It is the decisive hour for the Uruguay from Ronald Araujo. He will play in a Centennial Stadium full of fans of the sky blue, against Peru Ricardo Garecca, with the certainty that a victory in this penultimate date of the South American Qualifiers will send him directly to the World Cup in Qatar. Because the only result he needs in the other games is 99.99 percent feasible: that Chile does not beat Brazil in Rio de Janeiro. Except for a catastrophe of major brand, it will not happen. Brazil has never lost throughout its history as a local for South American Qualifiers.
The table is set for classification, but the path between heaven and hell is only one step. Because the date starts with Uruguay in fourth position with 22 points, Peru with 21, Chile with 20 and Colombia with 17. Therefore, although the tie will surely keep the light blue in fourth place, with direct classification for Qatar, in the ùltima day must play as a visitor against Chile. And Peru will receive Paraguay in Lima, and Colombia has Bolivia and Venezuela ahead of them, two potential victories.
So, winning for Uruguay means reaching the World Cup. To draw, is to force yourself in the hell that Santiago de Chile would mean in that circumstance, to draw at least one tie to go to the playoffs, and win to be directly in Qatar.
Too many accounts for Ronald Araújo’s team, who only thinks about winning. For now, he wastes neither energy nor time using the calculator.
Coach Diego Alonso has not confirmed the starting team, and the voices from the concentration refer to numerous tests, in the two key training sessions, on Tuesday and Wednesday. There was no firm team in the movements in the Celestial Complex, and that fuels speculation.
It will not be just another game: it is full of incentives
The match against the Peruvians has an extra seasoning: it could represent the last time that officially what remains of the generation of South Africa 2010 plays in the Centenario Stadium. For the Suárez, Godín, Cavani, Muslera, Cáceres, it may be their last chance with the light blue on their chest in Montevideo in an official match. It’s not a game more. It is loaded with all the emotional elements you can imagine.
There are names set and those that should not be doubted, Ronald Araújo will play again as a right back. In the center of the rear will be Diego Godìn and Josema Gimènez, and on the left-handed lift, Matìas Olivera, the revelation of Getafe.
In the bow, the return after a long injury of the historic Fernando Muslera set doubts. But everything suggests that Sergio Rochet will be confirmed, as happened a month ago against Paraguay and Venezuela.
In midfield, Fede Valverde and Rodrigo Bentancur are immovable. And at the top, the usual scorer, with 67 conquests with the light blue, Luis Suárez, will take the nine.
There are three other places left, and the bets are multiplied. But Alonso will surely support Pellistri, despite his few minutes in the Spanish League with Alavés. Lucas Torreira, from Fiorentina, has his chance in the middle, but Giorgian De Arrascaeta could also play. And to accompany Suàrez, everything points to Darwin Nuñez winning the hideout against Edinson Cavani, and getting into the eleventh.
Those from Garecca arrive with high spirits
Peru arrives firm and confident. He started the Qualifiers stumbled, but he grew, just like in the last one, when in Russia he managed to return to the World Cups after 36 years. In recent games, they achieved very valuable results, such as the away victory in Barranquilla against Colombia, and they believe they are capable of knocking down Uruguay in Montevideo.
It already has figures with vast experience. Gallese, the goalkeeper; Advìncula and Trauco on the sides; Yotun and Tapia in the middle, Cueva and Carrillo ahead, are not cooked at the first boil. They have been with Gareca for years as a coach, and they already have a World Cup on them. At the top, the Italian-Peruvian Lapadula will once again be the starter.
URUGUAY-PERU
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Stadium: Centennial (Montevideo)
Time: 00.30 on Friday in Spain
Referee: Anderson Daronco (Brazil)
Uruguay (likely): Rochet; Araùjo, Godìn, Gimenez, Matìas Olivera: Valverde, Bentancur, Pellistri, De Arrascaeta or Torreira; Suárez and Darwin Nuñez or Cavani.
Peru (likely): Gallese; Advincula, Zambrano, Callens and Trauco; Tapia, Yotun and Peña; Carrilo, Lapadula and Cueva
