Arohamai if this has been covered already, but out of the two squads who would make a combined XI? Anyone cleverer than me want to have a go?
Sure thing, I'll take a stab :)
Marinovic would be backup goalkeeper behind Pedro Gallese, star goalkeeper in Mexico.
Reid's a definite, considering the Peruvian's injury crisis. Probably the best CB in both countries regardless of injury. Smith, Boxall, Themi etc. wouldn't be in the top 10 Peruvian CBs though.
NZ wingbacks have no hope.
In centre midfield, Thomas might (just might) make the first XI on a good day, Peru's a little weak in depth for centre midfield and he might displace Yosimar Yotun, who plays in the MLS and is a similar type of player (short and agile but a great ballwinner).
May be a surprise, but Rojas would most likely be in the subs as a right or left winger - he'd flourish in a South American team given his playstyle, and the fact that he's not a fudgeing central player, Mr. Hudson. Wouldn't start ahead of Carrillo though (star Watford winger), but could displace Edison Flores (plays in Denmark for Tamati Williams' team, Aalborg) on a good day.
Chris Wood would be second-choice striker behind Guerrero (captain, plays in Brazil and is one of the best players in the league), and just ahead of Raul Ruidiaz (plays in Mexico, but is a star player in the league - completely different type of player to Wood though, nicknamed the 'Peruvian Messi').
So starting in a combined squad? Only one or two Kiwis. On a good day, maybe four max. Here's the best case scenario :)
Gallese
Advincula Zambrano Reid Loyola
Carrillo Tapia Thomas Rojas
Farfan
Wood
There seems to be a lot of people who think that we're absolutely outclassed everywhere on the pitch by Peru. Truth is, we're better than we think we are, and while we'll likely lose, our players can always surprise us!
fixed it slightly
Gallese
Advincula Rodriguez Reid Trauco
Carrillo Tapia Thomas Rojas
Cueva
Wood
Zambrano has not been called up to Peru for over a year - has essentially been banished - no one knows why
Reid the best player on the park? What a load of crap.
I think a lot of us are severely overrating Peru, they're better than us but they're not God's XI or anything. Reid is 100% in the top three players, if it wasn't for Farfan's return to form Reid would be the best on the park on paper. He's also playing for the biggest club out of anyone in either team.
Ironically I think people might be overrating Andre Carrillo (who cant score to save his life and sometimes hogs the ball too much) and Tapia (who sometimes holds onto the ball too much and tries interesting moves in risky positions ) and underrating Yoshimar Yotun (who is the key player in the midfield as underlined by the Uruguayan coach when Peru played Uruguay) and Flores (who has an uncanny ability to score important goals - joint top scorer in team with Guerrero).
That is probably because Carrillo and Tapia play in "better" leagues.
All that being said, this Peru team is not in the playoff because of the individual ability of its players, its in the playoff because the team works well as a unit and has a starting 11 that can be recited from memory and it has essentially specific subs for each of the starters (also from memory). e.g. if Cueva goes off then Hurtado will come on. If Tapia goes out then Aquino goes in. If Corzo gets injured then Advincula will start
regarding Reid at West Ham...you could argue that Flamengo and Sao Paulo of Brazil are "bigger" clubs that West Ham. Seeing as they are both huge clubs in the most football mad country in the world. I would wager that playing for Flamengo brings more pressure than playing for West Ham. But I guess it depends how you define what a "big" club is