerrero could be the difference for Peru.

History says...

That this rivalry is rather close to even. Colombia has won 22 games but Peru has taken 18. The two sides have drawn 21.

Colombia has been the better team over the last 23 years, losing only three times against Peru since 1983. That said, the last time these sides met in a Copa America knockout round, Peru prevailed with a 2-0 win in 2011. Colombia has improved a ton since then but Peru has managed to get past the quarterfinals in each of the last two Copas.

Prediction

Colombia makes it happen win a hotly contested game 3-2.

Start Time and Streaming Info

Colombia and Peru kick off at 8 p.m. EDT on Friday June 17. The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1 and Univision. Those looking for streaming options can obtain them with a FUboTV subscription.

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