Peru captain Paulo Guerrero has said he will give his Australian counterpart Mile Jedinak a "big hug" before they face off in Tuesday's vital Group C FIFA World Cup game.
Guerrero looked as if he was going to miss Peru's first appearance in the World Cup finals for 32 years after being given a 14-month ban for a positive drug test, reports Efe.
He said the positive came as the result of a cocaine by-product contained in tea he had drunk.
One of the reasons the ban was overturned by FIFA was the support he received from the captains of Peru's rivals in the group: France, Denmark and Australia and although Peru's World Cup hopes have ended after narrow defeats to France and Denmark, Guerrero is still grateful he has been able to enjoy the experience.
"I haven't had the chance to thank him (Jedinak) in person, I hope I can do that before tomorrow and I hope that we can talk. I am very grateful to him," said Guerrero on Monday.
"I think that footballers have to support each other, and I hope to give him a big hug and thank him personally," he added.
Although Peru have no chance of qualifying for the knockout stages, Australia can reach the last 16 if they defeat the South American side and Group C leaders France beat Denmark.
--IANS
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