“The Gareca team is a little clock that always gives the exact time, why change?”

From the affection and gratitude for so much football, the fan wanted Paolo Guerrero on the payroll of the Peruvian National Team for the playoff on June 13, from the football point of view it was not advisable. Paolo has played very little in recent years due to injuries, he comes from a long inactivity and is already thirty-eight in January. Now it is more difficult for him to take the rhythm of high competition.

It is not surprising that he was not among the 28 summoned on Friday by Gareca. The same thing happens with Farfán. From 2019 to here he has even fewer games than Guerrero. The Ruidíaz thing gives to debate it, for his good present, because the DT does not have too many forwards and for being an attacker with more than 200 goals in clubs, although his numbers in the national team are squalid: 4 goals in 50 games: 0.08 goal per match. Any.

Besides, Gareca He has taught us not to discuss his decisions, his degree of success is overwhelming and each determination of his has a valid reason. When you trust a player, he knows why, and when you don’t, the same. Your calls contain a message. Why did Carrillo enter the list…? With 24 days to go, Ricardo believes that this one will arrive. And Carrillo is one of the permanent ones.

The coach already has the team, the squad and the human group, he is not going to experiment in a crucial match, which does not give revenge: it is hello Qatar or goodbye Qatar. With his history he goes to war if necessary. Even a ten-year-old boy knows that, if there are no injuries, Peru must play the playoffs with Gallese, Advíncula, Zambrano, Callens and Trauco, Tapia and Yotún, Carrillo, Peña and Cueva, Lapadula ahead. And the Ear in the bedroom. Nor will the drawing change: 4-2-3-1. The computer is a little clock that always gives the exact time, why change?

With almost the same actors, this 2022 version is more solid than the 2018 version, it has greater harmony and reliability. There is an evident evolution in various elements: Advíncula and Zambrano are more today than they were five years ago, Zambrano hits much less, he is more serious and efficient. Both are immovable starters in Boca. Callens entered, asserted himself and never comes out. Yotún went from lateral to cerebral midfielder, a more important function; if he plays well, Peru plays well. Tapia is no longer simply a tireless cutting midfielder, now he distributes with precision and intelligence, he even looks more ductile with the ball; Cueva went from sparks of talent to a more regular and continuous inspiration. And now he’s a 10 grand. Those quality jumps improved the whole. In addition, they managed to reach the playoffs, they deserve to play it. The list is perfect, there are no buttons to touch.

Which rival is more convenient…? emirates, undoubtedly. But that is cause for another conversation.