Carlos Zambrano in the national team: Not one more red and other things that must be demanded of the defender

“Very happy”. The first public reaction of Carlos Zambrano after his return to the Peruvian national team. A year after his last game with the Bicolor, the Boca Juniors defender returns to be the leader of the defense on the triple date of the Qatar 2022 Qualifiers against Chile, Bolivia and Argentina.

The call that many asked for, after the irregularity that the defense has had in the right zone. Anderson Santamaría did not respond as expected in the Qualifiers and although Christian Ramos was solvent in the Copa América, more hierarchy is needed to command that line.

With the minutes that Carlos Zambrano had in the classic Boca vs River last Sunday, he showed that he is able to be the ‘reinforcement’ of that Peruvian central defense for this decisive triple date in the Qatar 2022 Qualifiers.

What is there to ask Carlos Zambrano? That, first that he demonstrates his hierarchy to command a defense that has been beaten. Hierarchy so that he does not make the hot head mistakes again – the red one against Brazil. Hierarchy so that despite the lack of minutes in Boca Juniors he gives his best with the Bicolor.

Not one more red

Carlos Zambrano’s CV would not forgive him one more red. Although it must be said that in official matches with the Bicolor he only has three expulsions, two of them are of ungrateful memory because they clearly conditioned the result of the match.

That semi-final against Chile in the 2015 Copa América was the first big blow. Two yellow cards in just 20 minutes of play totally conditioned the action and the national elimination. Then, against Brazil last year, frustration led him to an attack that earned him three suspension dates, although he was not called again.

Not one more red should be the message for Zambrano. Not a silly yellow, it should be repeated continuously. In fact, it comes from suffering the consequences of that. Although the expulsion of Marcos Rojo allowed him to play the classic,

Regain rhythm

August 15 was the last time Carlos Zambrano he had played until last Sunday, when he played 70 minutes in the classic against River. Since last July, he has only had a presence in four meetings: Union, River, Students, and River, yesterday’s duel.

Then, Carlos Zambrano has already shown that he is in a position to play at a good level, and he must transfer that to the Peruvian team, whoever he has to do a pair of centrals with. At least, he already had his third game with Luis Advíncula in Boca, something that could be repeated in the Bicolor.

The lack of minutes is an evil that the Peruvian team suffers in many of its players and in a central defender it can be very noticeable, although Carlos Zambrano has already shown that he is able to play without major problems.

Command voice

And as Gareca himself said, he wants to have everyone for the moment that the Peruvian team lives. Against Chile we risk our lives in these Qatar 2022 Qualifiers. A new setback at home would leave us with the goal almost unattainable. You need the voice of players who know how to take on these situations and Carlos Zambrano is one of them.

Jefferson Farfán, Paolo Guerrero have the voice of command in the attack. Christian Ramos is the silent captain in defense -although he does have a voice of command-, but the presence of Carlos Zambrano also seeks that, a cry that brings out the best in each of those who wear the Bicolor.