Peru

Page by: Kevin He (Apr 2016)

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Current FIFA Ranking: 46

Historical Tournament Record: 2-time champions, 12 total Top 4 finishes

Manager: Ricardo Gareca (Argentina)

FIFA ranking since 1993

FIFA ranking since 1993

Overview

Despite Peru’s seemingly low FIFA ranking, the team has historically placed well at the Copa America. With two tournament victories and multiple 3rd and 4th place finishes, they’ve done much better than their close rivals, the Ecuadorians. It just so happens that Ecuador is in Group B as well, which should make for some exciting group stage matches. Another rivalry we might see pan out is with Chile, one that Greg Duke of CNN ranks as the #9 international rivalry in the world [1]. Chile will be competing against Argentina and others in Group D, but if both teams make it out of group stages – a feat that may be an uphill battle for Peru – watch out for the potential faceoff. This rivalry is rooted in historical turmoil between the two countries, dating back to the War of the Pacific in the late 19th Century. With soccer being the main sport of both countries, matchups on the pitch mean a lot to both sides.

Peru’s rivalry with Ecuador dates back to border disputes between the two countries. Bad blood between these two teams were enough for the football confederation they belong to, CONMEBOL, to consider switching matchups in the 1995 Copa America to avoid confrontations between the two sides. They decided against it in the end, but two decades later, matches between them are still heated and physical. When they meet up this year in Phoenix for group stages, get ready for some passionate football [2].

Last year, Peru finished 3rd place in the Copa America with Ricardo Gareca at the helm. In doing so they had to get out of a group featuring Brazil and Colombia, two soccer juggernauts and consistently difficult opponents. This year they will once again be pitted against Brazil, and they have proven they are up to the challenge. It remains to be seen, however, whether they are of the same form as last year. A rough start to the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers (1-1-4 record over 6 games) indicates that this may not be their year [3].

Players to Watch

Jefferson Farfan

Photo labeled for reuse by Wikipedia

Club: Al Jazira (UAE) | Position: Forward


Jefferson Farfan, a native Peruvian, is one of this national squad’s most important players. In 73 international appearances, he’s scored 22 goals, putting him at #4 all-time in goals scored for the country. His speed is his greatest asset, along with his powerful right foot and skillful dribbling [4]. Farfan’s ability to cross the ball into open space and find his teammates (notably Carlos Pizzaro, who is known for his headers) will be crucial for Peru’s offense. Farfan, when he played for Bundesliga team Schalke 04, was well known for his corner kick and free kick setups. Watch for him to create opportunities for his team in that fashion.

Claudio Pizarro

Photo labeled for reuse by Wikipedia

Club: Werder Bremen | Position: Striker


Pizarro is another big name on the Peru squad, boasting 186 league goals in the Bundesliga, enough to put him at #5 in the league’s history and make him the all-time leader in goals for a foreign player. He has made appearances for Peru in their past 4 Copa America tournaments, played for big name clubs like Bayern Munich and Chelsea, and been a key offensive goal threat on every team he’s played for [5]. Pizarro is particularly adept in front of the goal and finishing headers, so his synergy with Farfan, who can deliver beautiful crosses, will be important. In 86 appearances for Peru, he has scored 20 times [5]. He is a relatively old player, however, at 37 years of age. Pizarro is on his last legs, but maybe he has a few more strong showings left in him for this year’s tournament.

Manager

Ricardo Gareca, born in Argentina, is the current manager of the Peru squad. His playing career involved 20 appearances and 5 goals for the Argentinian national team, along with several stints on various prestigious Argentinian clubs. He was appointed head coach for Peru only a few months before the start of the Copa America last year, leading them on a fairly successful run in the tournament despite having formidable opposition in the group stages [6]. With Gareca leading this team, I wouldn’t count them out.

Sources

[1] Duke, Greg. “Top 10 International Rivalries.” CNN. Cable News Network, 6 Nov. 2008. Web. 01 May 2016. <http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SPORT/football/11/06/first11.rivalries/index.html>.

[2] “Peru National Football Team.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 01 May 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peru_national_football_team#Rivalries>.

[3] “2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.” FIFA.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 May 2016. <http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/southamerica/>.

[4] Jones, Matt. “Copa America 2015 Preview: Key Players, Squads and TV Schedules.” World Soccer Talk. N.p., 10 June 2015. Web. 01 May 2016. <http://worldsoccertalk.com/2015/06/10/copa-america-2015-preview-key-players-squads-and-tv-schedules/>.

[5] “Claudio Pizarro.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 01 May 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudio_Pizarro>.

[6] “Ricardo Gareca.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 01 May 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_Gareca>.

 

How to cite this page:

“Peru” Written by Kevin He (28 April 2016), Copa America Centenario 2016, Soccer Politics Blog, Duke University http://sites.duke.edu/wcwp/tournament-guides/copa-america-centenario-2016-guide/copa-america-centenario-2016-team-guide/peru/ (accessed on (date))