TEAM NEWS
Peru is boosted by the availability of captain Paolo Guerrero, who was cleared to play last month after a Swiss tribunal ruled on a drugs ban.
Denmark may name the team which beat Mexico 2-0 last weekend.
Their biggest selection dilemma comes up front, with either Feyenoord’s Nicolai Jorgensen or Ajax’s Kasper Dolberg set to lead the line.
Right-back Henrik Dalsgaard is set to become the first player under contract at Brentford to feature at a World Cup.
PERU LINE UP
1 Pedro Gallese (Goalkeeper)
17 Luis Advíncula (Defender)
2 Alberto Rodríguez (Defender)
15 Christian Ramos (Defender)
6 Miguel Trauco (Defender)
13 Renato Tapia (Defender)
19 Yoshimar Yotún (Midfielder)
18 André Carrillo (Midfielder)
8 Christian Cueva (Midfielder)
20 Edison Flores (Midfielder)
10 Jefferson Farfán (Forward)
DENMARK LINE UP
1 Kasper Schmeichel (Goalkeeper)
14 Henrik Dalsgaard (Defender)
4 Simon Kjær (Defender)
6 Andreas Christensen (Defender)
17 Jens Stryger Larsen (Defender)
7 William Kvist (Midfielder)
8 Thomas Delaney (Midfielder)
20 Yussuf Poulsen (Forward)
10 Christian Eriksen (Midfielder)
23 Pione Sisto (Midfielder)
9 Nicolai Jørgensen (Forward)
OVERVIEW
The first meeting of these sides sees both in fine form. Peru and Denmark have set new national records by going 15 games unbeaten, and will be buoyed by the presence of their key men – Peruvian captain Paolo Guerrero and in-form Danish star Christian Eriksen.
Guerrero’s involvement had looked in doubt; a 12-month drugs ban (halved to six on appeal) expired in May, but 11 days later the Court of Arbitration for Sport extended the suspension to 14 months.
A reprieve finally arrived on 31 May, when a Swiss court temporarily lifted the ban, enabling the striker to play in Russia. During his legal battle, Guerrero received support from the captains of Peru’s three Group C rivals, all of whom signed a letter asking Fifa to overturn his suspension.
That includes Denmark skipper Simon Kjaer, who could be man-marking the forward in Saransk – and potentially regretting his decision come full-time!
LAWRO’S PREDICTION
Peru do not have the strongest defence – they only kept two clean sheets in 18 qualifiers – and I think Denmark’s direct style will cause them problems.
Prediction: 1-2
