New Zealand vs Peru Prediction & Betting Tips - World Cup play-off

Prediction published on 08/11/2017, 08:15  by | Modified on 13/12/2017 at 03:39 in Football Predictions

New Zealand have already had to win one play-off to get within two games of the World Cup finals. They had an easy win over the Solomon Islands but this will be a lot tougher as they take on Peru from South America. New Zealand are down at 122 in the FIFA World rankings and have only ever qualified for the finals in 1982 and 2010. They were actually unbeaten in 2010 drawing all three games, failing to qualify for the knock-out stages but finishing above Italy. The 6-1 home win over the Solomon Islands is their only win in their last eight games with a succession of defeats against much higher ranked sides such as Russia, Mexico and Portugal. New Zealand reached this play-off in 2014 but lost 9-3 to Mexico. Peru are ranked 10th in the world but could only finish fifth in the South American qualifying group and haven't qualified for the finals since 1982. They were only ahead of Chile on goal difference so were close to being eliminated. Their away form is a big worry with only three wins out of nine in that qualifying group and but for being awarded a win over Bolivia due to an ineligible player, they would already be out of the World Cup as they lost that match 2-0 and it was a 77th minute own goal that earned them the point that did finally earn them fifth, so perhaps luck is on their side. Away form has picked up a bit with a run of four games unbeaten and they are so far ahead of New Zealand in the rankings, they can win this match and all but secure qualification with the home leg to come.