With Bielsa at helm, Chile could be big 2010 surprise
Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa (right) looks
to guide a new generation of highly talented Chileans to their first
World Cup since 1998.
David Lillo/AFP/Getty Images
Need an early sleeper for the 2010 World Cup? With less
than a month until the beginning of South American qualifying, early signs
suggest that Marcelo Bielsa's Chile could be the continent's biggest revelation.
When the former Argentina manager accepted to take charge of La Roja last
month, he promised to help transform Chilean soccer, with the objective
to guide the national team to its first World Cup in 12 years.
Chile came into France '98 as the revelation after pulling off a huge
2-0 victory over England in a preparation match before the tournament
at Wembley Stadium, with two memorable strikes from Marcelo Salas.
The Chileans seemed to live up to the expectations they generated during
the tournament, too. They went undefeated in the group stage and were
minutes away from recording a historic victory over Italy in their opener
before settling for a 2-2 draw. But despite the good start, they were
eliminated in the round of 16 after a 4-1 drubbing at the hands of eventual
finalist Brazil.
Since that disappointing defeat, Chilean soccer has been in the doldrums.
La Roja struggled to rediscover its form in qualifying for the following
two World Cups, as well as the last three editions of the Copa America.
Over the years, Chilean soccer has been characterized by capable players
who, although incredibly skillful, rarely do well in important competitions
because they are highly unorganized, undisciplined and, most of all, not
team players.
Nelson Acosta's side flopped in the Copa America in Venezuela last June.
After scraping into the second round of the competition, they met Brazil
-- which had already beaten the Chileans 3-0 in the group stage -- and
this time the Brazilians humiliated them by an incredible 6-1 score line.
That defeat clearly indicated that the national team was in need of a
drastic change. And Bielsa was called in to replace Acosta in mid-August,
exactly the right time. The former defender, who led Argentina to the
gold medal at the '04 Athens Olympics, is one of the most respected coaches
in South America and provides the stability Chile needs. His high-profile
arrival coincides with a resurgence in Chilean soccer and the most exciting
generation of attacking players years.
The likes of Humberto Suazo, Matias Fernandez, Mark Gonzalez, Alexis Sanchez
and Eduardo Rubio -- to name a few -- mean Chile will only trail Argentina
and Brazil in terms of fresh talent during the qualifiers. These players,
combined with the experience of its veterans, make Chile an extremely
solid unit.
Bielsa (nickname: "El Loco") was recently in the headlines after
recalling 32-year-old Salas back to the squad for its latest friendly
matches against Euro 2008 co-hosts Switzerland and Austria in Vienna earlier
this month. Despite his age, the Matador -- the most prolific scorer in
the history of Chilean soccer -- could be a valuable inclusion to the
squad for its qualifying campaign, particularly when it means finding
away goals.
Chile already seems to be improving under the guidance of Bielsa after
two impressive displays. After losing 2-1 against the Swiss in his debut,
his side went on to defeat Austria 2-0 four days later in a match that
demonstrated Chile's strong defense, its creative midfield and its efficient
attack. La Roja completely dominated the Europeans, and could have scored
more goals after making huge damage down the flanks, a style that has
become trademark of Bielsa's teams.
"We have more than one option in most positions," Bielsa said
after his debut. "We created more than 10 goal-scoring opportunities."
But Bielsa's first real test couldn't be much more difficult: a showdown
with Argentina in Buenos Aires on Oct. 13 in the first round of qualifying.
There's no doubt Chile will go into the match as the underdog, but Bielsa's
vast understanding of Argentine soccer could give his team a better chance
than it would have had otherwise.
This edition of South American qualifying should be of particular interest
to North American fans, because the team that finishes fifth in South
America will meet the fourth-place team from CONCACAF in a two-legged
playoff for a spot in South Africa 2010. Chile could well be that team.
Chilean soccer has suffered a huge crisis for nearly a decade, but the
appointment of Bielsa has given the national side huge optimism for the
future. If the Argentine tactician is able to find a good mixture between
Chile's rising stars and its more experienced players, it could well be
an early wild card for the World Cup.
,
September 26, 2007
Russian ladies dream about happy marriage.
Click on a photo...
