This Thursday, September 7th, a new qualification process for the Peruvian team Football for the World Cup in the United States in 2026. With a 0-0 draw against Paraguay, the Blanquirroja saves a point with a feeling of victory due to the suffering game that they had to spend in Ciudad del Este due to the immediate exclusion of Luis Advíncula. This settlement, which marked the official beginning of the Reynoso era, left many premises open for debate. Play style, direction and commitment are topics that we will mention in the following lines.
YOU CAN SEE: 2026 Qualifying Places Table LIVE: Check Date 1 Results
Peru vs. Paraguay: What the duel left behind
At the start, Peru presented an unusual XI, as the team was missing several times due to injuries and the performance of some experienced players. With a small squad, the team entered the field to face Paraguay, a squad that had a better squad and form in the previous game, unlike the Bicolor.
Undoubtedly, the first 45 minutes in Ciudad del Este were the hardest and worst Peru had seen in a long time. Juan Máximo Reynoso came to a team that we were used to, with good ball handling and a very strong collective idea of the game, to change that chip and make it a “rough” team with the ball that could hardly complete three passes in a row. but combative and whose main task was to defend his bow at all costs.
YOU CAN SEE: Pedro Gallese, Peru’s best player against Paraguay, posted an emotional message that drew enthusiastic reactions
Luis Advíncula, perhaps the best-performing Peruvian player currently playing abroad, did not show his skills for Boca Juniors and suffered on the right wing against the sprinter Ramón Sosa. The Paraguayan winger crowned his good performance by causing the popular “Rayo” to be sent off.
But Lucho wasn’t the only experienced player to underperform in Peru today. Miguel Trauco, Renato Tapia and André Carrillo showed their lack of rhythm and competitiveness during the duel. The latter was changed at the start of the second half, which caused concern among fans as it was one of the Bicolor’s most dangerous maps in recent events.
YOU CAN SEE: Who is Ramón Sosa, the Paraguayan who “dance” Peru and expelled Luis Advíncula?
In the second half and already with one less, Juan Máximo Reynoso thought intelligently and with what little he had, he stopped the Guaraní attack by sending onto the field an always docile Aldo Corzo and Wilder Cartagena. And with the efforts of López and Jesús Castillo, Peru was able to withstand the game that seemed lost in the first 45 minutes.
Paolo Guerrero was a separate topic. At almost 40 years old, the captain won the game and rounded off a good performance with his experience. Of course, if Lapadula returns, PG9 will have to be a replacement player due to his lack of speed.
In summary, the team’s performance is based on two parts. The terrible first half with 11 players and the good second half thanks to Reynoso’s rethinking, which in just 90 minutes already shed light on what the Bicolor games will look like from now on. To defend and in turn liquidate.