As we countdown to the World Cup we preview each of the sides taking part. Next up it is Chile.
As we countdown to the start of the World Cup on June 11, Fox Soccer's Jamie Trecker will preview each of the 32 teams playing in South Africa and tell you everything you need to know about each nation represented at the world's greatest sporting event. Here he looks at Chile.
Chile is one of the most unusual countries in the world, occupying a long coastal strip of the South American continent on the Pacific. Because of its length, Chile's climate ranges from the tropical up north to the wintry down near Antarctica.
Ruled by the Incas until the arrival of the Conquistadores, Chile became an independent nation in the 1880s after winning the War of the Pacific against Peru and Bolivia.
A relatively stable South American nation, Chile is still coming to grips with the reign of General Augusto Pinochet, who led an American-backed military coup that toppled the democratically elected socialist government of Salvador Allende in 1973. It became one of the bitterest chapters in US and South American history, with a repressive campaign of torture and "disappearances" that lasted 16 years.
Further tragedy stuck earlier this year when an 8.8 Richter scale earthquake struck February 27th near the capital city of Santiago, destroying parts of the countryside and costing 486 lives by the latest count.
It has also become a major tourist destination because of its proximity to the Magellanic penguin feeding grounds as well as Easter Island.
PAST WORLD CUP SUCCESS:
This is their eighth appearance in the finals. Their best showing was way back in 1962, when, as hosts, they finished third. They are better known today for their hijinks. Chile was infamously censured by Fifa when in a World qualifier against Brazil in 1989, losing 1-0 in a must-win game, 'keeper Roberto Rojas feigned serious injury, claiming he had been hit by a firework thrown from the stands. The team, citing their safety, walked off the pitch, causing the match to be abandoned. A subsequent review found the claim to be false. The match was awarded to Brazil, Rojas was banned for life (a sanction lifted in 2001), and Chile were banned from the 1994 World Cup.
REGIONAL SUCCESS:
They are regulars in the Copa America, with 35 appearances dating all the way back to 1916. They have never won it, but are four-time runners up, most recently in 1987. In Sydney (2000), the Olympic team took bronze.
LEAGUE OVERVIEW:
The 18-team Primera isn't what it used to be, with money woes affecting a number of once well-regarded teams. Top clubs are Colo-Colo, U. de Chile, U. Catolica and Cobreloa. They also have a club named for national hero Bernardo O'Higgins, which is a bow to history. Chilean clubs have not fared well in the Copa Libertadores in almost two decades. The last appearance in a finals was from U. Catolica back in 1993 (they lost to Sao Paulo).
MANAGER:
Argentine Marcelo "The Madman" Bielsa. It's not an idle nickname: He's either a genius or a complete nut, and his players tend to be divided on the subject.
KEY PLAYERS:
Let's go front to back. Best known to American fans will be Liverpool washout Mark Gonzalez, who now suits up for CSKA Moscow and was with them during their UEFA Champions League run this season. He is the emerging attacker on the squad, and is likely to run alongside Humberto Suazo (Real Zaragoza), who was outstanding in qualification. Matias Fernandez (Sporting Lisbon) is the young playmaker who'll feed off Jorge Valdivia (Al-Ain, UAE). Defence is a little trickier; the unit is young and small. Arturo Vidal (Leverkusen) and Gary Medel (Boca Juniors) have been the favorites; Pablo Contreras (PAOK) is the old man who can give you a good half hour off the bench. They have an outstanding keeper in Claudio Bravo (Sociedad).
FIFA RANKINGS:
15th. Highest was 6th (1998), the nadir was 84th (2002).
FIRST ROUND OPPONENTS:
Honduras, Spain, Switzerland
HOW THEY QUALIFIED:
With room to spare. They ended up second on goal difference over Paraguay with a 10-3-5 record. Along the way, they lost twice to Brazil, split with Paraguay (including a bad 3-0 loss at home), drew twice with Uruguay, but beat Argentina for the first time.
