Chile coach to stick with goalless Suazo
Reuters - Friday 15 July 2011, 20:46
MENDOZA - Chile striker Humberto Suazo
will be in the starting line-up for Sunday's Copa America
quarter-final against Venezuela despite his
goalscoring drought, coach Claudio Borghi said on Friday.
Suazo was top scorer in the South American qualifiers for
the 2010 World Cup but suffered a shoulder injury on the eve of
the finals which wrecked his tournament.
He has struggled to regain his form since then and has yet
to score at the Copa America.
"I'll wait as long as is necessary. I have no intention of
dropping him," Borghi told a news conference when asked about
Suazo's poor form.
"During the match we'll look at changes on the basis of how
each player performs, but I have no doubt that Suazo will be in
the starting line-up.
"He's seeing a lot of the ball, he's creating space for
others, for example for [Luis] Jimenez, who's got himself into
the box a lot."
Chile will have to make changes against Venezuela in the
Andean city of San Juan. Left winger Jean Beausejour is
suspended after being sent off in the1-0 win over Peru and
playmaker Matias Fernandez is injured and unlikely to start.
Borghi said he planned to bring Carlos Carmona into the
centre of midfield and switch Arturo Vidal from the right to the
left flank to replace Beausejour.
"We tend to attack down the right more than the left. We
have very few left footed players, the only one in the first
team is Beausejour, but Vidal is a great player to watch,"
Borghi said.
"I don't like the phrase utility player but that's what he
is. He plays well everywhere."