Valderrama backs Peru to qualify for 2014 World Cup

The Cafetero idol highlighted the excellent players that coach Markarian can call upon, although he pointed out that patience was needed in order to make the tournament in Brazil.Colombian football legend Carlos Valderrama has showered praise on the Peru national team, backing both Sergio Markarian's men and his own country to qualify for the next World Cup in Brazil.'El Pibe' played in three consecutive World Cups for Colombia, for whom he holds the all-time appearance record with 111 caps. Since his retirement in 1998, however, the Cafeteros have not qualified for a single competition, while Peru have been out in the cold since 1982. Valderrama has backed the Copa America third-placed team to challenge for a place in Brazil, but warned against the pressure of so many years of failure playing on Inca minds."Getting to a World Cup is not so easy, the qualifiers are tough. In Peru generations have passed without managing it, although they have some great players, because there was no project or organisation. They have been wasting the good foundations they had in the team," the former playmaker explained to FoxSports."Just like in Colombia the process gets cut short, every time a couple of games are lost the coach is changed. Hard work over time does not get respected."Peru currently lie eighth in the Conmebol standings having started their campaign with a win and two defeats, while Colombia are sixth having picked up one more point.As many as five teams from nine could qualify for 2014, as Brazil enter automatically in their role as hosts.