• The Peruvian keeper is a mainstay of the national team
• Their quest to qualify for Qatar 2022 dominates his chat with FIFA.com
• He also talks about his footballing journey, among other things

“You’re going to keep goal for the national team, play a key role and take part in a World Cup.”

Pedro Gallese was just ten the first time his Aunt Sona told him this, though at the time he could not fully comprehend its implication – either for him or Peru.

“I was living with her at the time, and she kept on repeating it. I thought she was crazy,” he told FIFA.com. Now 31 and the undisputed first-choice for his country, he was indeed one of the Blanquirroja’s key figures when they graced the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ after a 36-year absence from the world stage.

The FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2007, when he was an unused substitute, kickstarted his career and paved the way for him turning professional a year later. He debuted with the senior national team in 2014, although it would be current coach, Ricardo Gareca, who came to depend on his litheness and reflexes when he took up the reins back in March 2015.

Since then, the player they call El Pulpo (the Octopus) or Tarantula has only ever missed games through injury, setting two records in the process: he is Peru’s most-capped goalkeeper (62 appearances to date) and the one with the most FIFA World Cup qualifying games to his name (18).

Now one of the pillars of the team, Gallese spoke with FIFA.com about Peru’s weak start in the qualifiers for Qatar 2022, where they currently sit second-last with just one point from four games, as well as their next opponents and qualification chances. In addition, he talked about his beginnings in the game, his hobbies, life with MLS side Orlando City and the upcoming Copa America.

FIFA.com: what’s your earliest memory of keeping goal?

Pedro Gallese: Playing at a community tournament in Barrancos at the age of seven. I was an outfield player, and we were taking a hammering, so I said to our keeper, ‘Can you just save one and start doing your job!’. His reply was, ‘Well why don’t you go in goal then?’, and so I did, without even a pair of gloves! The attacks continued but I made a couple of saves and liked it. The next game I was put in goal from the start and since then have never left.

Can you tell us the part played by your Aunt Sona?

My cousin was playing for an academy in Lima, and the team were always getting beaten. So my aunt contacted them to say she had a nephew who was good in goal, and they agreed to take me, even though we couldn’t afford to pay the academy fees. I was nine at the time. As soon as they put me in goal, the team stopped losing. It was soon after that she began with the whole ‘you’re going to play a World Cup one day’ thing. When we qualified for Russia, I gave her my entire kit from the New Zealand play-off as a present.

How important to your career was the FIFA U-17 World Cup of 2007?

It was gratifying, because at that time it was mostly youth players from the big clubs that got selected. It was a rare for an academy player like me to get called up. Once there, all I could think of was: ‘If this is how a World Cup for juniors is, what must the senior team version be like!’

And what was that experience like at Russia 2018?

When we won the play-off, I was happy, but it was only at the tournament itself that I fully realised what qualification meant. As we lined up for the national anthem before the first game, I looked around at my team-mates and the many Peruvians fans there with us, and it dawned on me what we’d achieved. At that moment, you heart is pounding in your chest. Even if I never get to experience it again, I’ll remember every minute of those three games.

What was the key to coming through that qualifying campaign?

The 36-year absence weighed heavily on us, as did losing some games after playing well. The burden we had to shoulder was getting heavier and heavier, but our determination to improve over the course of the qualifiers was important. We kept believing it was possible.

How would assess the team’s start to the qualifiers for Qatar?

It’s been a complicated start that’s earned us fewer points than expected, even though we’ve not played badly. But we know we need to improve in many respects, all over the pitch. We have to forget about the World Cup in Russia. This is a new qualification race, and we have to focus solely on that.

Do you think the expectation that Peru would qualify again has worked against you?

The reality is that previously some teams used to say, ‘We have Peru next, so there’s three points’, and they were calm and composed against us. Now teams analyse us more, studying each player, and that makes everything a bit more difficult. But it’s also a good thing, because they respect us in a different way. We have to use that to our advantage.

What have the team been lacking on the pitch?

In part, we’re missing the same levels of concentration we had before; the ability to strike and then defend a lead like our lives depended on it. But the important thing is, and this is something we’ve talked about among ourselves, is that we’re equipped to fight. If we weren’t, then we’d only be thinking of taking part. However, we can compete, as we’ve already demonstrated.

It seems like another test of character for this group…

In the previous campaign, with six matchdays remaining, we had only the slimmest of chances of scraping into the play-off position. We had to win all our home games and snatch points on the road – we simply couldn’t lose. On that occasion, we were up to the challenge. Now we find ourselves in a similar situation, but earlier in the campaign. We’ve started badly, but I think that’ll make us stronger.

What’s your assessment of your next two fixtures – Colombia at home and Ecuador away?

Both are direct rivals. Colombia have a style similar to ours and also try to use the ball well and defend a lot. With them, the real battle will be in midfield. Ecuador are more direct and, as always, altitude will be a factor in Quito. Personally, I was able to train in Orlando with technology that simulates altitude, which is a significant advantage.

Is there any anxiety after the COVID-related postponements?

Not so much anxiety, but desire to turn around the complicated situation we’re going through.

Shortly afterwards, you have the Copa America. Given that Peru were runners-up last time, what’s the team’s goal this year?

When you participate in a tournament you want to represent your country well, but also to win it, or go as far as possible. It’ll do us good in terms of getting closer together as a group, because the focus is one hundred percent on the qualifiers.

Finally, has your Aunt Sona said anything to you about the World Cup in Qatar?

She told me that we had to qualify for another World Cup, that I couldn’t just have the one (laughs). She made me promise that we’d reach a second, so I have more pressure from her than from all of Peru (laughs again).

Quick fire with Gallese…

The records. “When I started with the national team, they seemed a long way off, but you gradually attain them and feel good about them. It’s nice to be in the record books but only in so far as it motivates me to achieve even more.”

His great season at Orlando City. “I joined the club because they made an interesting offer. I wanted some different experience and am doing my own thing. They speak well of me, so that’s good.”

His replica shirt, which is among the best-sellers in Orlando. “Like I said: I’m glad because it’s testament to the good work I’m doing.”

Being the team’s unofficial barber. “It started during the ‘MLS is Back’ tournament, when we were confined for two and a half months. I bought some clippers, watched a few videos on YouTube and my team-mates were up for it. Now if they ask me, I keep doing it.”

His success on Tik Tok during the pandemic. “In the middle of the pandemic I was going crazy – I didn’t know what to do… My wife asked me if I fancied doing it, so we tried and people liked it. But that’s as far as it goes (laughs).”

Have his own clothing brand. “I’ve liked fashion ever since I was a kid, and the business is growing little by little. I don’t design the stuff however, I just give it the thumbs up or down! It’s more of a hobby.”

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• Bahrain are flying high in the qualifiers for Qatar 2022
• Midfielder Abdulwahab Al Malood puts that down to the players’ experience
• Meeting with IR Iran will be a special one for him

Bahrain have twice come close to qualifying for the FIFA World Cup™, reaching the intercontinental play-offs in the qualifiers for Germany 2006 and South Africa 2010, losing to Trinidad and Tobago and New Zealand respectively.

The generation that contested those two play-offs was a golden one for the country, with the likes of Alaa Hubail, Ali Husein Baba and Mohamed Salmeen leading the way. Today, more than a decade on from their exploits, the Reds’ new breed are pushing for world finals qualification once more.

Bahrain currently lie second in Group C of the Asian qualifying competition for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, having recorded two wins and three draws in their five matches to date. They have three more games ahead of them in their bid to make it to the third round.

Their Portuguese coach Helio Sousa is banking on the players that won the West Asian Football Federation Championship and the Arabian Gulf Cup in 2019 to complete the job and take Bahrain to the world finals for the first time in their history. Among his most seasoned campaigners is veteran attacking midfielder Abdulwahab Al Malood, who is appearing in his third consecutive World Cup preliminaries.

Speaking exclusively to FIFA.com, he compared the current qualification push with Bahrain’s two previous attempts.

“We prepared really well for the preliminaries and we’re really motivated too, with a new, experienced and intelligent coach,” said Al Malood. “We also have lots of ambition after winning the WAFF Championship and the Gulf Cup. In previous qualifying competitions, we lacked the experience we needed to take on the big teams.”

Experience key

Bahrain take on Cambodia in their next match in Group C this coming Thursday. Four days later they meet IR Iran before playing Hong Kong in their final match in the section on 15 June.

Next Monday’s meeting with IR Iran will be a special one for Al Malood, who made his FIFA World Cup qualifiers debut against the same opponents in 2011. That match, part of the Brazil 2014 preliminaries, ended in a 1-1 draw.

Recalling that game and Bahrain’s 1-0 defeat of the Iranians on Matchday 4 in Group C, Al Malood said: “I remember the fans having a big part to play in the 2011 game, but the Iranians came back to draw. In the latest game between us, we managed to hold on to our lead thanks to the enthusiasm of the crowd and the experience of the players.

“We’re now looking to kick on and win our next three matches. They’re all vital for us and we’ll be aiming to beat Iran again.”

Coach’s ambition rubbing off

Al Malood is also hoping to find the back of the net in those three games, just as he did against Philippines and Yemen in the qualifiers for Russia 2018, though it is not his main objective, as he explained: “I look to score in every game I play, but the biggest thing for me is helping the team to win and making a contribution, whether it’s by scoring goals or providing assists.”

That team spirit and confidence are the defining features of the current Bahrain line-up. Al Malood said coach Sousa, who took up the job in March 2019, deserves praise for instilling those characteristics in the team and for his work so far.

“The coach has given the players specific roles on the pitch,” said Al Malood. “The most important thing is that he has a lot of confidence in the players, which is allowing us to perform to our best on the pitch. Sousa has a lot of ambition and that’s rubbed off on us.”

The first objective for Sousa and his players is to reach the third round of the Asian qualifiers and go one step further than the generation that reached two consecutive intercontinental play-offs. In their bid to make it to Qatar 2022, Bahrain are hoping it is a case of third time lucky.

“We want to finish off the job started by our predecessors and help hoist the flag of the Kingdom of Bahrain high. If we all pull together, we can fulfil our dream of reaching the World Cup.”

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• Brandon Fernandes was a key creative outlet as FC Goa became Indian champions
• Brilliant club form continued in their maiden AFC Champions League campaign
• Attacker aims to help national team to positive results in the race for Qatar 2022

Should Brandon Fernandes translate his excellent club form to the international stage in Asia’s qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™, India’s chances of reviving their fortunes will be greatly enhanced.

Igor Stimac’s Blue Tigers registered just three points from the opening five outings in the second qualifying round, disappointing results which has them hanging in by a thread in fourth place in an intriguing Group E which also features Qatar, Oman, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. While only a freak series of results will see India revive their Qatar 2022 hopes, they have much to play for with the campaign also doubling as qualifiers for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.

India, though, can count on the red-hot form of Fernandes to provide some much-needed thrust and drive. Indeed, the diminutive midfielder enters this month’s matches on the back of a hugely successful season with FC Goa in the Indian Super League, where he provided seven assists – the highest among all Indian players – to help his side to the domestic title and seal a maiden appearance in the 2021 AFC Champions League.

He continued his creative form in the club’s Asian debut, setting up two goals, firstly in a 2-1 loss to Persepolis and then in a 1-1 draw against Al Rayyan as Goa finished a respectable third in their group. Now Fernandes has the opportunity to test his ability again on the international stage as Doha hosts this month’s finale to Group E.

“My motive is to give my 100 per cent in every match,” the 26-year-old told FIFA.com in a recent exclusive interview. “We all know what opponents we are facing. But it is must-win scenarios for us and we expect nothing less than the best. Realistically, I hope we can obtain at least six or seven points from the remaining games.

“We have a very good squad, young and energetic. We are doing well under coach Stimac. The mindset is to improve and get better in every session. He has been giving us good support. He tries to guide and motivate us all on and off field.”

Test against the best

India will open against frontrunners Qatar on Thursday, before further outings against Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Having held the Qataris to a goalless draw in the first leg, Fernandes is hoping that they can achieve an even better result against the Asian champions. 

“It will be a completely new match, a new day and so we have to give it our best shot if we want a positive outcome. Of course, no match is easy and hence we need to avoid any errors.”

Rough diamond  

Born in football-hotspot Goa, Fernandes displayed his talents from an early age and was swooped up by Salgaocar as a teenager. He was Player of the Tournament at the 2008 Manchester United Premier Cup – a youth competition conducted by the English giants – helping Salgaocar finish in third place. 

The following year he headed for South Africa to link with third division club ASD Cape Town. He spent three seasons with the club’s youth academy with his performances attracting scouts from Europe, although trials at Reading, Leicester City and Sunderland failed to yield a contract.

Despite that disappointment, however, Fernandes continued to make progress with a series of Indian clubs over the ensuing years and his career took off after he joined FC Goa in 2017. Fernandes bloomed at his home club truly establishing himself as one of the country’s most creative players, earning a maiden for India cap at the 2019 Kings Cup in Thailand.

“My major strengths would be creativity and vision,” he said. “These are the things that enable me to exhibit all of my other skills. And my aim going onto the field is to make a difference going, and I am confident that I can do that.”

World Cup ambition

While India impressed at the most recent Asian Cup, they have yet to qualify for a World Cup. Fernandes, however, believes they are on track to eventually achieve that dream.

“India’s [current] team has definitely raised the bar in comparison to previous years. With the kind of opportunities and exposure provided to the youth teams, we can see a lot of reason for positivity. I firmly believe that in the coming years we will surely get through the [World Cup] qualifiers.”

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• Australia fullback Rhyan Grant survived a harrowing experience in 2018
• Career has since blossomed for both club and country
• The Socceroos return to the pitch this week after longest absence for 60 years

“Everything went peaceful and quiet under the water. I got ready to just let it happen. I thought, ‘This is it’.”

That was how Australia and Sydney FC fullback Rhyan Grant described his near-death experience in 2018 to PlayersVoice. Wild surf and a freak leg-rope tangle on a protruding pipe saw Grant trapped underwater with no escape seemingly possible, only for the rope to unexpectedly free itself.

“A country boy at the beach … What could go wrong?” said Grant, with more than a touch of self-deprecating humour.

Since then Grant has locked up a spot on the right side of defence for Australia, played at the AFC Asian Cup, scored a championship-winning goal and now has his sights on featuring at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.

“I think at the time it did [change the way I approach football],” Grant told FIFA.com about his experience in the surf. “Sometimes you can take things for granted so that gave me a different perspective, and I treat football extra special and certainly don’t take it for granted.”

Kewell runnings

Grant has become something of a cult figure at Sydney FC, with his trademark long-at-the-back and short-on-the-sides ‘mullet’, straight-talking interviews and tireless running up and down the sideline – he regularly covers 12 kilometres per match – not to mention charity work.

It is all a long way from growing up in a small country town of barely 2,000 residents far from Australian football’s heartlands, and where the youngster’s walls were covered in Harry Kewell posters and newspaper clippings. “I was in awe of that [2006 Australian World Cup] team,” Grant said. “The boys did us proud and had a red-hot crack in Germany.

“It really inspired a lot of kids back then. We all got up in the middle of the night, and you knew it was big when even my mum and sister got up!”

Long road to the top

With fewer opportunities in the Central West of New South Wales, Grant moved to Sydney at the tender age of 15. Despite the challenges facing local aspirants, the region has also notably produced Matildas and Lyon fullback Ellie Carpenter and 2015 Asian Cup winner Nathan Burns. Indeed, the latter is a close family friend, so much so that the two sets of parents go on holidays together.

Rhyan’s father Daryl travels to every single Sydney FC home match making the six-hour round-trip. “I try and tell him he doesn’t have to make it, but he loves to do and is always there and is definitely my biggest supporter. I’m sure he will make his way over to Qatar if I’m there.”

Daryl could barely have received a better reward than last season’s Grand Final when his footballing son forced home an unconventional winner with his chest to secure the title for Sydney FC. The unlikely goal served to add yet another layer to Grant’s cult status.

Grant is by no means a goalscorer – he averages one goal per season for Sydney FC – yet seems to be drawn to shining on the big stage. Two of the 30-year-old’s strikes have come in Grand Finals, including that championship-winning goal, plus another in a successful shoot-out victory.

Grant is yet to open his account for Australia, despite assuming the No.4 shirt last worn by the national team’s greatest goalscorer, Tim Cahill. Having developed under the guidance of current Socceroo boss Graham Arnold at Sydney FC, he has been first choice right fullback since making the 2019 AFC Asian Cup squad, where he played all five matches.

World Cup dreaming

Australia arrive in Kuwait this week for four World Cup qualifiers in 12 days starting with a match-up against the home side on Thursday. The Group B frontrunners will complete their Round 2 commitments with outings against Chinese Taipei, Nepal and Jordan. The matches will end a period of inactivity for Australia stretching around 550 days – their longest spell without taking the field since the early 1960s.

“It [to represent your country] is the highest honour you can have as a footballer and as an athlete, there is nothing bigger than that. To be able to do that is huge for me, and I want to be a part of for as long as I can.

“We have a big couple of 18 months coming up. When we qualify – and I’m sure we will qualify – it would be awesome to be selected and play in a World Cup. That is definitely a driving factor me at the moment, and to do everything I can to be in contention for that when we get there.”

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