Warrior with hierarchy, the unknown Cave and hope in Lapadula: the UnoxUno of this double date for Peru

A tight victory and an almost paperless defeat. Those have been the results achieved by the cast led by Juan Reynoso on their mini tour of Asia. Is it positive or negative? Or in friendlies, beyond the results, are conclusions drawn from what the players have done on the field? For the fan there is clearly a sour feeling. For Reynoso, one more point of learning in this new era in command of the selection.

The ‘Cabezón’ has had a total of eight friendlies (four wins, three losses and one draw). The first three did not go to Qatar 2022 and the Asian team, which reached the round of 16, played only with World Cup players against ours.

The other rivals -of greater weight- were in the last World Cup event from which we were left out in the playoffs: Mexico, Germany, Morocco and Japan. Only managed to get a tie against the Moroccan team. The rest were defeats.

But beyond the results, this is what the two meetings of the Blanquirroja in Asian lands have left us:

Paolo’s return and his reunion with the other warrior

The call for Juan Reynoso brought with it the surprise that everyone expected but was equally impressive: the return of Paolo Guerrero. One year, eight months and seven days later, the historic scorer appeared on the list. From the match against Chile in 2021 in which he confessed to the pain in his knee and withdrew from the national team. Now, with rhythm in Racing Club of the competitive Argentine league, the Predator returned.

And we must be honest here: this Paolo, at 39, is not the same one on the road to Russia capable of running over the most staunch defenders – rather they deny it Godin, Mascherano, Medel and others-. The one of now has less mobility and much less aggressiveness. But he still retains the impeccable technique and hierarchy.

The return of Warrior also coincided with the call of Gianluca Lapadula, his successor. One with almost 40, the other with 33. Both had played together 25 minutes against Colombia in 2021 for the Qualifiers but the context was totally adverse: The then coach Ricardo Gareca sent them on the attack when the team lost 3-0. In fact, he also entered Raul Ruidiaz. That is, that day we played with three nines.

This time, against Japan, Juan Reynoso He decided to test them both from the start, despite the risks involved in playing with double 9 and sacrificing a man in the middle.

Both showed that they can play together, they have the ability to understand what each one should do. Guerrero usually leaves the area and acts as a ’10’, while Lapadula crashes against the central defenders and lives making diagonals.

San Pedro Gallese can be wrong

His stats are staggering and make us wonder why he continues to play in Major League Soccer: That is, an average of 2.8 saves per game.

His security under the three sticks was reflected in the first match against South Korea where he was a figure again with three miraculous saves. However, against Japan he missed the first goal: a shot from Ito to his stick that he could not stop. And he conceded another three goals in which he could do little.

Beyond that, gallese He showed again why he is the starting goalkeeper even in friendlies. It’s almost impossible to think of a lineup without him. And if it happens, doubts begin. Facing the Qualifiers, he is the most stable of all, except for some injury that hopefully will not occur.

Christian Cueva offside

He was the most influential footballer during Gareca’s eight years: 15 goals in 86 games and dozens of memorable matches. However, today’s Cueva is far from being the Cholo loved by Tigre and the Peruvian fans. His present generates more doubts than certainties.

He left Arab soccer at the beginning of the year and returned to Peruvian soccer to put on the Alianza Lima shirt. In La Victoria, the steering wheel has a very discreet present:

With the national team, he played just over half an hour against Korea without a chance to generate anything. In that last section of the match, the Asian team owned the ball and Christian little could do. Against Japan he started playing as a midfielder by force, but he did not fulfill his role well when it came to defending and was replaced by Edison Flores.

In total there were almost 80 minutes in which it was clear that it is not in the expected performance. His poor physical condition has an impact on his performance and the team needs him at one hundred percent to dream of qualifying.

Bryan Reyna, a reality

To his dribbling in speed and imbalance, Bryan Reina he is adding a goal. And thus confirms the feelings that Peruvian football has about him: to be for Reynoso what Cueva was for Gareca. Or get close at least. Conditions he has and plenty of them.

The winger from Alianza Lima scored the winning goal against South Korea demonstrating that little by little he is consolidated in everyone’s team. Taking into account that Andre Carrillo it no longer has the imbalance of a few years ago -it is now more intelligent to move-, Queen may be the one to take the post.

Bryan has two goals with the Bicolor in five games. He was a starter and figure against Korea, and entered the second half against Japan where he could do nothing to reverse the situation. But his performance tells us that he is indisputable in the team and that he is not afraid to assume that leading role: he shows up, seeks to associate, faces rivals and makes good decisions in attack.

Another variation of Reynoso

“If I had to go back in time and already have the result on, I would run the same risk”he stated very convinced Juan Reynoso. The coach referred to the tactical variant that he made to play with Paolo Guerrero and Gianluca Lapadula like attack men. It is not common to see the national team play with double nine.

he explained afterwards. The problem is that the change didn’t work because Cave and Grief They suffered in the setback and left the defenders and midfielders exposed.

It is the second time that Reynoso starts a friendly with something new in the team’s unemployed. And the second also in which he has to change for the second half with the result against. It happened against Germany in March of this year, when Peru went 5-4-1 with Renato Tapia as libero.

“It takes work. The wingers must know how to interpret when to press or close. Surely with what we add hours of work, it will be interpreted better “he pointed out that time.

Friendlies are just for that: trial and error. Now the coach’s job will be to draw conclusions from the tests and determine if it is possible to apply it in matches in which three points will be at stake.