Piero Quispe: The defensive bulwark in the national team’s midfield

The match against Canada could be just as difficult as the one against Chile.

Piero Quispe has left doubts in the offensive zone of the Peruvian National Team, but his defensive performance has been notable, which positions him as a probable starter against Canada on the second date of Group A of the Copa América 2024.

“Quispe has all the support, although many do not appreciate his work. He was the player who recovered the most balls. He is missing some things, but he will achieve them with time,” said Juan Carlos Oblitas, general director of the FPF, after the goalless draw against Chile in the debut of Group A of the Copa América 2024. The Pumas UNAM midfielder did not shine in attack, generating criticism from fans, but his defensive performance was solid, obtaining one of the best ratings on the statistics portals. As Oblitas pointed out, he was the player with the most recoveries in the classic against Chile.

Jorge Fossati, coach of the Peruvian National Team, has full confidence in the former Universitario de Deportes player, who was key in winning Liga 1 2023. Quispe was a starter in the June friendlies and in the Copa América debut. He played 71 minutes against Chile, in a highly contested match at AT&T Stadium in Texas, under the direction of Ricardo Gareca. Due to the frictional nature of the match, Quispe was unable to display his best offensive game and lost eight balls, despite maintaining 90% accuracy in his passes (19 of 21).

In this context, Quispe focused on defensive work and managed to stand out: he was the player with the most recoveries (7) in the match. Although he is not a defender, he equaled Carlos Zambrano in duels won (9 out of 11), who received praise on social media for his defensive performance. Overall, Quispe had a rating of 7.5 on Sofascore, only behind Sergio Peña (7.7).

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It is important to note that Quispe’s seven tackles equaled Renato Tapia’s record against Jamaica in the 2016 Copa América. Piero Quispe, a native of San Martín de Porres, has great playmaking skills, but is still adapting to the national team. It is expected that this Copa América will consolidate him as a starter and that he will stand out in the game, just as he does with Pumas and as he did with Universitario last year.

The game against Canada could be just as difficult as the one against Chile. The Canadians lost 2-0 against Argentina in their debut, but showed a good level and at several times made it difficult for the world champion. The ‘Canucks’ are brave and fast, with Alphonso Davies as their main figure. If he repeats the title, Quispe will have to make another effort to recover the ball, showing his defensive ability and improving in game creation to filter passes to the forwards. He has the talent to do it.

In every edition of the Copa América, there has always been a Peruvian player who, without being in the forecasts, ends up being key in the Bicolor’s campaign. This year, there are eight Peruvians making their debut in the continental tournament: Diego Romero, Joao Grimaldo, Jesús Castillo, Oliver Sonne, Piero Quispe, Franco Zanelatto, Bryan Reyna and José Rivera. Among them, Piero Quispe is the one who has a permanent place in Peru’s starting eleven, and for that reason he could be the big surprise in this competition.

Fossati has placed his trust in Quispe for the left-sided role, accompanying Sergio Peña in the creation. Ahead of the match against Canada, the Uruguayan coach will probably keep the young midfielder in the lineup, recognizing his ability and potential in the 3-5-2 formation. Although he still has some details to refine, there is full confidence that he will achieve it soon. It is time for Quispe to stop being a promise and become a reality.

Piero Quispe debuted with the Peruvian National Team in November 2022, in a 1-0 victory over Bolivia in an international friendly, under the direction of Juan Reynoso. Since then, he has participated in three additional friendlies, two matches in the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and one in the Copa América.

Under Fossati’s command, Quispe played his first game with the Blanquirroja in the 4-1 victory over the Dominican Republic, scoring his first and only goal to date with the National Team, after an assist from Edison Flores. Although he has yet to provide an assist, his performance has been remarkable and he promises much more for the future.