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After two dates of the South American qualifier for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, the national teams of Chile Y Peru they do not know of triumphs. In the match they will play on Friday in Santiago they will seek their first victory, in what is looming a “Pacific Classic” with clenched teeth.
With just one point, Chile is in seventh position while Peru is eighth in the World Cup. Both are committed to reaching their first qualifying triumph in this “Classic of the Pacific” that throughout its history favors the Chileans.
After 81 matches – between official and friendly – Chile won in 44 and lost in 23.
The match between these teams is one of the most contested South American duels and arouses great passions in both countries, where in addition to sports, the historical differences come to light after the warlike confrontation that they starred in at the end of the 19th century.
Peru to break history
In qualifying matches played in Santiago, La Roja won seven times, drew two and knows of no losses against those of the blood band.
But the Peruvians are hopeful to turn history around after winning in the last two rounds: 3-0 in a friendly in Miami in October 2018, and another victory by the same score in one of the semifinals of the Copa América-2019 in which Peru came second after losing the final to Brazil.
“It is always a good time (to win in Santiago), we only think about winning,” said the Argentine coach. Ricardo Gareca, a hero since he trained Peru in 2015.
Gareca qualified the Peruvian team for the 2018 World Cup in Russia after 36 years, and has managed to renew names in the squad, such as the Italian-Peruvian striker Gianluca Lapadula (Benevento / Italy), whose debut against Chile is exciting.
“We are analyzing what is best for the game,” Gareca said.
Wheel in doubt?
In front, the Chilean team does not go through one of its best moments and the task of its coach, the Colombian Reinaldo Rueda, has been criticized after the first two dates. Even the leadership of the Chilean federation has already put pressure on him to win against Peru and then against Venezuela.
“We know that if only one or two points are added on this double date, the pressure of the media for the results, after four days, will be installed on us and also on the technician,” the Chilean leadership told the newspaper El Mercurio.
With the coronavirus and injuries as the main enemies, Rueda appealed to young players, but once again turned to the great references: Alexis Sánchez, Arturo Medel and Claudio Bravo, although by Friday he will have to do without defender Gary Medel and midfielder Charles Aránguiz.
Rueda criticized on Thursday at a press conference that Inter Milan had not physically cared for Sánchez, who is experiencing some discomfort. The Lombard club responded in a statement that those statements were “unacceptable, offensive and do not correspond to reality.”
Players have reached Santiago by dropper, mainly from Italy, where sanitary restrictions imposed by the pandemic have delayed the arrival of selected teams.
Fiorentina midfielder Erick Pulgar had to make a two-day journey to reach Santiago from Europe on Wednesday at midnight. His club denounced the player for breaking the quarantine carried out by the campus for alleged infections and would be sanctioned.
Central Guillermo Maripán and striker Nicklas Castro also arrived from Europe two days before the match.
Meanwhile, forward Diego Rubio, was separated from the selected one after a case of coronavirus was registered in his club, the Colorado Rapids of the United States.
The duel will be played from 8:00 p.m. at the National Stadium, with the arbitration of the Uruguayan Esteban Ostojich.
Probable lineups
Chile: Claudio Bravo – Mauricio Isla, Paulo Díaz, Guillermo Maripán, Sebastián Vegas – Claudio Baeza, Erick Pulgar, Arturo Vidal – César Pinares, Felipe Mora and Alexis Sánchez. DT: Reinaldo Rueda.
Peru: Pedro Gallese – Luis Advíncula, Miguel Araujo, Luis Abram, Miguel Trauco – Pedro Aquino, Yoshimar Yotún, Renato Tapia, André Carrillo, Christian Cueva – Raúl Ruidíaz. DT: Ricardo Gareca.
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