Gareca and the only pending pending with Peru: to beat Argentina after more than two decades

The culprit is Ricardo Gareca. Not because of the defeat against Bolivia, nor because of the mistakes that cost us some point in these Qualifiers that we now regret. If there is something to be blamed on the technician, it is that he helped the peruvian team to take that pending leap towards competitiveness. From “almost almost” to “yes it could”. That is why it is difficult for many to digest the fall against that rival that we have underestimated so much for decades but from whom we have barely taken three visitor points in almost half a century of confrontations. That is why, surely, this team with a World Cup badge will be required, at least, to tie to Argentina, the champion of America, at home this Thursday.

Journalist Eduardo Combe He recalled a statistic that values ​​the work of the ‘Tigre’ more throughout these almost seven years in the Videna. . Not counting the exploits in Asunción and Quito.

The Argentine team is the only one against which we have not been able to celebrate with Gareca on the bench: two draws and one defeat in three games. In fact, La Blanquirroja cannot beat Albiceleste since that 2-1 in 1997 for the Copa América with goals from Martín Hidalgo and Eddy Carazas. We did get a valuable point in 2017 that helped us to go to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

“Now we have to go add Argentina. So, we are going to prepare that way. We have to leave this game behind and focus on Argentina. Let’s see how the boys are recovering “, said the coach after the game with Bolivia. If it has taught us something – and it continues to do so – it is that Peru is going to be competitive anywhere, regardless of the result.

In the absence of eight games to finish the qualifying rounds, the national team (7th with 11 points, five from the playoffs) will start to play with a calculator in hand. This Thursday against Argentina, which comes from thrashing Uruguay with an inspired Lionel Messi, a good feat should be done. The results of the other teams will help to conclude if getting a point from Buenos Aires is a good or bad deal..

-Peru against current champions of America-

According to other data from Combe, The Peruvian team will face its 48th game on Thursday against a current champion of America, this time Argentina. Unfortunately the numbers are not with us: we only won nine times, although a victory was against the next opponent.

Peru’s first match against a current champion of the continent took place on November 1, 1927. Uruguay came to Lima to play the Copa América and beat us 4-0 with a double by Antonio Sacco, one by Héctor Castro and an own goal by Santiago. Ulloa.

Secondly, . We beat Albiceleste 2-1 at the National Stadium with goals from Máximo “Vides” Mosquera and Alberto Terry.

Visiting did not go well for us. We only defeated Colombia in 2001 with a goal from Nolberto Solano -now Gareca’s technical assistant- and we drew two draws against Uruguay and Brazil. The rest of the 18 games ended in knockdowns.

The mission in Buenos Aires is more than difficult. By actuality, by hierarchy and even by scenario. But if he got us (bad) used to something Ricardo Gareca It is to believe that it is possible and nothing is impossible. We have already qualified for a World Cup after 36 years, we played a Copa América final after 41 years and we witnessed other great feats.