Chile
Chile - Group B (Spain, Netherlands, Australia)
Chile has been consistent performer at Copa America and has been part of eight World Cup editions, but they never set the tourney alight except when they finished in third place as hosts in 1962. Its going to be a tough campaign this time as they are placed along with the last Cup finalists in Group B and their crusade might end there
Profile
The South Americans fared reasonably well at home but were never a threat at the world stage. And the current tourney might end with them finishing their group in third place
With their flair in scoring from set pieces, especially the corners, their attack is not their biggest worry as they conceded almost as many as they scored. In the qualifying campaign, they never recovered from behind
Confederation: CONMEBOL (South America)
Coach: Jorge Sampaoli (ARG)
FIFA Ranking: 13 (8-May-2014)
Nickname: La Roja (The Red One)
Key Players: Sanchez, Vidal, Vargas
Legends: Salas, Zamorano, Figueroa
History
Chile hosted the 1962 World Cup and finished in the third place. Out of the other seven world cups, they reached knockouts twice and were dispatched out by Brazil both times. Their record in Copa America is much better though with nineteen top four finishes including four runners-up positions
Qualifiers
In a topsy turvy campaign, Chile started well enough but to lose four straight games, had a managerial sacking and then returned to form to finish third in the CONMEBOL qualifiers. Their new coach Sampaoli developed them into an attacking outfit
Prospects
The only team they have a chance of realistically defeating in their group is Australia and they might just end up doing so and nothing else in this tourney
Squad
Goalkeepers:
Claudio Bravo (Real Sociedad), Johnny Herrera (Universidad de Chile), Cristopher Toselli (Universidad Catolica)
Defenders:
Gary Medel (Cardiff City), Gonzalo Jara (Nottingham Forest), Jose Rojas (Universidad de Chile), Eugenio Mena (Santos), Mauricio Isla (Juventus).
Midfielders:
Jorge Valdivia (Palmeiras), Felipe Gutierrez (Twente), Jose Pedro Fuenzalida (Colo Colo), Francisco Silva (Osasuna), Arturo Vidal (Juventus), Charles Aranguiz (Internacional), Marcelo Diaz (Basel), Carlos Carmona (Atalanta), Miiko Albornoz (Malmo).
Forwards:
Alexis Sanchez (Barcelona), Esteban Paredes (Colo Colo), Eduardo Vargas (Valencia), Jean Beausejour (Wigan Athletic), Mauricio Pinilla (Cagliari), Fabian Orellana (Celta)
May 13: Jorge Sampaoli announced a 30-man provisional squad
May 13: Jorge Sampaoli announced a 30-man provisional squad
Fixtures
Spain vs Chile on June 18 at Rio De Janeiro
Netherlands vs Chile on June 23 at Sao Paulo
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