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dpa
Doha
Peru are counting on the experience gained since their last encounter with Australia at the 2018 World Cup when they meet again in Monday’s Qatar 2022 play-off.
Peru beat Australia 2-0 four years in the group stage in Russia and now believe they are even better.
“We are not the same team as four years ago. Many have matured,” goalkeeper and captain Pedro Gallese told a news conference on Sunday at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Qatar where the play-off takes place.
“This is the most important match of our lives - that goes for us and for them.
“We want to make our country happy.”
Coach Ricardo Gareca said: “We have the responsibility to take the country to another World Cup.
“We have to be very attentive, it’s win or bust.”
Both sides are aiming for their sixth World Cup.
The play-off winners will go into Group D with defending champions France, Denmark and Tunisia ahead of November’s World Cup kick-off.
Australia qualified for the clash with a win in Al Rayyan last Tuesday against the United Arab Emirates.
Australia coach Graham Arnold thinks already being attuned to the Qatari conditions could give his side an advantage, with a smaller crowd than Peru are used to also maybe boosting the Socceroos.
“We respect Peru, but we believe in ourselves,” he said.
The last spot in the 2022 World Cup will be decided on Tuesday when Costa Rica take on New Zealand in another inter-continental play-off.
Doha
Peru are counting on the experience gained since their last encounter with Australia at the 2018 World Cup when they meet again in Monday’s Qatar 2022 play-off.
Peru beat Australia 2-0 four years in the group stage in Russia and now believe they are even better.
“We are not the same team as four years ago. Many have matured,” goalkeeper and captain Pedro Gallese told a news conference on Sunday at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Qatar where the play-off takes place.
“This is the most important match of our lives - that goes for us and for them.
“We want to make our country happy.”
Coach Ricardo Gareca said: “We have the responsibility to take the country to another World Cup.
“We have to be very attentive, it’s win or bust.”
Both sides are aiming for their sixth World Cup.
The play-off winners will go into Group D with defending champions France, Denmark and Tunisia ahead of November’s World Cup kick-off.
Australia qualified for the clash with a win in Al Rayyan last Tuesday against the United Arab Emirates.
Australia coach Graham Arnold thinks already being attuned to the Qatari conditions could give his side an advantage, with a smaller crowd than Peru are used to also maybe boosting the Socceroos.
“We respect Peru, but we believe in ourselves,” he said.
The last spot in the 2022 World Cup will be decided on Tuesday when Costa Rica take on New Zealand in another inter-continental play-off.
