Appearances: 2
Best finish: Quarter-finals in 1970
Manager: Ricardo Gareca
Star player: Jefferson Farfan
In the last match of the qualification stage, Peru drew with Colombia and that was the best possible result both teams could benefit from.
While Colombia qualified directly, Peru went on to the play-offs. It was later found that players had openly discussed the outcome on the pitch but surprisingly neither were penalized by Fifa.
The team’s top scorer, Jose Paolo Guerrero, tested positive for cocaine and was slapped with a six-month ban. Guerrero will still be eligible to play in Russia.
Before the home play-off leg against New Zealand, Peruvian fans tried to unsettle their opponents by setting off fireworks in front of the team hotel. Peru secured a 2-0 second-leg victory after a 0-0 draw in New Zealand and sealed their place at the World Cup.
Peru rely a lot of short passes and possession as it has helped them to get some stunning results. They have a very confident goalkeeper in Pedro Gallese and a skillful leader in Alberto Rodríguez marshaling the defence. The supply job will be in the hands of the robust Yoshimar Yotun. Jefferson Farfan and Paolo Guerrero will be up front. The wing-backs Aldo Corzo and Miguel Trauco will also have a key role to play if Peru has to make any progress at the World Cup. Also keep an eye on the very talented Christian Cueva.
Keep an eye on Farfan, who currently plays for Lokomotiv Moscow. It was his goal against New Zealand that helped Peru qualify.
Coach Ricardo Gareca is also a shrewd tactician and the man behind Peru’s achievements in the recent time. Prior to managing Peru, Gareca worked mostly in Argentina, where he won three Primera Division titles with Velez Sarsfield. In Peru he where he won the title with Universitario.
Peru featured at three World Cups in the 1970s and 1980s, and in each of those tournaments Peru’s greatest ever player, Teofilo Cubillas, played the central role. The twice made it to the knockout stages in 1970 and 1978. In 1970, Peru lost 4-2 to Brazil in the quarter-finals. Cubillas scored five goals in the tournament and was the third top scorer and best young player.
Eight years later, Cubillas scored another five goals in Argentina but Peru lost all three games with an aggregate score of 10-0.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Pedro Gallese, Carlos Caceda, Jose Carvallo
Defenders: Aldo Corzo, Luis Advincula, Christian Ramos, Miguel Araujo, Alberto Rodriguez, Anderson Santamaria, Miguel Trauco, Nilson Loyola
Midfielders: Renato Tapia, Pedro Aquino, Yoshimar Yotun, Paolo Hurtado, Christian Cueva, Edison Flores, Andy Polo, Wilder Cartagena
Forwards: Andre Carrillo, Raul Ruidiaz, Jefferson Farfan, Paolo Guerrero.
