Peru and Colombia will begin the road to the 2018 World Cup in Russia on Thursday at the Estadio Metropolitano in Barranquilla, Colombia.
The two historic South American nations will be meeting for the 52nd time on Thursday. Eighteen of those matches were World Cup Qualifications and Los Cafeteros have the advantage with a 10-5-3 record. However, the nine times Los Incas traveled the 953 miles up to Colombia for a qualification match, it usually ended it defeat. Los Cafeteros at home enjoy a 6-1-2 home record against Peru, while also outscoring La Blanquirroja 15 to three.
The last time Peru won and scored in Colombia was on August 16th, 2001. The creative midfielder Nolberto Solano scored the lone goal at the 47th minute to defeat Los Cafeteros 1-0 at the Estadio El Campín in Bogotá, Colombia. Since that victory the two nations have played three times in Colombia and Los Cafeteros have gone 3-0 and have outscored Los Incas 8-0. For the Peruvians to end the unfortunate streak they are going have to play smart, counter when they can and must finish their chances.
The Peruvians will have to do everything in their power to not allow Colombia to score early in the game. An early goal will motivate the crowd and give Los Cafeteros that extra motivation to get another quickly. However, the main problem for Peru getting scored on early is the fact that they will be forced to search for the tying goal. In result their defense and midfield will have to open up and the fast pace Colombian offense will rip them apart.
Another key element for Los Incas is they must win the battle of possession. Peru’s hero’s in the midfielders of the 2015 Copa America: Christian Cueva, Juan Vargas, Josepmir Ballón, Carlos Lobatón and Paolo Hurtado will need to contain the Colombian midfield and find ways to feed their strikers up top. Whenever La Blanquirroja can create an opportunity they must test the goalie. Peru’s strikers: Claudio Pizarro, Jefferson Farfán, José Paolo Guerrero, André Carrillo and Yordy Reyna will have to keep Colombia’s keeper David Ospina and his defense busy to give their defense a chance to catch their breath.
With the Colombians at home, it is not a surprise that they will be attacking from the moment the game starts. Regardless, that Real Madrid’s star midfielder James Rodriguez is unavailable due to injury, Los Cafeteros will be coming out in full force. Offensive players like: midfielder Juan Cuadrado, forwards Jackson Martínez and Teófilo Gutiérrez are more than capable of breaking down Los Incas defense in any given moment. Not to mention striker Radamel Falcao is available, and even though he is struggling for his club Chelsea FC a goal against Peru might turn in his career around.
At the end of the day Peru enters this match with no pressure. If Los Incas leave Barranquilla with at least point in the bag it will be a success and a good way to end their World Cup drought. The last time Peru qualified for a World Cup was in 1982, only two players on the current roster were alive when the last time a Peruvian team competed in a World Cup: Pizzaro and Lobatón.
Prediction: Colombia 2-2 Peru