Within hours of the meeting between Peru and Argentina for the South American Qualifiers, Jorge Fossatithe coach of the Peruvian team, had a clash with the Buenos Aires Police in front of the hotel where they are concentrated. Last night, the Rojiblanca fans had organized a flag-waving event and the players wanted to come out to greet them, but were stopped by security.
“How can we not go and greet our people? It’s illogical, it can’t be. I ask you please. They can’t prohibit me from walking on the sidewalk. What’s the problem with going to greet people?”Fossati asked an indignant police officer on the street.
In front of the Sofitel in Recoleta, the Uruguayan coach demanded that the security forces allow the players to greet their fans, who usually organize flag-waving for their team when they play as visitors. However, this time it couldn’t be.
Jorge Fossati talked about how Peru is preparing to face the Argentine National Team
The Bicolor has a great challenge tonight in the match with the Argentine National Team for the South American Qualifiers where it seeks its last chance to qualify for the 2026 World Cup that is held in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Fassati arrives at the crossroads with Argentina seriously questioned, in the penultimate position of the table: the Peruvian National Team has seven points, one more than the last Chile, and five less than Venezuela, for now the last one with a chance of reaching the next Cup of the World, which adds up to 12.
“I don’t have anything at stake,” he said at a press conference prior to the crossing with Argentina. Seconds later, he elaborated: “I am part of a group of people who work and try to do the best for the national team. In addition, in that sense, we are satisfied with the response of the players. We have gone through different difficulties and they have always been dealt with. to solve”
“Sometimes the results help you so that everything is seen more clearly, sometimes they don’t. Today, the only thing that interests me about the game is how Peru plays and that Peru does well. That mentality of if tomorrow they take me out or they don’t take me out… that’s your problem (the journalists), not mine. I have been in football for many years, I know my profession well so I know when I can be calm or not,” he continued.
Although he is aware of the threat posed by facing Lionel Messi, he assured that it would be a mistake to focus only on him to try to beat Scaloneta. “We will look for a result against logic,” Jorge Fossati acknowledged. Immediately afterwards, he remarked: “We are going to try to play a good game. The only thing that interests me is that Peru does well. With our weapons we will try to achieve the best result.”
In the 2024 Copa América, Peru finished last in the Group A tablewhere he also had his last meeting with the Albiceleste team that gave them no respite and sealed the victory with a double from Lautaro Martínez. Months later, the South American Qualifiers also present a challenge. So far, Peru has managed to achieve only one victory against Uruguay by 1-0, two draws, and two defeats. In total they managed to accumulate seven points and are one place above Chile, with six.
In any case, Fossati believes that the team is “getting stronger” and that “in general terms, recognizing the reality of Peru, the results are not bad, but not as good as we would like.”
Their objective is clear: to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. “We are not here to do a job for 2030, but rather we were hired with the great hope of reaching the 2026 World Cup. There is a path to travel and we are traveling it. “We are doing well in terms of the team’s performance,” he assured.