Brazil wary of Peru threat as Copa America final spot beckons

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Brazil head coach Tite has warned his players that recent results against Peru will count for nothing when the teams meet in the Copa America semifinals on Monday.

The South American rivals have clashed five times in the past two years, with the Selecao having won four times - including the 2019 Copa America final - and lost once.

"Both teams have a tradition of facing each other," Tite told a virtual news conference on Sunday. "We've played in finals, group stage matches, World Cup qualifiers and friendlies. But any observation ends there.

"Everything is different [this time]: the situation that both teams find themselves in, the players in each team. The fact that this is a knockout game means that the demands are very high."

Brazil will be without suspended forward Gabriel Jesus for the match at Rio de Janeiro's Olympic stadium while full-back Alex Sandro is in doubt because of a soft-tissue muscle injury.

Tite ruled out any major surprises in his team selection and tactics, saying he is likely to maintain a 4-4-2 formation used throughout most of the tournament.

"We are going to have two central midfielders and two attacking playmakers," the 60-year-old said. "But I will not say whether the playmakers will be in a central role or wingers," he added.

The winner of Monday's duel will play either Argentina or Colombia in the final at Rio's Maracana stadium on July 10.