Peru’s Paolo in prime position
Saransk, June 17: Striker Paolo Guerrero played only for 30 minutes in Peru’s 0-1 opening World Cup loss to Denmark, but his impressive form after a long doping ban already indicates he’ll likely play a bigger role in his country’s next match against France.
Coach Ricardo Gareca kept Guerrero on the bench at the start of the game in Saransk, which upset tens of thousands of fans who showed up at the 44,000-seater Mordovia Arena. He waited an hour, until after Peru had wasted several opportunities — including one from the penalty spot — to send on the team’s all-time leading scorer.
A Guerrero header two minutes later forced Denmark’s Kasper Schmeichel into a save. Three minutes later the 34year-old Guerrero, who played only a handful of games this year, almost equalised for Peru with a clever backheel kick.
Overall, his presence gave Peru more structure in attack and had the other benefit for his team of drawing Denmark’s defense, creating opportunities for Yoshimar Yotun in the middle.
“I saw him doing well. He adapted to the atmosphere of the game quickly,” Gareca said in his postmatch news conference.
Peru faces France on Thursday in a potentially decisive match in Pool ‘C’, and that puts Guerrero right into the frame to start.
The veteran striker didn’t have any qualms about being kept on the bench for Peru’s first match, saying he “respects the decision of the professor.”
“Whenever he needs me, I will be ready. The next match will be tough, but we have the means to win it,” Guererro said. — AP