Haiti face Peru. Twitter[/caption]Internet Desk: Peru will kick off their Copa America campaign against Haiti on Saturday knowing their hopes of progressing to the latter rounds depend on making a strong start.
The South American side, who finished third in last year's tournament, will be bidding to upset the odds and progress from a group that also features Brazil and Ecuador.
While Peru impressed in 2015 and are two-time Copa America winners, their squad now consists of largely young, untested players.
Jefferson Farfan, formerly of Schalke, and Werder Bremen striker Claudio Pizarro were both left out, and half of their 20-strong outfield squad have fewer than 10 international caps.
Kolkata football lovers will be keeping a close watch on their television sets as Haitian Sony Norde takes the field in this mega event.
Haiti and Peru last met in a 1-1 stalemate in 2000.
Haiti, ranked 71st in FIFA's world rankings -- the lowest of all nations competing in the tournament -- will be making their Copa America debut.
The two teams will meet at the CenturyLink Field in Seattle in the Group B opener, with Brazil and Ecuador playing later on Saturday evening.
Meanwhile, in a Group A fixture, Costa Rica are looking to do "something big" at this year's Copa America despite being without star goalkeeper Keylor Navas.
The Costa Rican Football Federation on Monday confirmed Real Madrid's Navas would not be taking part in the tournament in the United States because of an Achilles problem.
On Thursday it emerged the in-form Los Ticos are up to 23rd in FIFA's world rankings.
And ahead of them kicking off their Copa America 2016 campaign with Saturday's Group A clash against Paraguay in Orlando, assistant boss Luis Marin said on the FEDEFUTBOL website: "For us [the new ranking] is a great joy.
"We have a goal of reaching the top 10 of the FIFA rankings, and it is part of the process of gradually improving.
"It is encouraging, we are happy, it obliges us to continue working harder every day with a very clear goal of climbing positions in the FIFA ranking -- and it also forces us to do something big in the Copa America."
Costa Rica -- World Cup quarterfinalists in 2014 -- have won seven of their last 10 fixtures under boss Oscar Ramirez.
In contrast, Ramon Diaz's Paraguay have secured victory from only one of their last six games.
But the side came fourth in the 2015 Copa America and defender Fabian Balbuena has stressed he and his team-mates regard themselves as contenders to win the competition this time around.
Balbuena, quoted on the Paraguayan Football Association's official website, said: "At this level all squads are prepared in the best way, and I think those renowned for good performances in previous competitions are candidates.
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