By FRANCO PANIZO

Going up against Brazil’s star-studded roster should be the tougher of the U.S. Men’s National Team’s two upcoming friendlies, but the first game against Peru should be a good test as well.

Peru head coach Ricardo Gareca finalized on Friday a 23-man roster for the upcoming match with the U.S. and a subsequent friendly with Colombia, and the squad includes the majority of the players that helped the Blanquirroja secure a third-place finish at this summer’s Copa America.

Headline the group are Flamengo striker Paolo Guerrero, Al-Jazira attacker Jeffeson Farfan, and Real Betis’ Juan Manuel Vargas. They are joined by other foreign-based talent like Andre Carrillo of Sporting CP and Toluca newcomer Christian Cueva.

Among the more notable omissions from Gareca’s team are Claudio Pizarro and Cristian Benavente. Pizarro, a long-time player and part-time captain for Peru, is currently in the process of finding a new club. Benavente, meanwhile, just landed at Milton Keynes Dons.

Preparing for the start of their World Cup qualifying campaign, the Peruvians are set to take on the U.S. on Sept. 4 at RFK Stadium, before playing Colombia four days later at Red Bull Arena in a preview of their first qualifier in October.

Here is Peru’s roster:

Goalkeepers: Pedro Gallese (Juan Aurich), Diego Penny (Sporting Cristal)

Defenders: Luis Advincula (Bursaspor), Jair Cespedes (Juan Aurich), Christian Ramos (Juan Aurich), Pedro Requena (Cesar Vallejo), Hansell Riojas (Cesar Vallejo), Yoshimar Yotun (Malmo), Carlos Zambrano (Eintracht Frankfurt)

Midfielders: Carlos Ascues (Wolfsburg), Josepmir Ballon (Sporting Cristal), Christian Cueva (Toluca), Paolo Hurtado (Reading), Carlos Lobaton (Sporting Cristal), Joel Sanchez (San Martin), Renato Tapia (FC Twente), Juan Manuel Vargas (Real Betis)

Forwards: Andre Carrillo (Sporting CP), Daniel Chavez (Cesar Vallejo), Jefferson Farfan (Al-Jazira), Edison Flores (Universitario), Paolo Guerrero (Flamengo), Yordy Reyna (RB Salzburg)

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What do you think of this Peru roster? Think the USMNT will have its hands full? For you, are the danger players to watch out for?

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