World Cup preview: Chile

The Road To The World Cup

Chile’s road to the World Cup was bumpier than they would have liked. 

A 4-1 loss to Argentina and a 4-0 loss to Uruguay in their first three matches led to the firing of manager Claudio Borghi and the hiring of Jorge Sampaoli, who helped get Chile’s qualifying campaign back on track.

Even then, however, it took time for Chile to get things going. Four consecutive losses against Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, and Peru meant La Roja had to finish strong in order to secure their spot at the World Cup. But Chile did just that, going undefeated in their final six qualifiers to reach the competition for the ninth time in their history.

Schedule

Formation: 3-4-1-2 / 3-3-1-3

Jorge Sampaoli has remained loyal to the attacking identity that former manager Marcelo Bielsa instilled in Chile’s national team. But under Sampaoli, Chile are less afraid to alter their tactics based on the opposition and their players are given more freedom to roam around the pitch.

As a result, predicting exactly what formation Sampaoli will deploy at the World is slightly tricky. It should, however, end up being something along the lines of a hard-pressing 3-4-1-2, where Mauricio Isla and Eugenio Mena play the role of wing-backs who join the team's attack on the flanks.

At the back, Chile provide a classic example of the growing Latin American trend to play three centre-backs behind a pair of wing-backs. Gary Medel, whose normal defensive midfielder position from Cardiff City is non-existent with La Roja, is likely to start alongside Gonzalo Jara and Swedish-born Miiko Albornoz.

In the midfield, Sampaoli has formatted Arturo Vidal’s role to match what he does at Juventus. He's licensed to rove around the pitch and follow the ball wherever it may be, with the hope of spearheading quick counterattacks once possession is obtained. Vidal also provides a defensive presence in the middle next to Marcelo Diaz.

Ahead of Vidal and Diaz is the most glaring bielsista feature of Chile. Jorge Valdivia acts as a playmaker behind the duo of Alexis Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas, who both pull wide when attacking to stretch the opposition's defense. Few national teams have such an impressive trio in attack, and they're also the first line of defense in what may be the most high-pressing team at the World Cup.

On paper, Chile’s tactics are among the most impressive of any side that will be in Brazil.

Manager: Jorge Sampaoli

A self-confessed Bielsa disciple, Jorge Sampaoli took over as Chile's manager in December 2012, relishing the chance to continue the attacking philosophy that Bielsa injected into the squad.

Sampaoli made a name for himself at Universidad de Chile, where he turned the Santiago club into South America’s strongest for a brief period and earned international praise for his tactical innovations.

The switch to Chile’s national team came relatively easily as Sampaoli could continue to deploy the bielsista principles that had worked so well with Universidad de Chile, such as having a playmaker behind two forwards who pull wide, passing in triangles, and using wing-backs who attack down the flanks.

Tactics aside, Sampaoli is also loved because of the swagger he carries on the sideline. His passion for the game and for coaching is undeniable, and his arrogance has only boosted his popularity ratings. He's gone on the record as stating “Chile are contenders” for the World Cup.

Projected Starting XI

GK: Claudio Bravo

CB: Gary Medel

CB: Gonzalo Jara

CB: Miiko Albornoz

RWB: Mauricio Isla

CM: Marcelo Diaz

CM: Arturo Vidal

LWB: Eugenio Mena

AM: Jorge Valdivia

FW: Alexis Sanchez

FW: Eduardo Vargas 

Projected Substitutes

GK: Johnny Herrera

GK: Cristopher Toselli

DF: Jose Rojas

MF: Francisco Silva

MF: Felipe Gutierrez

MF: Jose Pedro Fuenzalida

MF: Carlos Carmona

MF: Fabian Orellana

MF: Charles Aranguiz

MF: Jean Beausejour

FW: Mauricio Pinilla

FW: Esteban Paredes

The Captain: Claudio Bravo

You have to love a keeper who wears the armband.

With 79 international caps to his name and experience playing against Europe’s top players in the Champions League, Real Sociedad keeper Claudio Bravo is the perfect choice to captain Chile.

Bravo, who started his career at Colo Colo, has been with the Spanish club since 2006. He was also Chile’s captain at the 2010 World Cup so he knows what's expected of him in Brazil.

The Star: Alexis Sanchez

Chile’s hope of springing an upset at the World Cup will rest heavily on Barcelona striker Alexis Sanchez.

Sanchez, who notched 19 goals and 11 assists for the Catalan club in 2013-14, is the perfect reference point for Sampaoli’s tactics. Well-timed runs and a knowledge of when to move into space compliment Chile’s offense extremely well, and his low center of gravity gives him the speed to set up chances on his own if need be.

Recently, Sanchez has also been adapting to more of a playmaking role for La Roja, dropping back into the midfield to feed through balls to those ahead of him. In a friendly against Egypt, Chile scored two identical goals that were both the result of Vargas finishing off a surreal pass from Sanchez.

Although he finished the qualifiers with only three goals, Sanchez could easily score that many in one game at the World Cup.

The Young Gun: Eduardo Vargas

Excellent dribbling skills and an eye for goal give La Roja an outstanding striker in Vargas, and he's thrived for his national team since being reunited with Sampaoli, who was his coach during his time at Universidad de Chile. 

Vargas finished the qualifying campaign with five goals, tying him with Vidal as Chile’s top scorer on the road to Brazil.

The Swan Song: Jorge Valdivia

Even though he's only 30 years old and may have another World Cup left in him, Jorge Valdivia could be playing at the tournament for the last time given the exhausting nature of his role on Chile's national team.

Valdivia has endured endless criticism since establishing as a member of Chile's squad. It often seems like he's out of shape, lacking focus, and could use some disciplining, all things that may explain why his stints in Europe didn't last very long.

South American football correspondent Tim Vickery once referred to Valdivia as "an attacking midfielder who plays his football with an impish sense of destructive pleasure," and it's a sentiment that many Chileans likely share.

But the playmaker possesses an incredible ability to take out an entire opposing defense with one sublime pass, and it's for that reason that Sampaoli needs Valdivia is Chile's starting 11. Simply put, he can change a match with one moment of brilliance.

The World Cup will be a defining moment in Valdivia's career as a solid performance from the No. 10 will ensure his place in history isn't marred by a poor reputation.

Three Questions

1. Against European sides that know how to counterattack, how far up the pitch will Sampaoli allow wing-backs Eugenio Mena and Mauricio Isla roam?
2. How frequently will Alexis Sanchez drop back into the midfield to link up with Vargas?
3. With players likely to be tired after a long club season, will Chile be able to play with the furious tempo that got them through the qualifiers?

Trivial Matters

Nickname: La Roja.

Most caps: Leonel Sanchez (84).

Top scorer: Marcelo Salas (37).

First international: May 27, 1910. Argentina 3 - Chile 1.

World Cup appearances: Eight, beginning in 1930.

Best World Cup result: Third place in 1962.

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