Peruvian Soccer Federation (FPF) dedicated an emotional video to Denmark, France, and Australia —its rivals in
— which shows the path the Inca team and country went through to qualify for a World Cup tournament after 36 years.
"Dear
Australia. My name is Peru, and
after 36 years, I'm back. It's been a long time; maybe you don't remember me. I wanted to write this to remind you who we are," a voice says at the beginning of the clip released on Tuesday.
The images tell watchers Peru is a wonderful country "full of amazing wonders in our landscapes, in our culture, and for our tables."
Yet, they mention that "during all this time, our people, as well as out football (soccer), have always had to play on unlevel playing fields."
In this sense, the video shows negative images claiming Peru had to "fight against adversity, and face great rivals, such as the weather (
Coastal El Niño phenomenon), the economy, injustice, and indifference."
Within this framework, it underlines the fact that Peruvians are people "who fought against crisis even before the world knew its meaning," adding we know "defeat is a bitter pill to swallow."
In this sense, the short-length video reminds the audience of the loss of soccer players (linked to the Alianza Lima 1987 plane crash) and the recent passing away of sports journalist Daniel Peredo.
However, it emphasizes Peruvians are capable of recovering from bad times.
"But in spite of all that, after 36 years, a group of Peruvians reminds us that when our hands are strong, when we risk it, when we do not feel inferior, when we support each other and unleash the warrior race he (
Paolo Guerrero) taught us, we know that even on unlevel playing fields, the way out is to rise," it underlines.
"Dear
Australia, we are back. See you on the field!" the video concludes.