Coach – Ricardo Gareca: Known in his playing days as The Tiger, Gareca has brought together a mixture of experience and youth to create a Peru team capable of upsetting the apple cart. The Argentinian manager introduced a host of young players to Peru’s ageing squad and stuck with them, even when results were not going their way. The youngsters repaid their manager's faith and qualified via a play-off against New Zealand.

Legend – Teofilo Cubillas: Nicknamed The Pele of Peru, Cubillas is probably best remembered for his outside-of-the-boot free kick against Scotland in the 1978 World Cup.

He was awarded the Best Young Player accolade at the 1970 World Cup after scoring against the famed 1970 Brazil team in the quarter-final. Cubillas also helped Peru to their second ever Copa America title when named Player of the Tournament in their 1975 triumph.

Star Man – Jefferson Farfan: Now 33 years of age, Farfan (pictured, below) has been Peru’s talisman for the last decade or so. Plying his trade for Lokomotiv Moscow, Farfan scored the first and assisted the second goal in Peru’s play-off win over New Zealand.

Being based in Russia at club level may mean the three-time Peruvian Player of the Year will be more acclimatised than his team-mates.

Did you know? Peru’s captain and all-time leading scorer Paolo Guerrero is set to miss the World Cup after testing positive for cocaine. Guerrero is appealing the 12-month suspension on grounds that he consumed the drug inadvertently through drinking a cup of contaminated tea.

Fun Fact: During Peru’s qualifying campaign they were defeated 2-0 by Bolivia, only to be awarded the game 3-0 after it emerged Bolivia fielded an ineligible player.

Qualifying: A 2-0 aggregate victory over New Zealand in their intercontinental play-off came after finishing fifth in the South American standings.

Group E Fixtures: Denmark (5pm, June 16, Saransk), France (4pm, June 21, Ekaterinburg), Australia (3pm, June 26, Sochi)

Peru squad

Goalkeepers: Pedro Gallese (Veracruz), Carlos Caceda (Deportivo Municipal), Jose Carvallo (UTC).

Defenders: Aldo Corzo (Universitario), Luis Advincula (Lobos Buap), Christian Ramos (Veracruz), Miguel Araujo (Alianza Lima), Alberto Rodriguez (Atletico Junior), Anderson Santamaria (Puebla), Miguel Trauco (Flamengo), Nilson Loyola (Melgar).

Midfielders: Renato Tapia (Feyenoord), Pedro Aquino (Lobos Buap), Yoshimar Yotun (Orlando City), Paolo Hurtado (Vitoria Guimaraes), Christian Cueva (Sao Paulo), Edison Flores (Aalborg), Andy Polo (Portland Timbers), Wilder Cartagena (Veracruz).

Forwards: Andre Carrillo (Watford), Raul Ruidiaz (Morelia), Jefferson Farfan (Lokomotiv Moscow), Paolo Guerrero (Flamengo).

Peru Profile

Peru are set to make their fifth World Cup appearance in Russia after a 36-year absence from the tournament.

Inter-confederation play-off victory over New Zealand was enough to see the South Americans through, and they line up alongside Australia, Denmark and France in Group C.