What is known about Lapadula and why is he the '9' that Reynoso needs against Bolivia and Venezuela?

The Race Against Time

As is recalled, Gianluca Lapadula underwent surgery on his right ankle in early August and Cagliari's medical report estimated three months. In all this time, the Italo-Peruvian forward has had an optimal recovery and took no more than that time to be able to train again with the rest of the team, as has happened in recent days.

However, there is a difference between training alongside teammates, being fit to play minutes, and, in the best case, being a starter. That is why the Italian team is being cautious with the player and it is estimated that he will return to the field in the first week of November for the Italian Serie A match.

In this context, if the player has already started playing competitive football, he would be available to be called up by Juan Reynoso. However, the Peruvian coach has shown on more than one occasion that he only counts on players who are 100% fit physically, regardless of whether they can play. As happened with the withdrawals of Edison Flores, Christian Cueva, or Carlos Zambrano in the first double date, who were starters with their clubs but not considered for the national team.

The same case happened with Alexander Callens, whom he decided to leave in Lima and not travel to Paraguay, but he did consider him on the bench against Brazil. In the case of Renato Tapia, he also chose not to take him to Chile, but he did play the entire second half against Argentina as a center-back. In this sense, it is worth asking if he will also do without Gianluca Lapadula for the first match against Bolivia in La Paz - due to the physical demands of the altitude - or if he will give him minutes against Venezuela.

It is most likely that, being recently recovered, Reynoso will opt for another '9' to start at altitude and perhaps give Gianluca Lapadula some minutes in that position. If his evolution is positive, the forward could be considered as the starter against Venezuela in Lima since, as demonstrated in friendly matches, Lapadula is considered the starting forward of the national team above Paolo Guerrero, the captain.

The Lapadula Factor

Undoubtedly, the most serious statistic for the Peruvian national team in the current World Cup Qualifiers is that they have not had a single shot on goal in four matches. In all of them, Paolo Guerrero has been the starting '9' of the team, although he was also accompanied by André Carrillo as a midfielder in the matches against Brazil and Argentina. In the last one, against the 'Albiceleste', 'Culebra' remained as the sole reference in attack.

Although Paolo Guerrero has undeniable hierarchy, Juan Reynoso himself indicated, after the match against Argentina, that he was looking for a forward with more mobility who goes more into space, therefore he chose to bring in Bryan Reyna to accompany Carrillo in the attacking zone. However, they are not natural forwards, although they are explosive and fast.

In this sense, Reynoso's Peru in these Qualifiers has made it clear that ball possession is not its best characteristic and that finding Paolo Guerrero in the area was a task more than complicated, which is why the 'Predator' was almost never well positioned or had accurate shots at the rival's goal. The offensive production in the final stretch was non-existent and, for this reason, Lapadula emerges as the forward who can be all over the attack.

Furthermore, another characteristic of the Peruvian national team is that it tends to let the opponent have the ball, try to recover it, and counterattack. Therefore, being a team inclined towards defense, they also need their attackers to be markers and fulfill that role. It is worth remembering that, when it comes to exerting pressure and defending to then return to the area, Lapadula is the ideal forward in a team that provides little support to its attacker and requires recovery.

In this sense, the presence of Lapadula goes from being an option to becoming almost a necessity if the Peruvian national team is going to tend to play in the same way in the next double date. It will be the 'Bambino' who adapts better, but only if he is physically well. We'll see.

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