Peru and Denmark kick-off their World Cup 2018 campaigns on Saturday when they meet at Mordovia Arena.
This Group C-clash will pit two intriguing teams against each other, brimming with exciting talent. With France expected to run away with first place, this game – between nations that progressed through the play-offs – should be a key battle towards deciding who will finish behind them.
Here are the talking points:
GARECA IS A GIFT TO THE WORLD CUP
Millions of uninitiated football fans from across the globe are about to fall in love.
Peru are a nation rich in footballing history, who’ve gone under the radar during 36 years away from the World Cup. Their time in the shadows has been ended by head coach Ricardo Gareca – and in some style, too.
The beloved former Argentine striker – twice a target for the UAE last year – has twinned the warrior spirit redolent of his ‘Tigre’ nickname with a devotion to the maxims of the ‘Beautiful Game’. Spectacular goals have followed, with emerging Aalborg winger Edison Flores’ strike in March’s impressive 2-0 victory against Croatia leading the way.
Sao Paulo playmaker Christian Cueva dropped deep to exchange passes under pressure with the centre-backs, before Watford forward Andre Carillo quickened the pace with a delightful back-heel.
Left-back Miguel Trauco then raced into centre midfield and swept a perfect pass behind the hypnotised Croatia centre-backs. Veteran forward Jefferson Farfan burst into the space and cut back for Flores to tap-in one of 2018’s best goals.
Repeat the trick in Russia and it won’t just be Peru’s iconic kit that attracts the neutrals.
Peru’s coach Ricardo Gareca attends a training session at Mordovia Arena.
ERIKSEN’S TIME TO SHINE
Michael Laudrup might not have been present for Denmark’s finest hour, but there is no doubting his standing within the game.
Few playmakers have reached the level of technical mastery present when he pressed the ignition switch for Johan Cruyff’s ‘Dream Team’ at Barcelona from 1989-94.
This legacy, however, remains diminished at national level by his no-show for Euro 1992’s shock victory. An opening that Tottenham Hotspur’s Christian Eriksen could take advantage of.
Eriksen was the shining light for club – some achievement with England captain Harry Kane present – and country in the previous season. A career-best tally of 14 goals during 46 matches in all competitions showcased his increased lethality, while the hat-trick against the Republic of Ireland in November’s play-offs was a joy to behold.
Group C presents plentiful opportunity for further personal glory. Peru’s 26 goals conceded was the most within CONMEBOL qualifying’s top five, while only during March were four goals let in by Australia against fellow Scandinavians Norway.
Spurs club-mate Hugo Lloris has also shown signs of fallibility in goal during recent months.
Inspire a surge to top spot in Group C and the competitions becomes wide open for Denmark.
Laudrup should expect company in Denmark’s Pantheon.
Denmark’s midfielder Christian Eriksen disembarks from a plane at Anapa airport near Vityazevo.
SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE?
You have to go back until winter 2016 for either Peru or Denmark to taste defeat in a FIFA-sanctioned match.
This durability – 15 unbeaten fixtures apiece – points to both the courage instilled in the South Americans by Gareca and the efficacy of the aggressive, direct game plan that has seen Norwegian head coach Age Hareide light the fuse under ‘Danish Dynamite’.
The question now is whether Mordovia Arena will witness a cagey opener upon which both sides look to protect their infallible runs, or they instead boast the confidence to push on for a momentum-building early result?
The characters on show seem to fit the latter scenario. Peru are emboldened by the freezing of record goal scorer Paolo Guerrero’s 14-month ban for a failed drugs test caused by drinking contaminated tea, with Flores, Cueva and Farfan sure to provide excellent ammunition.
Hareide has based his reign on bringing the best out of Eriksen. A tally of 15 goals from him in 19 matches speaks volumes.
This is even without counting on a support cast that includes proficient Feyenoord centre forward Nicolai Jorgensen and towering RB Leipzig forward Yussuf Poulsen.
With such talents on show, you’d hope attacking football reigns supreme.
Edison Flores of Peru takes a shot against Scotland.
