Match Previews

Peru beaten by Denmark in their opener. First loss since 2016. Pressure is now on. Guerrero liable to start. Tapia a doubt. Carrillo also a worry.

Peru suffered a 1-0 defeat against Denmark in their opening World Cup encounter. It was a hugely damaging blow to their hopes of progressing and means that against France they must take a positive result if they are to stand a serious chance of progress.

Before that encounter, Peru had been almost flawless for months. Indeed, they had won four of their five warm-up matches for the competition, with the 0-0 draw against Sweden the one exception.

Indeed, they had gone 15 matches overall since suffering a defeat against anyone, with the team that beat them Brazil.

They have, however, shown themselves to be somewhat inefficient in front of goal in their last two games, although they have conceded only three goals in their last 10 outings.

Paolo Guerrero, who is the team’s talisman, may be short of match sharpness due to a drugs ban, but he will surely start this match after being left out previously. Edison Flores, whose creative qualities are great but whose finishing is questionable, is one who could make way.

Peru have a couple of fresh injury issues to contend with after their opening encounter, in which Cuevas missed a penalty in the first half. Renato Tapia is a doubt with concussion, however, and is poised to be replaced by Aquino. Andre Carrillo is also a worry. Both players will be given until the last minute to prove their fitness.

Peru won the only previous meeting of these sides, though that was back in 1982, when they claimed a friendly 1-0 in Paris.