Ricardo Gareca gives instructions during the friendly match between Peru and New Zealand played this Sunday at the RCDE stadium in Barcelona. Photo: EFE / Toni Albir
The Peruvian government announced this Friday that next Monday, June 13, has been declared a national holiday in the public sector as it is the day the Peruvian team will play the crucial playoff match against Australia in Doha for the penultimate place at the World Cup. Qatar 2022.
“It has been established that Monday will be a public holiday so that the population can see the football team qualify for the Qatar World Cup,” Culture Minister Alejandro Salas told the press, stating that the holiday will apply to the public sector. while the private sector can “opt-in”.
The official added that this decision, made “unanimously” in the session of the Council of Ministers held this afternoon, he asked that “citizens can organize themselves, take to the streets to meet, with the necessary care”.
Peru looks to play its second consecutive World Cup. Photo: AFP
“We believe (the party) is an event of union, of nationalism, of national identity,” he said.
The government announced this week that it is considering proclaiming a holiday on playoff day, a proposal rejected by the country’s unions, which have warned of the risk of generating a negative impact on the economy.
When asked about these questions, Salas assured that “Peru’s World Cup qualification will reactivate the country’s economy”.
Gareca is also aiming for his second consecutive World Cup. Photo: AP
“We do not look at this with pessimism, we look at it with absolute optimism, with the joy of the citizens who want to see united, embraced, with their colors, the qualification of our team for the next World Cup”, said the minister.
This Friday, the team led by Argentine Ricardo Gareca, encouraged by the fans, left Barcelona for Doha, where the Blanquirroja will have two days of training at the Al Sadd stadium.
The clash with Australia will take place on June 13 at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, where Peru will try to brave the high temperatures and qualify for the World Cup final for the second consecutive time, after Russia in 2018, when obtained a historic return to that appointment after 36 years.
Source: EFE
Source: Clarin
