Those who have to play played and that was not enough: the mistakes that took us to the bottom of the Qualifiers

Peru lost 2-0 to Bolivia in La Paz and is last in the Qualifiers. In just five games, the Peruvian team has regressed what it experienced a decade ago and the 2026 World Cup today looks further away than ever, since we barely have one point out of a possible fifteen.

If we want to find the root of the problem, without a doubt everything points to Juan Reynoso, even though the level expected of some players is not found on the field. But not even in the best fifteen minutes of the Bicolor – with the entry of Bryan Reyna – could they get close to the scoreboard. What did Reynoso do right this time? Line up players who had to be there like Piero Quispe, the best footballer of the year in League 1. Bet on Joao Grimaldo and Franco Zanelatto, fast and daring attackers. Three Under 23 players designed to be offensive and take advantage of their physical conditions. Even his presence, added to that of Marco López -23 years old- made the average age of the team a respected 28.5 years. To play in La Paz, it wasn’t bad.

What was Reynoso missing? Find ways for the rest of the team to play for the three young players and for Lapadula to have scoring chances. Because we know a lot about Yotún’s good footing and Tapia’s work, but the duo is no longer the one that generates football. And when Quispe had to go back, he then had 40 meters to go ahead and in altitude. So difficult to take advantage of the conditions of the cream steering wheel.

Even so, Piero Quispe knew how to be vertical – he won 9 of 10 duels. He showed himself more in the second half when he didn’t have to go back so much – with the entry of Peña -. With a 7.3 rating according to SofaScore, he was one of the best players on the team in terms of statistics, along with Yoshimar Yotún who had a 7.4 rating

fatal errors

The state of the field did not help much the game of either team, but it was incredible to see the amount of bad ball controls that the Peruvian team suffered. Although we are in a moment where the work groups are diverse and everything can be known from a distance, it is at least questionable that the Peruvian team has not carried out field reconnaissance.

La Bicolor arrived in La Paz on Wednesday night, since it was not scheduled to work at the Hernando Siles. For this reason, the warm-up was totally different from what is customary before a game. It had even rained hours before the match and everything ended up being fatal for the Bicolor.

That’s why we almost never win second balls. Peru started with the posture of playing long. Gallese served in search of Lapadula or Zambrano sent the balls to the opposite field, but we did not win either the pivot or the rebound. All the balls returned quickly to our field. In fact, this is how Bolivia’s first goal began. A lateral towards Lapadula that won a Bolivian defender and immediately the ball went towards our area. Zambrano miscalculated the cut and between Martins and Vaca they took advantage.

Given this, the question arises: And the tall players? One sees Juan Reynoso’s call and players like. Of them, the first stayed on the substitute bench and the other two were left out of the list of 23 – they watched the game from the stands.

Thus, Peru began playing with six players from League 1, who let’s say know what it is like to play at altitude due to the trips they have to make to Cusco, Arequipa, Huancayo, Juliaca and Cajamarca, and Reyna and Flores, two others, ended up joining. of the local league.

Rethinking was attempted, but it was not enough. And it is not because the height played against it or bad refereeing or because there was no time. The Peruvian team lacked play. And that is not from yesterday, it is since Juan Reynoso took office.