Even in this age, where it is possible to tune into the most obscure competitions from the comfort of your own home, certain teams arrive at a World Cup shrouded in mystery.
One of those in this year’s edition is undoubtedly Peru – for both their long-term disappearance from the global stage and the potential they have as one of the summer’s best supporting actors.
Of all the South American nations to have made it to football’s blue riband event, the team that is emblazoned by a red sash has endured the longest wait to return.
Their dismal performance in 1982 proved portentous of what was to come but it was in the 1970s, and the era of Teofilo Cubillas, which proves just how rich a football tradition belongs to Peru.
Cubillas is one of the best players you may never have heard of. The attacking midfielder sits alongside Germany’s Miroslav Klose and Thomas Muller as the only players to have scored five goals or more in separate World Cups and was the spearhead as Peru twice reached the knockout stages in the decade.
In the intervening years, allegations of corruption, government interference, player indiscipline and an air crash involving Peruvian club Alianza Lima has seen the country hit the canvas time and again. Now the challengers from the north west of South America have risen once more, though this is no simple tale of an underdog.
After a rocky start in qualifying, Los Incas conceded just four goals from their last seven games, including a stalemate in Argentina and the 2-0 aggregate win over New Zealand which sent them into the finals. Style has not been sacrificed for solidity as Peru play a possession-based game which is easy on the eye and produced more goals (27) than any other nation in CONMEBOL qualifying apart from top two finishers Brazil and Uruguay.
Boss Ricardo Gareca possesses a locksmith for defences in Christian Cueva, legerdemain from wide areas in Edison Flores and the aging but effective export to Europe, Jefferson Farfan.
He also has a legitimate goalscorer in Paolo Guerrero.
Renato Tapia
An ever-present for Peru during their qualification campaign, at just 22 years of age, Tapia bears a heavy load as the chief conductor in midfield. The Peru captain-in-waiting is likely to attract the kind of attention in Russia that belies his place on the substitutes’ bench for club team Feyenoord.
COACH
YOUNG STAR
Edison Flores
His club career has not gone quite according to plan so far – he is kicking around Denmark for AaB – but the winger, who turned 24 in May, has the magic touch for Peru. A healthy return of nine goals from 26 caps suggests he can trouble defences in Russia.
74 DEF 76 MID 77 ATT
World Cups competed at
P18, W7, D5, L6
World ranking
11
Goalkeepers: Pedro Gallese (Veracruz), Carlos Caceda (Deportivo Municipal), Jose Carvallo (UTC).
Defenders: Aldo Corzo (Universitario), Luis Advincula (Lobos Buap), Christian Ramos (Veracruz), Miguel Araujo (Alianza Lima), Alberto Rodriguez (Atletico Junior), Anderson Santamaria (Puebla), Miguel Trauco (Flamengo), Nilson Loyola (Melgar).
Midfielders: Renato Tapia (Feyenoord), Pedro Aquino (Lobos Buap), Yoshimar Yotun (Orlando City), Paolo Hurtado (Vitoria Guimaraes), Christian Cueva (Sao Paulo), Edison Flores (Aalborg), Andy Polo (Portland Timbers), Wilder Cartagena (Veracruz).
Forwards: Andre Carrillo (Watford), Raul Ruidiaz (Morelia), Jefferson Farfan (Lokomotiv Moscow), Paolo Guerrero (Flamengo).
VERDICT
