Peru coach disappointed with World Cup run, upbeat about team’s future

Sochi (Russia), June 25 (IANS) Peru coach Ricardo Gareca on Monday admitted he was disappointed that his squad had reached their third and final Group C match with no hope of making it to the knockout round of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia but remained upbeat about the team's future.

Peru was eliminated after losing its previous group matches to both Denmark and France, both 1-0, and is looking to end the tournament on a positive note with a win against Australia on Tuesday, reports Efe.

"We had other expectations, to reach the third match with the possibility of qualifying," Gareca said during a press conference.

The Argentine coach brushed off questions about his future, amid media reports linking him with other national teams, saying he preferred to assess his team's 2018 World Cup run.

"We didn't get our desired outcome, but we put in a good performance. We were up to the task," he said, adding the important thing is "the good moment that Peru is having, and the immense prospects".

Regarding the upcoming duel with Australia, Gareca said: "It's a very important match for us. We want to wrap up our World Cup run in the best possible way for the people who will come to see us, and for the country that has been helping us so much."

Peru is at the bottom of Group C with zero points, while France leads with six points, two points ahead of Denmark and five points ahead of Australia.

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