ANALYSIS: Football, in theory, is a simple game - score more goals than your opponent, and you head home with a smile on your face.

If only it really were that easy.

When the All Whites face off with Peru on November 11 in Wellington, and five days later in Lima, it will be David squaring up Goliath.

REUTERS Christian Cueva pulls the strings in Peru's midfield, playing just behind striker Paolo Guerrero.

It's not an impossible task for New Zealand to shock the Peruvians, but should they achieve it, their feat would go down as one of the biggest shocks in football history.

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Ranked a lowly 122nd in the world heading into the game, according to Fifa, New Zealand need to overcome the 10th best side.

REUTERS As if the starting XI wasn't good enough, Peru can call on Jefferson Farfan off the bench.

The rankings take into account form over the past four years, and although you could argue New Zealand have been better over the last two years, so have Peru. If you leave out rankings points from 2014 and 2015, New Zealand rate 99th, and Peru sixth.

No team in the history of Fifa's rankings has overcome such a difference in ranking position, so New Zealand's task is a monumental one.

Here's how gaffer Anthony Hudson could look to beat one of the world's finest footballing teams.

REUTERS Paolo Guerrero overpowers Colombia and Tottenham Hotspurs defender Davinson Sanchez.

STRETCH THE FIELD



On attack, Hudson needs to find a way to stretch the field as wide as he can, pulling the Peruvian defence apart.

Peru's back four defend extremely narrow, leaving little space to attack them head on. It's when you switch the play and tug them from one side of the field to the other that gaps appear.

Of the 27 goals Peru conceded in Conmebol qualifying, eight came when switching the ball from the left flank to the right, and attacking the channel between left back and centre back.



Goals against Peru mapped: Conmebol World Cup qualifying

*solid line = pass; dotted line = dribble

1 of 15 ARGENTINA 2-2 PERU, OCTOBER 7 2016 2 of 15 COLOMBIA 1-1 PERU, OCTOBER 11 2017 3 of 15 VENEZUELA 2-2 PERU, MARCH 25 2016 4 of 15 VENEZUELA 2-2 PERU, MARCH 24 2017 5 of 15 CHILE 4-3 PERU, OCTOBER 14 2015 6 of 15 COLOMBIA 2-0 PERU, OCTOBER 9 2015 7 of 15 ECUADOR 1-2 PERU, SEPTEMBER 6 2017 8 of 15 ECUADOR 1-2 PERU, SEPTEMBER 7 2016 9 of 15 PARAGUAY 1-4 PERU, NOVEMBER 11 2016 10 of 15 URUGUAY 1-2 PERU, MARCH 29 2017 11 of 15 BOLIVIA 2-0 PERU, SEPTEMBER 2 2016 (later overturned) 12 of 15 BOLIVIA 1-2 PERU, SEPTEMBER 1 2017 13 of 15 BRAZIL 3-0 PERU, NOVEMBER 18 2015 14 of 15 BRAZIL 2-0 PERU, NOVEMBER 16 2016 15 of 15 CHILE 2-1 PERU, OCTOBER 12 2016

With the left back, likely to be Miguel Trauco, defending almost in line with the far post when the ball is on the far flank, he is forced to make up plenty of ground when the play is switched from left to right, as is the central defender alongside him.

ATTACKING THE RIGHT FLANK



There are two issues with this plan. One, the All Whites don't usually have wide men on attack. They play narrow, with only the wing-backs providing width.

The second is that Peru's coach Ricardo Gareca seems to have noticed the weakness on the left of his defence.

REUTERS Miguel Trauco has steadied Peru's left flank, making attacking them much harder.

At the start of qualifying, midfielder Yoshimar Yotun was starting at left back, alongside Carlos Ascues at centre back. Peru conceded 12 goals during qualifying through that channel between the two defenders.

That came from both stretching the field, and simply loading up to attack the right flank.

But with Trauco moved into left back, alongside either Christian Ramos or Alberto Rodriguez, the hole has closed somewhat. Peru are less leaky on the left side of defence.

REUTERS Yoshimar Yotun has moved into midfield from the left back position, strengthening their defence.

It's still there, but it's a tighter squeeze than it was two years ago.

SET PIECE DOMINANCE



Peru conceded 10 goals from set piece situations in qualifying. Four of those goals came from corners, and all four of those goals were scored at the far post.

Basically, get your movement inside the box right and Peru are susceptible to leaving a player unmarked at the far post.

REUTERS Peru coach Ricardo Gareca has gone a long way towards fixing his leaky left flank, but set pieces are an issue.

They allowed a pair of penalties, one of which was conceded when running through the previously mentioned left back/centre back pairing.

Just like corners, freekicks from anywhere within 40 metres of goal can be an attacking opportunity.

The central defensive pairing aren't all that tall, so Chris Wood, Winston Reid and the like could have success if the delivery is good.



ASSURED IN POSSESSION



This is specifically when the All Whites have the ball inside their own half.



Peru aren't going to pass New Zealand to death. Had they drawn Chile, or Argentina, that could have been the case, but New Zealand have caught a break with Peru in that regard.



Peru goals mapped: Conmebol World Cup qualifying

*solid line = pass; dotted line = dribble

1 of 12 PERU 1-0 PARAGUAY, NOVEMBER 13 2015 2 of 12 PERU 4-1 PARAGUAY, NOVEMBER 10 2016 3 of 12 PERU 2-1 ECUADOR, SEPTEMBER 6 2016 4 of 12 PERU 2-1 ECUADOR, SEPTEMBER 5 2017 5 of 12 PERU 1-1 COLOMBIA, OCTOBER 10 2017 6 of 12 PERU 3-4 CHILE, OCTOBER 13 2015 7 of 12 PERU 1-2 CHILE, OCTOBER 11 2016 8 of 12 PERU 2-1 BOLIVIA, AUGUST 31 2017 9 of 12 PERU 2-2 ARGENTINA, OCTOBER 6 2016 10 of 12 PERU 2-2 VENEZUELA, MARCH 24 2016 11 of 12 PERU 2-2 VENEZUELA, MARCH 23 2017 12 of 12 PERU 2-1 URUGUAY, MARCH 28 2017

In Conmebol qualifying, Peru scored 24 goals. Sixteen of those goals came when they won the ball inside the opposition half, and 11 goals were scored on the counter attack.

An incredible statistic is this - the most passes Peru strung together before a goal in qualifying was six. Yes, just six passes.

In fact, 17 of their goals came with two or less passes leading into the finish. On average, they made 1.75 passes before scoring in their attacking movements.



This is a team which looks to win the ball high up the pitch, then hit you before your defence has had a chance to reorganise.



New Zealand need to be assured with the ball in their own half, or risk being hit hard for their mistakes.

REUTERS In a sparkling front four, Watford's Andre Carrillo may be the most dangerous.

MAN MARK ANDRE CARRILLO



The Watford winger is electric. He's got rapid pace, silky smooth footwork, and a big engine which keeps him going and going.

Now, imagine him running at someone like Tommy Smith, Deklan Wynne or Tom Doyle.

Peru have other attacking threats, like Paolo Guerrero, Edison Flores and Christian Cueva. You can't neglect any of them.

REUTERS Andre Carrillo has speed and skill, making him a real handful.

But Carrillo has that something extra that should really concern the All Whites.

Someone should be tasked with shutting him down throughout the game, either by shutting off any service to him on the flank, or by shadowing him all afternoon.

CHANGE FORMATION

Taking into account how Peru score their goals, and the best way to break them down, Hudson can't send out a five-man back line.

New Zealand need wide men to stretch Peru's defence, and that means something resembling a 4-3-3 formation.

It's more likely that we see a 5-3-2 formation (Hudson may call it a 3-5-2), but that would be a mistake. The wide men need to be high up the field on attack, higher than a wingback is comfortable.

As mentioned, Peru are unlikely to pass their way through the All Whites. It's not their game.

Hudson needs Marco Rojas and Kosta Barbarouses on the wings, attacking Peruvian fullbacks and supplying Chris Wood quality crosses.

He then needs to stack the midfield with all the quality he can muster. Ryan Thomas and one other (Bill Tuiloma, perhaps) as holding midfielders, with Michael McGlinchey sitting in front of them would be ideal.

On defence, the formation would be more like a 4-5-1. On attack, more like a 4-2-3-1. Insure yourself against Peruvian counter attacks while giving yourself a chance of stealing a goal or two.

HOPE FOR THE BEST

At the end of all that, you need some luck in the final third. Chris Wood needs to be fit and firing, balls need to bounce New Zealand's way, and to be frank, Peru need to have an off day in Wellington.

It happens in football from time to time. If it all clicks together, the All Whites could cause a huge upset.