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Peru will cope without Guerrero, coach says

ByReuters

Published 16/05/2018 at 19:31 GMT

LIMA, May 16 (Reuters) - Peru named their 24-player squad for the World Cup on Wednesday with coach Ricardo Gareca defiantly claiming they can still be a force without suspended striker Paolo Guerrero.

Eurosport

Image credit: Eurosport

Guerrero was left off the list after the Court of Arbitration for Sport increased from six months to 14 months a ban for testing positive for cocaine contained in a tea.
Gareca, who has guided the South Americans to their first World Cup Finals since 1982, said the loss of the captain and top scorer was a blow but did not end their hopes.
"Paolo is a sensational player, an idol, but life goes on and we have to represent the country in the best way possible," he told reporters.
"We are going to be prepared for the maximum of demands and we are going to resolve all the possible inconveniences that present themselves.
"These boys grow when they come here, they are transformed when they pull on that shirt."
Guerrero left out 39-year old striker Claudio Pizarro but included forwards Andre Carrillo of Watford, Raul Ruidiaz of Mexican side Monarcas, and Jefferson Farfan, who plays for Locomotiv Moscow.
The latter two are small and quick but the side will continue to play the long-ball game that took them to Russia.
"We are taking two centre forwards with different characteristics," Gareca said. "Farfan can outjump any defence in the world. Raul Ruidiaz, with his stature, can win balls in the air. We have the means to hold up the ball in attack, as we've been doing."
Peru kick off their World Cup Group C campaign against Denmark on June 16 before facing France and Australia.
(Reporting by Andrew Downie, editing by Ed Osmond)
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