Chile are going into the World Cup in great form and will be a tough opposition for any side in Brazil this summer. The majority expect a South American nation to win the competition this summer and Chile should not be discounted. In recent months, they have beaten England, drew against Spain and lost narrowly to Germany, but they could have won all three. If they could compete with the top European nations in Europe, they will surely be even more competitive in South America.
They go into the tournament with very little pressure on them as they are still a more or less an unknown quantity on the World stage. They have Australia, Holland and the holders Spain in their group, which will be tough, but they certainly have a great chance of coming in the top two. None of the top nations wanted to draw Chile in the draw and the two European nations will not be looking forward to facing the South Americans this summer.
In the qualification, they finished third, finishing above Ecuador and Uruguay, who are both fancied to do well this summer, while the Chileans finished only four points behind Argentina. They started poorly, but a change of coach as Jorge Sampaoli came in half way through the campaign and won five of his seven games in charge.
Strengths
Chile are very adaptable in terms of formation as they can play either 3-4-3 and 4-3-3, yet their style remains the same throughout as they play a passing game, relying on counter attacks to score the majority of their goals. This is a system that has worked very well since the change in coach took place, with nations such as England and Spain finding it difficult to deal with. The counter attacking play could suit them this summer as they don’t have the players to dominate games, but the pace and precise passing of the side makes them a difficult proposition, especially for European nations in the heat of Brazil.
Their midfield is the main strength of this Chile side with Marcelo Diaz and Arturo Vidal being key to their play. The former is a deep lying midfielder, who retains possession with ease, even when under extreme pressure. He provides Chile with a solid base as he is always open to receive the ball when his team-mates are under pressure, which ensures they can continue to build the attack. While Vidal has shown himself to be one of the finest midfielders in the world on current form. He is a strong passer, with the ability to play through balls to open up defences. The midfielder is also a very adept tackler and is a handful in the air. The Juventus player has the chance to secure a move to an even bigger club, if he plays well this summer.
It’s clear that the main goal threat in the Chilean side is Alexis Sanchez, who is normally used in a central role for the national side. He has scored 17 goals for Barcelona this season, in addition to laying on 10 assists, which highlight his ability in the final third. Internationally, he showed his class at Wembley last year after scoring twice against England. Many consider him to be an outside contender for the golden boot in the summer. Eduardo Vargas is another player who can score goals for Chile, but he largely plays second fiddle to the Barcelona man.
Weaknesses
Like several sides at international level, Chile lack quality in defence, which is evidenced by the need to play Gary Medal at centre back. The Cardiff player is a defensive midfielder by trade, but he is utilised as a defender for the national side. He has done very well in the role, but his height could be taken advantage of by some teams, while his positioning will not be as good as natural defenders. He could prove to be a weak link in the Chilean side, especially against the better nations like Holland and Spain. Another problem for Chile is the lack of experience at the top level with only Vidal, Sanchez and Mauricio Isla playing for top European clubs, this could cause the side to come unstuck if they make the latter stages.
Manager
As previously mentioned, Jorge Sampaoli has done a great job since being appointed national coach, leading the side to the World Cup. He has given Chile a fresh look and has promoted a stylish passing game, while setting the side up to counter attack with pace. It’s clear that he knows his side has limits, but he is showing no fear in his coaching style, which makes Chile a very dangerous test for any side this summer. After impressing in Europe against a host of sides in friendly matches, there is a buzz around Chile that they may be a dark horse this summer and a big reason for that is Sampaoli.
Key Player
Arturo Vidal’s performances will play a huge part in determining how Chile do this summer. His box to box displays will be key in driving Chile forward and he has the ability to create chances for the forwards. As Chile aren’t packed with superstars, they will do their fair share of work off the ball and Vidal will play a pivotal role in their defensive strategy. The midfielder is regarded as one of the best in the world and he may be looking to back that up with a superb tournament this summer, which may lead to a move to one of the Premier League elites. Although Isla and Sanchez are crucial for Chile, neither can influence the game in the way Vidal can. If all three perform like they can, then there is no reason why Chile can’t do brilliantly this summer.
World Cup History
Their best performance was in 1962 World Cup which they hosted. They came third on that occasion, but they have been on the outside of World football for a while, with this summer being only the sixth World Cup they have qualified for since then. They have qualified for the round of 16 on two of those occasions, however they failed to get out of the groups in the other three World Cups since 1962. However Chile were disqualified and banned in 1990 and 1994 respectively.
Verdict
Chile are a very good up and coming side with several dangerous players, but their lack of depth and experience could be a problem in Brazil. They are used to playing in South America though, which is a positive as they climate won’t affect them as much as some of the European nations. The performances of Isla, Sanchez and Vidal will key to Chile’s overall hopes, but on paper they are a side to be feared this summer. I expect them to make it out of the groups along with Spain, and they carry the ability to cause a few shocks in the knockout rounds. They will be the shock performers this summer in my opinion.