Faith in youth makes La Roja roar again
July 14, 2009
If ever an international football team merited the tag of perennial bridesmaids, it’s Chile.
The country’s football federation was founded in 1895 and Chile were one of the four founding members of the South American federation CONMEBOL in 1916, but they have never won a major international honour.
Chile have appeared at 35 Copa Americas, six times as hosts, but have nothing more than four runners-up finishes to show for their efforts, while their best World Cup showing occurred when, as hosts, they reached the semi-finals in 1962.
La Roja have not graced the sport’s greatest tournament since 1998, but recent developments suggest the nation’s footballing fortunes may be about to change.
In June, the Chilean under-20 team won the prestigious Toulon Tournament in France, beating the hosts 1-0 in the final, having lost to Italy by the same scoreline in the 2008 decider.
Their successes in Toulon followed on from a third-place finish at the 2007 Under-20 World Cup in Canada, where a scuffle with local police after their semi-final exit to Argentina was not enough to over-shadow an eye-catching showing in the tournament.
Indeed, 2007 marked a turning point in the national set-up, with enigmatic former Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa taking the reins of the senior side after a 6-1 thrashing at the hands of eventual winners Brazil had ended Chile’s participation in that year’s Copa America.
The 53-year-old Argentine, who led his home nation to Olympic gold in 2004, inherited an ageing squad and quickly set about injecting some youth but the results, to begin with, were mixed.
In their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign Chile earned their first ever point against Uruguay in Montevideo and recorded their first ever win over Argentina in a World Cup qualifier, but 3-0 home defeats to Paraguay and then Brazil were the heaviest in their history.
Gradually, though, Bielsa’s attacking philosophy has taken hold.
Back-to-back wins in Paraguay (2-1) and at home to Bolivia (4-0) at the beginning of June have lifted them to second in the South American standings, one point behind group leaders Brazil with just four matches remaining.
Taxing trips to Brazil and Colombia await, but with the top four teams qualifying automatically, the finals in South Africa are in sight.
“This a cycle that is producing some very promising results and on top of that we are starting to mature as a team,” said Bielsa.
“We’re excited but we haven’t qualified yet. That’s why we remain cautious.”
The last Chilean side to reach the World Cup finals in 1998 boasted the talents of iconic strikers Ivan Zamorano and Marcelo Salas, and Salas came out of international retirement to score both goals in the 2-2 draw in Uruguay.
The 34-year-old’s return, though, was a short-lived affair, as Bielsa began to place increasing faith in his young tyros, led by 21-year-old centre-back Gary Medel, classy Villarreal midfielder Matias Fernandez and 20-year-old Udinese forward Alexis Sanchez.
“He’s a striker capable of weaving past three of four defenders and winning you games,” said defender Arturo Vidal of his team-mate Sanchez.
“Single-handedly, he can unlock any defensive formation.”
The average age of the starting XI that took to the field in the 4-0 victory over Bolivia in Santiago was a mere 24, with diminutive striker Humberto Suazo of Mexican side Monterrey the grandfather of the side at just 28 years old.
Sanchez dedicated the second of his two goals that night to Salas, who announced his retirement from the game in November and played his farewell match in front of 60,000 fans at the beginning of June.
PARIS (AFP)
Tags: american federation, Argentina, Argentine, arturo vidal, bolivia, brazil, bridesmaids, Canada, Chile, colombia, conmebol, copa america, copa americas, faith, final exit, football federation, France, Gary Medel, home nation, Humberto Suazo, international football, international honour, Italy, Ivan Zamorano, marcelo bielsa, Monterrey, Montevideo, olympic gold, PARIS, recent developments, reins, s chile, scoreline, South Africa, South American, Toulon, toulon tournament, World Cup, world cup qualifierRelated posts
CONCACAF discontinues participation in Copa Sudamericana
July 1, 2009
NEW YORK – CONCACAF has elected to discontinue participation in CONMEBOL’s Copa Sudamericana.
CONCACAF clubs from the United States, Mexico and Central America have taken part in the Copa Sudamericana since 2005, with Mexico’s Pachuca being crowned champion in 2006.
In 2005, CONCACAF reached an agreement with CONMEBOL to play in four editions of the South American club tournament.
The agreement was satisfied with the appearance of Mexican clubs CD Guadalajara and San Luis competed in the 2008 edition.
Now, with the CONCACAF Champions League in its second year and the higher level of activity in the confederation, CONCACAF has elected not to extend its relationship with CONMEBOL for the Sudamericana.
“We regret that Mexico’s Copa Sudamericana designees Monterrey and Puebla will not participate in the tournament due to CONCACAF’s decision,” CONCACAF General Secretary Chuck Blazer said. “However, we hope that both teams will have opportunity to participate in future CONCACAF competitions.”
“By contrast CONCACAF is committed to the 2010 Copa Libertadores and will utilize Interliga to qualify teams. In November the Executive Committee will review CONCACAF’s future participation in the Libertadores.”
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Tags: appearance, blazer, Central America, champion, Chuck Blazer, competitions, concacaf champions league, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, confederation, conmebol, copa libertadores, copa sudamericana, executive committee, general secretary, Guadalajara, Mexico, Monterrey, New York, participation, Puebla, relationship, San, South American, United StatesRelated posts
CONCACAF says Adios to Copa Sudamericana
July 1, 2009
NEW YORK (AFP) – The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) announced on Tuesday that it will no longer participate in Copa Sudamericana, the Americas’ second-best club event.
US, Mexican and Central American clubs have taken part in the Sudamericana since 2005 under a four-year deal with South American football governing body CONMEBOL.
The decision means that Mexican clubs Monterrey and Puebla, which were set to play in this year’s Copa Sudamericana, will be withdrawn from the event.
And while CONCACAF teams will take part in next year’s Copa Libertadores, the biggest club tournament in the Americas, CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer said his group will review future play in that event in November.
“We regret that Mexico’s Copa Sudamericana designees Monterrey and Puebla will not participate in the tournament due to CONCACAF?s decision,” Blazer said.
“CONCACAF is committed to the 2010 Copa Libertadores… In November the executive committee will review CONCACAF?s future participation in the Libertadores.”
The move allows the clubs to participate in the CONCACAF Champions League, a second-year regional event.
A swine flu outbreak nearly two months ago in Mexico had South American teams refuse to play Copa Libertadores matches in Mexico, citing health risks, which sparked a threat by the Mexican Football Federation to drop out of other events with South American teams. Cooler heads eventually prevailed.
Tags: american clubs, blazer, Caribbean, caribbean association football, Central America, Central American, Champions, Chuck Blazer, concacaf champions league, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, confederation, conmebol, cooler heads, copa libertadores, copa sudamericana, executive committee, flu outbreak, football federation, general secretary, governing body, health risks, Mexico, Monterrey, New York, Puebla, regional event, South American, south american football, swine flu, U.S.Related posts
Mexico cuts ties with SAmerican football confederation
May 9, 2009
MEXICO CITY (AFP) – The Mexican Football Federation has cut ties with South America’s football governing body, cancelling its participation all CONMEBOL competitions over the reaction to the swine flu outbreak.
“As of today, Mexico is withdrawing from the Copa Libertadores, the Copa Sudamericana and the Copa America,” Decio de Maria, secretary general of the Mexican federation, said.
De Maria didn’t rule out further negotiations that could see Mexico, which is part of the North and Central and Caribbean Football Confederation (CONCACAF), reach an accord with the South American confederation, with which it cooperates to participate in several prestigious tournaments.
The move came after Mexican football clubs Chivas Guadalajara and San Luis withdrew from the Copa Libertadores after their round of 16 opponents from South America declined to play in Mexico following the swine flu outbreak.
Uruguay’s Nacional, slated to play San Luis, and Brazil’s Sao Paulo, scheduled to take on Guadalajara, both indicated to CONMEBOL that they wouldn’t make the trip to Mexico citing the swine flu outbreak that has sickened 1,319 people with 45 confirmed deaths.
Tags: America, brazil, Caribbean, chivas guadalajara, concacaf, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, confirmed deaths, conmebol, copa america, copa libertadores, copa sudamericana, decio, flu, flu outbreak, football clubs, football confederation, football federation, governing body, Guadalajara, Maria, Mexico, mexico city, opponents, prestigious tournaments, San, sao paulo, secretary general, South America, South American, swine flu, trip to mexico, uruguayRelated posts
Mexican teams to play Libertadores games in Colombia
May 1, 2009
San Luis and Chivas Guadalajara, the two remaining Mexican teams in the Copa Libertadores, will have to play their next home game in Colombia because of the swine flu outbreak.
Several clubs, namely Uruguayan sides Nacional and Defensor Sporting had expressed their concerns, refusing to travel to Mexico should they be drawn with a team of that country.
As a result, continental confederation CONMEBOL decided to relocate the second-round matches involving San Luis and Chivas. Both sides will now play their home games at Bogota’s El Campin stadium, on the same day.
The virus has left a serious mark on football in Mexico. Several tournaments were cancelled and leagues games are to be played behind closed doors this weekend.
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Tags: Bogota, campin, chivas guadalajara, closed doors, colombia, conmebol, continental confederation, copa libertadores, defensor, defensor sporting, flu, flu outbreak, Guadalajara, home game, home games, jonathan, Libertadores, Mexico, MLS, next home, San, Sporting, swine flu, uruguayan, virusRelated posts
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