World Cup Preview: 10 Things You Need to Know About Chile
This Chilean team has plenty to be optimistic about … if only they hadn’t been drawn into Group B with Spain, Netherlands and Australia. Still, that will just make it all the more impressive when they qualify, right? Meet your new second-favorite team:
1. The coach is in the Bielsa mold
Former Universidad de Chile manager Jorge Sampaoli is at the helm after replacing Claudio Borghi in 2012. Sampaoli encourages a free-flowing attacking style and is often compared to Marcelo Bielsa, the former Chile manager and legendary savant/mad-man.
Chile now has a national playing style
At the 2010 World Cup, Chile was one of the most attractive attacking sides and this year should be no different. La Roja like to get forward in numbers and press their opponents hard. Sampaoli has come in for a bit of criticism for his demanding workouts leading up to the World Cup, but his high-intensity system demands fit players.
3. The keeper is the captain
Real Sociedad keeper and national team captain Claudio Bravo comes back for his second World Cup and should be a stalwart in goal and a calming presence for a suspect back four on defense.
4. You don’t meddle with Medel
Gary Medel is unquestionably the defensive leader. My Chilean friends have a term for Medel, “flaite,” but I would call him an “O.G – original gangster” for his hardman style of play.