The Peruvian national team is preparing for its friendly match against Senegal at the Stade de France, where coach Mano Menezes has made an unexpected decision by appointing Joao Grimaldo as the new bearer of the ’10’ jersey. This young 23-year-old forward, a standout figure at Sporting Cristal, will take on a key role in the revamped team, aiming to become a leader on the field.
The tactical scheme change is notable, shifting from a 1-3-5-2 to a 1-4-2-3-1, although Menezes has also experimented with variations using a 1-4-3-3. Grimaldo, who will play as a winger, has the mission of breaking lines and creating goal opportunities. “He takes on the responsibility,” commented the coach, emphasizing the player’s importance in this new phase.
The starting eleven for the match includes Pedro Gallese, Marcos López, Alfonso Barco, Miguel Araujo, Oliver Sonne, Erick Noriega, Yoshimar Yotún, André Carrillo, Kengi Cabrera, Joao Grimaldo, and Álex Valera. Peru and Senegal will face off today at 11:00 a.m. (Peruvian time), a match that will serve as a gauge for both teams. For more details about the match, you can check this link.
