The Peruvian a href="https://www.infobae.com/tag/seleccion-peruana/" rel="noopener noreferrer" national team is one party away from being able to certify its presence in the Qatar 2022 a href="https://www.infobae.com/tag/mundial-de-qatar-2022/" rel="noopener noreferrer" World Cup. He must first beat Australia or the United Arab Emirates in the repechage. However, the 'bicolor' will play a friendly match against New Zealand as a preparation, so in the following article we will show you its top stars.
To begin with, it is important to mention that it is not the first time that both teams have faced each other, since they did so for the repechage that was played in the previous process for Russia 2018. On that occasion, two back-and-forth matches were held, and it ended with an overall result in favor of the national team by 2 to 0 with goals from Jefferson Farfan and Christian Ramos.
In these matches, some players lined up that we will see below and stand out for their hierarchy and projection:
CHRIS WOOD
Without a doubt, the best player the 'All Whites' have and, in turn, the top scorer of the Oceania Playoffs with 5 goals. Sufficient reasons to take him into account and to consider him as a danger player for the 'red white'.
He is also part of the New Zealand team that played in the repechage against Peru for Russia 2018. Although he failed to score, he did have chances and generated danger with his physical strength and aerial play, winning in the air duels to make him uncomfortable with his good header.
As for his football present, this year he took a big leap, as after four and a half seasons at Burnley, he made the leap to one of the new rich in the Premier League, Newcastle United. In fact, he has played 14 matches and converted into 2 chances.
WINSTON REID
The 33-year-old central defender is one of the most experienced in the 'kiwi' team and, likewise, he was part of the duels that took place against those led by Ricardo Gareca in the repesca. For this reason, he would have studied the national strikers to prevent them from piercing his bow.
His best times were in West Ham United of the English league, although he was later loaned to Sporting Kansas City of the MLS where he played 12 games and scored 1 goal. However, he returned to British football with Brentford as a loan, but he was also unfortunate and participated in only 11 matches. He later disengaged and is currently without equipment.
Injuries were a constant in recent years, so the repechage against Costa Rica would help him find a new opportunity in some club.
BILL TUILOMA
Another New Zealand player who excels abroad. He plays at the Portland Timbers of the MLS, where he has been in since 2017 after a visit to France (Olympique de Marseille and Racing Strasbourg). He plays as a central defender and is 27 years old.
With his national team, he has participated on 27 occasions and is reminded of the double he scored against Solomon Islands in the Ocean Qualifiers. He also faced Peru in the previous repechage.
FREED CACACIOUS
The left-back is one of New Zealand's young promises at age 21. He did the minor divisions at Wellington Phoenix, where he made his professional debut in 2016.
After having had four good seasons in his country, in mid-2020 he left for European football to sign for Sint-Truidense in Belgium. In that country he stayed for a year and a half where he played 23 matches and had a fairly important regularity. This caused Empoli to look at him and hire him at the beginning of 2022. He quickly got into the starters and, for now, has 7 completed duels.
His selection did not have much continuity and he was only in 2 matches, but his screening invites us to think that sooner rather than later it will be one of the next emblems.
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