Perwho?

Until I really started to get to know one of the players in my football team, I knew nothing about Peru. Or in fact football in Peru, As I got to know him his love for Peru and Peruvian football slowly started to emerge and my knowledge about Peru and Peruvian football expanded.

For example, I never knew players including Juan Manuel Vargas, Jefferson Farfan, Claudio Pizzaro and of course Nolberto Solano came from Peru. I also had no idea about the passion for football in Peru or the success they have achieved in the past such as winning the Copa America twice.

After looking into Peruvian Football, I have come to the conclusion, they don't get the credit they deserve. They are a part of a South American contingent that includes heavyweights such as Brazil & Argentina and other teams such as Paraguay, Chille, Uruguay, Ecuador, Colombia & Venezuela. So it's understandable for someone to miss a team like Peru in such names.

Paolo Guerrero Celebrates A Goal In The Copa America

However, things look to be changing with them achieving an impressive third without stars Jefferson Farfan and Claudio Pizzaro in the 2011 Copa America finishing ahead of teams such as Brazil, Argentina & Chile. Peru's last World Cup appearance was way back in 1982 and with some good football and a bit of luck Peru is looking forward to breaking the drought and return to the biggest stage of them all.

However, inside the World Cup Peru doesn't have the greatest record. With their best finish 10th and that being in 1930, they have a record of 15 games, six wins. Three draws and eight losses scoring 19 goals and conceding 31. But, let's not take away from Peru, who is currently ranked 26th in the world and looking forward to qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

However, better times seem to be on the horizon with a rich vein of recent form under new boss Sergio Markarián  add in their excellent young goal keeper Raul Fernandez, Paolo Guerrero in good goal scoring form  and their stars returning from injury they look to be in good shape to tackle the World Cup Qualifiers and have a say in the matter.