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Peru, other South American teams to put up fight at 2018 World Cup

LIMA, PERÚ OCTUBRE 06. La selección peruana de fútbol se enfrenta a Argentina por las eliminatorias del Mundial Rusia 2018. Foto: ANDINA/Carlos Lezama

LIMA, PERÚ OCTUBRE 06. La selección peruana de fútbol se enfrenta a Argentina por las eliminatorias del Mundial Rusia 2018. Foto: ANDINA/Carlos Lezama

14:33 | Lima, Jan. 2.

South American soccer teams played with blood, sweat, and tears at the regional Qualifiers to grab each a spot at the 2018 World Cup.

Yet, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, and —finally— Peru were the only countries which managed to qualify for soccer's most important tournament.

The qualifying matches were hard, even, and also difficult, but allowed squads to improve their strategy in order to face major European teams at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia

Grabbing the last ticket

As is known, Peru's national team was the fifth South American squad to qualify for the coming mega event.

The Incas defeated New Zealand in the qualifying playoffs last November, thus grabbing the last spot for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia. 

However, there was a mix of emotions in the country: the excitement about returning to a World Cup tournament after 36 years and sadness due to the sanction imposed on top striker Paolo Guerrero, which would have excluded him from playing in Russia.    

Fortunately, happiness was restored in the Inca nation, once FIFA decided to reduce the penalty from one year to six months. 

Thus, the decision calmed Peruvians' nerves. Later this year, the Inca team will travel to Russia not only to play, but also to put up a fight in order to become the surprise at the 2018 World Cup.

(END) FGM/MVB

Published: 1/2/2018