Peru defender Zambrano to miss opening World Cup qualifiers

Xinhua | Updated: 2020-03-10 10:07

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Brazil forward Neymar (10) moves the ball while Peru midfielder Carlos Zambrano (15) defends during the the second half of the South American Showdown soccer match at Los Angeles Coliseum in Los Angeles, USA, Sept 10, 2019. [Photo/Agencies]

BUENOS AIRES -- Boca Juniors defender Carlos Zambrano has been ruled out of Peru's opening qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup because of a broken rib, the Argentinian club said on Monday.

The 30-year-old sustained the injury during Boca's 1-0 home win over Gimnasia on Saturday - a result that secured the Buenos Aires side the Argentinian Superliga title on the last weekend of the season.

He will need at least a month to recover, a Boca official told local media on Monday.

Peru, who qualified for their first World Cup finals since 1982 in Russia two years ago, will play Paraguay in Asuncion on March 26 before hosting Brazil in Lima five days later.

The Blanquirroja's Argentinian head coach, Ricardo Gareca, is expected to announce his squad for the matches on March 13.

Zambrano, who joined Boca from Dynamo Kyiv in January, has been capped 49 times for Peru since making his international debut in 2008.

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