The Peruvian national team managed to get into the playoffs prior to the Qatar 2022 World Cup after winning the Paraguayan team on the last date of the South American Qualifiers. It depended on itself to prevent Chile and Colombia, direct rivals in the fight, from complicating the standings in the standings, something that ultimately did not happen. Part of this achievement of the 'bicolor' is by Gianluca Lapadula, who scored a goal for the 'Albirroja' and was recently praised by 'La Gazzetta dello Sport'.
The important Italian media wrote an article in which they regretted what the Italian national team missed by letting go of the 32-year-old footballer. “Peru, Lapadula fever: “This is what Italy has lost, if it does not score it puts the 'hue... 'on each ball”, they pointed out in the headline.
However, that was not all, since the fact of the 'Azzurra' could not qualify for the Cup of the Mundo after falling in the repechage against Macedonia motivated this newspaper to link it with Lapadula, who despite defending Peru, has Italian roots because he was born in Turin. “There is still an Italian who dreams of the world cup and that is Gianluca Lapadula. “Il Bambino” sent Peru to the intercontinental repechage with their goals. And the white-red fans mock the Azzurri for not believing in him...” , they emphasized.
“'Il Bambino', as they call him in Peru, scored one of the goals that allowed the white-roja to beat Paraguay and enter the intercontinental repechage to fly to Qatar. A very special evening, also finished with a stick and tears after the end of the match, which further consolidated the myth of Lapagol in the heart of the Peruvian fans”, they added.
Obviously, the failure of Italy, which is the second time that does not qualify for the World Cup, has made many in that country rethink where their project is aimed. With Roberto Mancini he seemed to be on track, especially after winning the Euro 2020. Hence the name Gianluca Lapadula sounds like one of those who, who knows, could have helped change history.
BEGINNINGS AND CALL OF ITALY
And it is that 'Lapa' was formed and started in Italian football. He played the minor divisions at Juventus, but played his game in the third and fourth division of that country, even for a short journey in Slovenia. In 2016, after having spent a spectacular season with Pescara in Serie B where he scored 30 goals in 46 matches, he attracted the eyes of many important teams, including AC Milan, the club that ended up signing him in the following season. In addition, he was summoned by coach Giampiero Ventura for two friendlies, although he did not play any matches.
FIRST CONTACT WITH PERU
At the same time, the coach of the 'bicolor', Ricardo Gareca, sought the attacker to Italy to know his willingness to defend Peru ahead of the 2016 Copa América, but rejected him. He then played a friendly for Italy against San Marino in 2017, where he scored 3 goals in the 8-0 win, which was the only match for 'Azzurra'.
SECOND CONTACT WITH PERU
The fact that she had Peruvian roots by her mother, Blanca Vargas, gave her this opportunity to play for the 'white-red', something that ended up taking place in November 2020. What came next, is history. So far, he has had a total of 20 matches between the Americas Cups and Qualifiers, where he has scored 7 goals and provided 2 assists.
PASS TO THE REPECHAGE LEAVING CHILE OUT
Precisely, La Gazzetta dello Sport did not leave aside the factor that Peru must still play the repechage against the representative of Asia, although they stressed that they left out a selection like Chile. “Of course, the trip is not over yet and there will be a match between the United Arab Emirates and Australia to make the world dream come true, but in the meantime, having left the most sought-after Chile out and still being able to aspire to play the World Cup is important,” they wrote.
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