Peru

Group C: Peru – World Cup Betting Odds & Tips

Peru will be looking to cause a few upsets when they return to the World Cup after 36 years away. La Blanquirroja finished fifth in the famously arduous South American qualifying process, most impressively securing a brace of draws against Argentina before beating New Zealand in a play-off.

They are also a battle-hardened side, having reached the latter stages of the last three Copa Americas, and it seems like a natural progression that they have reached a first World Cup since Spain ’82.

The 59-year-old Argentine Ricardo Gareca is the man in the dugout and, after a somewhat nomadic coaching career, he appears to have found his niche in international football. However, Gareca looks set to be without his greatest weapon at the Finals after record scorer Paolo Guerrero tested positive for cocaine late last year.

His suspension will deprive Los Incas of not only their captain, but arguably their greatest ever player. Instead, it will be left to the likes of Jefferson Farfan and Andre Carillo to spearhead a squad, the majority of which play their football in South America.

Denmark will be their first opponents in Group C, with them 3.60 to win in Saransk while the draw is 3.25 and the Danes are 2.05.

They then face France and Australia and will be hoping to use their status as an unknown quantity to their advantage.

Peru are 11.00 to top the group and will fancy themselves to cause some upsets in Russia, much like they have done in recent Copa Americas.

Gareca’s men are undoubtedly one of the tournament’s underdogs but South American sides have a habit of exceeding expectations and it could well be Peru’s turn to shine.