The two best football shirts ever, Peru, modelled by Teofilo Cubillas, and Brazil, 1970 versions
I fell in love with Peru in 1970, at the start of the Mexico World Cup. That shirt. Shirts conformed then - were of a single colour, though sleeves might differ in colour, and stripes and hoops could be employed. I couldn't believe it. And it looked way cool. Aliens on another planet might play in this strip. The Thunderbirds design had been taken and somehow improved upon. It was possible to play football and look like Virgil Tracy.
Two days before Peru's first game in Mexico the Ancash earthquake and landslide struck Peru, killing up to 70,000 people. Seventy thousand. What was it like playing football for your country after such an event? Peru was everybody's second favourite team, unless you were Peruvian.
And as if they were trying to endear themselves to fans worldwide, they played glorious, open attacking football, best displayed in their dramatic 3-2 win over Bulgaria in their opening game, having been 2-0 down. Cool, exciting, from the other side of the world, God they were great.
An old bloke rambles. What of now, 2017? Two games to go in South American Qualifiers, Peru are 4th, in the last automatic qualifying place, but it's very very tight.
I've been with them every step of the way. This is a lie. I thought they'd had it a while ago, they'd been out of the running, I lost the faith. But they've won their last three, Argentina have continued to draw games and Chile have lost their last two, games they would have expected to win. I have remembered I am Forever Peru.
Argentina meet Peru in Buenos Aires next: the winners will probably qualify for Russia, as Chile have to travel to Brazil for their final match. It's not the first time Argentina and Peru have met in a decisive World Cup Qualifier in Buenos Aires. Ooh no.
In 1969 the teams met knowing Argentina had to win by three goals to qualify. They met at La Bombonera, the chocolate box, Boca Juniors home ground. Argentina had never failed to qualify; Peru had never qualified. In an intimidating atmosphere Peru attacked, and dominated the game, and deserved to win, but a 2-2 draw was enough.
Now, in 2017, Argentina have chosen to host this crucial match at La Bombonera - the first time Argentina will have played there for five years. Why? It seems mad! Remember last time? But the stadium is famous for it's atmosphere - it's rousing effect. But on which team? This could be the best game in the whole of World Cup Qualifying.
