Ricardo Gareca reflects on Peru's 2018 World Cup and squad decisions

Former Peru national team coach Ricardo Gareca has reflected on his tenure with the squad, specifically discussing the 2018 World Cup in Russia and his squad selection decisions.

Regarding the 2018 World Cup, Gareca noted that while Peru was eliminated in the group stage, the team maintained a clear identity. He expressed regret over the loss against Denmark, stating the team deserved a better result given their scoring opportunities, including a missed penalty by Christian Cueva. He also recalled the competitive nature of their match against France.

Addressing player selections, Gareca explained why he opted for Raúl Ruidíaz over veteran Claudio Pizarro. He stated that Pizarro frequently dealt with physical discomfort or injuries that prevented him from training normally, leading the coaching staff to rely on Ruidíaz. Gareca also mentioned the necessity of integrating new players and moving away from established veterans to build a consolidated group, though he made an exception to keep Paolo Guerrero as a central figure.