Peru coach Gareca takes time off

Lima, July 4 (IANS) Peru national football team coach Ricardo Gareca has said that he will take some time off to think about his future as head of the team, which qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 36 years.

"Right now, I'm a free coach," the Argentina-born Gareca told reporters on Tuesday, adding that he is "free of any responsibility," as his contract with Peru expired following their participation in the 2018 World Cup in Russia, reports EFE news agency.

The coach added that there is a "stated intention" by the Peruvian federation to keep him at the helm of the national team ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but he insisted that he "has decided to take a break" during which he will "think" about the proposal.

In addressing rumors about an offer to helm his country's squad, Gareca said that, while Argentina is a "top-level team", he is in no condition to say anything about the matter.

Despite beating Australia in their last group C match, the Peruvian team lost to Denmark and France, which caused their elimination from the World Cup.

"Expectations were not met," the now former coach said, adding that the defeat was "not part of the plan," but the team "caused a good impression."

Gareca also said that it would have been "ideal" for team captain Paolo Guerrero to begin training with the team "from the start," after FIFA suspended him for six months following a routine doping test that detected a cocaine metabolite.

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