Qualifying ahead of Argentina bodes well for a disrupted country, says Henry Mance...
More than a decade after the peak of Ivan Zamorano and Marcelo Salas, Chile are again being fancied for their attacking football. Only now itâÂÂs all about the coach.
Marcelo Bielsa was wanted by Colombia before qualifying began but, when they balked at his rigorous technical demands, he headed to Chile instead. Expectations were shattered: having finished 10th out of ten in qualifying for the 2002 World Cup, and seventh for the 2006 edition, Chile came second this time, scoring 32 goals in the process.
Then local club Rangers launched a lawsuit against the national FA over a disputed relegation, and FIFA threatened to revoke the countryâÂÂs ticket to South Africa. That brought back memories of ChileâÂÂs ban from the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, after goalkeeper Roberto âÂÂThe Condorâ Rojas had cut himself with a razor blade to fake being hit by a flare. Rangers saw the waspsâ nest and dropped the court case, and Chile stayed in the draw.
Three months later, more problems. The February earthquake disrupted the teamâÂÂs preparations, causing same-day friendlies against North Korea and Costa Rica to be cancelled. Nonetheless, Chilean fans expect to beat Switzerland and Honduras to qualify for the second round. Even Spain coach Vicente del Bosque is wary: âÂÂBielsa has achieved, in the midst of all the frenzy, an organised team which always attacks.âÂÂ
Strengths
As he did with Argentina, Bielsa has made Chile into a fast team that gets its creativity from the wings and its goals from just about everywhere. Critics say itâÂÂs predictable, but the system has suited ChileâÂÂs youngsters, several of whom played a similar style in the 2007 U-20 World Cup (where Chile finished third).
Weaknesses
Look no further than the back three (or four), who are out of form or, in the case of West BromâÂÂs Gonzalo Jara, out of fitness. Bielsa has had fewer than half the friendlies he wanted to prepare. Some Chilean pessimists fear a repeat of his time with Argentina in 2002: after topping qualification by 12 points, they fell flat at the finals.
Interesting fact
Despite the earthquake, incoming President Sebastian Pinera used his first weeks in power to organise an over-50s friendly with Bolivian leader Evo Morales.
The Coach: Marcelo âÂÂEl Locoâ Bielsa
The man whose wisdom has already given rise to a self-help book, BielsaâÂÂs discipline and artfulness make him an old-schoolerâÂÂs dream. âÂÂHeâÂÂs transformed us into a more professional group, and now we work with tenacity in training,â says midfielder Jorge Valdivia.
Key Player: Alexis Sanchez
Chile donâÂÂt have a celebrity player, but they will soon. Alexis Sanchez â the Boy Wonder â can dribble and then some. His biggest enemy seems to be gravity: stay up, lad.
Probable Team (3-3-1-3): â¨Bravo; â¨Ponce, Medel, Jara; â¨Carmona, Millar, Vidal; â¨Fernandez; â¨Sanchez, Suazo, Gonzalez
World Cup Talentspotter: More details on the players
Q&A: FFT interviews a player from every nation
Fixtures
â¨Honduras, June 16, 12.30pm, Nelspruit
Switzerland, â¨June 21, 3pm, Nelson Madela Bay/Port Elizabeth
Spain, June 25, 7.30pm, Tshwane/Pretoria
Qualified 2nd in CONMEBOL
Argentina (A) 0-2â¨
Peru (H) 2-0
â¨Uruguay (A) 2-2
â¨â¨Paraguay (H) 0-3
â¨â¨Bolivia (A) 2-0â¨â¨
Venezuela (A) 3-2â¨â¨
Brazil (H) 0-3
â¨â¨Colombia (H) 4-0â¨
Ecuador (A) 0-1
â¨â¨Argentina (H) 1-0â¨â¨
Peru (A) 3-1
â¨â¨Uruguay (H) 0-0
â¨â¨Paraguay (H) 2-0
â¨â¨Bolivia (H) 4-0â¨â¨
Venezuela (H) 2-2
â¨â¨Brazil (A) 2-4â¨â¨
Colombia (A) 4-2
â¨â¨Ecuador (H) 1-0
World Cup record
1930 1st Roundâ¨
1950 1st Round
1962 Third Place
1966 First Round
1974 First Round
1982 First Round
1994 Disqualified
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