Ricardo Gareca, coach of the Peruvian National Team, surprised the country after being seen on Argentine screens. The 'Tiger' took stock of everything that happened during this season with the Blanquirroja and stated that there is no favorite country to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar because of how tough the qualifying matches are.
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"I see it as a tough battle. The year wasn't good, it was very tough, but we finished it well. By winning these two matches, we positioned ourselves on the table. Ecuador has a considerable advantage over us with four rounds to go. Except for Venezuela, which has been eliminated, the rest of us are fighting for a spot. It's going to be a tough fight," the coach said on ESPN.
Peru started the qualifying process poorly. Ricardo Gareca was criticized on many occasions and a large percentage of fans wanted him out due to poor results. For that reason, the 'professor' wanted to reveal how he fared during the darkest moments in charge of the national team.
"I had support in the toughest moments, when we weren't winning. The officials backed me, and we are very grateful for that. They also supported me in a tough moment when we were second to last in the South American qualifiers. Now, we have caught up a bit, but we were in a bad position two rounds ago," he commented.
The 'Tiger' had no choice but to inject a dose of faith into his players and the entire country, considering that he has shown, on more than one occasion, the ability to overcome any circumstance. As a result, a few weeks ago, the Peruvian National Team achieved two consecutive victories and returned to the right track for Qatar.
Excluding Brazil, Argentina, and possibly Ecuador, Peru is currently competing with Colombia, Chile, Uruguay, and surprisingly Bolivia, for a spot in the next World Cup. Paraguay is a bit further behind but still has possibilities.
It is important to mention that, at the moment, the 'team of all' is in the playoff zone with 17 points. However, the numbers are very close. 'La Roja' and the 'Charrúas' are just one point behind. Meanwhile, the 'altiplánicos' are only two points behind, while the Paraguayans are further down with 13 points.
Will Ricardo Gareca continue leading the Peruvian National Team?
The coach indicated that the only way he will not continue directing the Blanquirroja is if he receives a concrete offer from the Argentine National Team, currently led by Lionel Scaloni. "I feel comfortable in Peru," he said in the interview.
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