Peruvian Media Criticizes Paolo Guerrero’s Performance in World Cup Qualifiers

The match held on Friday, November 15, at the Estadio Monumental in Lima left many questioning the Peruvian offensive strategy in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. Paolo Guerrero, forward and captain of the Peruvian national team, received harsh critiques for his performance, notably from Peruvian sports journalist Erick Osores.

Through his Twitter account, Osores criticized the 39-year-old striker’s lack of precision. «He had two clear chances and wasted them because of a lack of sharpness, reflexes, and physical reaction. The reasons are obvious,» Osores noted after Gianluca Lapadula was substituted in for Guerrero during the second half.

In the first half, Guerrero missed one of the match’s clearest opportunities: a one-on-one with the Chilean goalkeeper, where his off-target shot dashed hopes of opening the score. This incident led to criticism regarding his finishing abilities in crucial moments, with his reduced speed being cited as a potential factor.

Osores also analyzed the low-quality performance exhibited by both teams. «The 0-0 draw reflects the inefficacy of the attacks. There were situations that looked promising for goals, but both teams lacked consistency, which explains their positions at the bottom of the table,» Osores remarked, pointing out that both Peru and Chile are at the bottom standings of the qualifiers.

Moreover, Osores criticized Peru’s lack of intensity, which failed to sustain the match’s pace, allowing Chile to dominate possession with 61%. «If a victory is urgently needed to keep hope alive in the qualifiers, it is unacceptable for the last-place team to have that advantage in possession,» he added.