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
Can think of a few Kiwis that's happened to...
I sitll reckon Zambrano is their best centreback, I saw he wasn't in the last squad on Wikipedia which surprised me since I remember him being an absolute rock in the Bundesliga, so I put him in just to include the best players possible.
And yup I agree with Cueva and Trauco, actually edited them in just after I posted but seems I was too late :)
Zambrano had an incident with someone in the team after the rounds 5 and 6 and has not been back since. He is now wasting his talents in Greece after leaving the Bundesliga. He is probably slightly hating life watching his former team mates inch closer to the WC