The AC Milan veteran believes that it would be a mistake for Colombia to take Peru lightly when the teams meet in Lima on Sunday.
Mario Yepes is well aware of Peru's potential, and admitted that Colombia face a stiff test when they travel to the Peruvian capital to take on the hosts on Sunday.
"Our rivals are very difficult, direct [rivals], we know them from the Copa America [2011], they are a strong team, we respect them and we will try to play our best game possible," stated the experienced Milan defender.
Colombia, then-coached by Hernan Dario Gomez, were beaten 2-0 by Peru in the quarter-finals of the Copa America which was staged in Argentina last year.
"The South American World Cup qualifiers are the most difficult in the world, it won't be easy," Yepes affirmed.
Colombia's new coach, Jose Pekerman, has confirmed Yepes in his team's starting eleven, but he has yet to decide whether Amaranto Perea, Bernardo Espinosa, Cristian Zapata or Aquivaldo Mosquera will partner him in the centre of defence.
"We have security in our defensive zone like in other World Cup qualifying campaigns and now we also have lots of strength in our attacking department. In the past we had plenty of problems in the attack, but now we are more balanced," the 36-year-old concluded.
Colombia currently find themselves in 6th place of the South American World Cup qualifiers, with four points from three games.
The last time Colombia qualified for soccer's maximum event was back in 1998, when the competition was staged in France.
"Our rivals are very difficult, direct [rivals], we know them from the Copa America [2011], they are a strong team, we respect them and we will try to play our best game possible," stated the experienced Milan defender.
Colombia, then-coached by Hernan Dario Gomez, were beaten 2-0 by Peru in the quarter-finals of the Copa America which was staged in Argentina last year.
"The South American World Cup qualifiers are the most difficult in the world, it won't be easy," Yepes affirmed.
Colombia's new coach, Jose Pekerman, has confirmed Yepes in his team's starting eleven, but he has yet to decide whether Amaranto Perea, Bernardo Espinosa, Cristian Zapata or Aquivaldo Mosquera will partner him in the centre of defence.
"We have security in our defensive zone like in other World Cup qualifying campaigns and now we also have lots of strength in our attacking department. In the past we had plenty of problems in the attack, but now we are more balanced," the 36-year-old concluded.
Colombia currently find themselves in 6th place of the South American World Cup qualifiers, with four points from three games.
The last time Colombia qualified for soccer's maximum event was back in 1998, when the competition was staged in France.
