World Cup preview: Chile
Coach: Marcelo Bielsa
Key player: Matías Fernández
Previous best: Third place 1962
Hosts and third-place finishers in 1962, banned and disqualified from the 1990 and 1994 tournaments, Chile have always been one of the more interesting nations at the World Cup, and arrive in South Africa with probably the best team they’ve had for some time.
After finishing just one point and one place off Brazil in the marathon that is South American qualifying – their most memorable result was a 1-0 win over Argentina in October 2008 – Chile enter the tournament in good heart, and obviously with good reason.
Brimming with attacking talents, former Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa has understandably based his gameplan on forward-thinking football.
Sporting Lisbon’s Matías Fernández is a skilful attacking midfielder who has attracted the interest of several of Europe’s big boys before, while former Liverpool winger Mark Gonzalez has impressed in Russia since moving to CSKA Moscow and Udinese’s Alexis Sánchez is one of the most gifted young forwards in Serie A.
Rodrigo Tello scored a winning goal for Beşiktaş at Old Trafford in last season’s Champions League, with Jorge Valdivia and Fabián Orellana – who can boast the nicknames “The Poet” and “The Historical One” – adding to the formidable attacking ranks at Bielsa’s disposal.
Forward Humberto Suazo has a prolific goalscoring record in South America too, and earned a loan move to Real Zaragoza last season, but he’s doubtful for the first Group H match against New Zealand in Nelspruit.
They will be overwhelming favourites to win both that and their next match against Honduras, with the final clash against Spain looking likely to determine the group winners, that’s if Chile can sort out their defence.
They shipped 22 goals in qualifying, more than any other of the South American nations at the World Cup, with their attacking tendencies often leading to a diminished responsibility at the back.
Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo took the captain’s armband following the retirement of legendary forward Marcelo Salas, who scored four goals at France ‘98, and plays behind a defence that will include West Bromwich Albion’s Gonzalo Jara, the Universidad Católica defender Waldo Ponce, who has been linked with a move to Wigan Athletic and POAK’s experienced Pablo Contreras, who has over 50 caps to his name.
They’ll all have to be at their best playing behind such attacking players, but the belief remains that they should qualify from Group H, and then head into an intriguing second round clash with either Brazil, Portugal or the Ivory Coast, a prospect that would make for an excellent contest.
The attacking talents in their side will make them one of the neutral’s favourites, and with expectations high back in Chile – a country that has had a strange relationship with the World Cup – Bielsa’s side look ready to spring a surprise.
Chile squad
1 Claudio BRAVO (Real Sociedad)
2 Ismael FUENTES (Universidad Catolica)
3 Waldo PONCE (Universidad Catolica)
4 Mauricio ISLA (Udinese)
5 Pablo CONTRERAS (PAOK)
6 Carlos CARMONA (Reggina)
7 Alexis SÁNCHEZ (Udinese)
8 Arturo VIDAL (Bayer Leverkusen)
9 Humberto SUAZO (Real Zaragoza)
10 Jorge VALDIVIA (Al-Ain)
11 Mark GONZÁLEZ (CSKA Moscow)
12 Miguel PINTO (Universidad de Chile)
13 Marco ESTRADA (Universidad de Chile)
14 Matias FERNÁNDEZ (Sporting Lisbon)
15 Jean BEAUSEJOUR (America)
16 Fabián ORELLANA (Xerez)
17 Gary MEDEL (Boca Juniors)
18 Gonzalo JARA (West Brom)
19 Gonzalo FIERRO (Flamengo)
20 Rodrigo MILLAR (Colo Colo)
21 Rodrigo TELLO (Besiktas)
22 Esteban PAREDES (Colo Colo)
23 Luis MARÍN (Union Espanola)
For previews of Chile's Group H opponents click here:
http://www.senore.com/World-Cup-2010-preview-Honduras-a12474
http://www.senore.com/World-Cup-2010-preview-Spain-a12475
http://www.senore.com/World-Cup-2010-preview-Switzerland-a12477
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