Peru comes up short in agonizing World Cup opener to Denmark

By June 16, 2018

Post-game update:

Even though Peru had a storm of opportunities to get goals in this game, La Blanquirroja just couldn’t convert on its chances and lost 1-0 in its World Cup debut against Denmark. See how the action went down with our live blog below:

The day has finally come. Peru is ready to take the pitch in a World Cup game for the first time in 36 years as they take on Denmark in the first round of Group C play.

Manager Ricardo Gareca and company come in on a 15-game unbeaten streak, the longest such run in the country’s history and one of the best current streaks of any team coming into the World Cup.

Though captain and all-time leading goalscorer Paolo Guerrero had his doping ban lifted recently by a Swiss tribunal, it looks like Peru’s No. 9 may not start as he tries to regain form. Guerrero did score twice in a recent lead-up friendly against Saudi Arabia but it looks like fellow striker Jefferson Farfan, who plays in Russia on the club level, may be getting the nod over Guerrero.

Peru will be challenged by Denmark’s strong midfield that features Tottenham’s Christian Eriksen and Borussia Dortmund’s Thomas Delaney. It will be up to the backline and defensive midfield tandem of Renato Tapia and Yoshimar Yotún to dispossess that opposing attack and lead the counter for Peru.

Follow along for our Peru vs Denmark live blog here.

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