SA Blog Number 9: The Other Two

20th October 2009

With the World Cup qualifiers over, four South American sides can now book their flights to South Africa for next summer’s finals.

As usual, Brazil and, somehow, Argentina are both through. The Seleçao eased through the qualification, while Diego Maradona’s side scraped through on the last day. But while these two star-studded sides are well known to the casual observer, what of the other two successful teams?

After the ignominy of dropping points against Peru in their opening game, Paraguay proceeded to sweep all before them as they started at a barnstorming pace. Ecuador were brushed aside 5-1, while Brazil were also beaten in Asuncion – Dunga’s side would not lose for another 16 months. Although they suffered some hiccups along the way, a 1-0 win over Argentina secured Paraguay’s passage to the World Cup finals for the fourth successive time.

Paraguay have continually improved under Gerardo Martino, who took over from Anibal Ruiz in early 2007, and presided over their Copa America campaign a few months later, and took the team to the quarter finals stage where they were heavily beaten 6-0 by Mexico

Despite that defeat, Martino has put together an efficient group of players, spear-headed by Club América’s Salvador Cabañas and Manchester City’s Roque Santa Cruz, with the idea that his side would press high up the pitch and go on the offensive. This hasn’t always worked as well as Martino would have hoped – the Paraguayan mentality is ingrained with the idea that defensive heroics are something to be admired. As a result, the coach tried to use the best of both worlds in World Cup qualifying, sending the full backs bombing forward when possible but packing men behind the ball on other occasions.

Whether this will work on the global stage is another matter, as they have previously failed to deliver at the World Cup. They were knocked out at the group stage in 2006 with only a victory against Trinidad & Tobago to their name, and were defeated by Germany in the 2nd round having scraped through a weak group in 2002.

Then there is Chile, who have not qualified for the World Cup since 1998. Marcelo Bielsa has worked wonders with La Roja since taking charge in 2007, leading them to 10 victories in the qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup – more than Brazil.

Last time Chile were at the World Cup, they were able to call on the stellar attacking duo of Marcelo Salas and Ivan Zamorano. The current crop of players aren’t quite so well known, but Matias Fernandez and Rodrigo Tello give ‘El Loco’ some creative options in midfield, while the exciting but often frustrating Alexis Sanchez operates as a winger. Boca Juniors’ Gary Medel – known as the ‘Chilean Gattuso’ – has had his career damaged by a number of off-the-pitch incidents, but he is certainly one to watch.

Humerto Suazo is their major goal-threat, with 17 goals in 39 appearances for his country. He also boasts an astounding domestic goal-scoring record, and is currently averaging over a goal every other game for Mexican side Monterrey.

While Chile had no problems finding the net in qualifying (scoring 32 times in 18 games – only one less than Brazil), there is more to them than scoring goals. There is no room for anyone not pulling their weight under Bielsa, who insists that, “Every player, at whatever time in the match, has a good reason to be running somewhere. There is no reason whatsoever for a player to be standing still.”

This work ethic has led to him being named the best coach in the history of Chilean football by the readers of El Mercurio -one of the country’s top football magazines- who are delighted with Bielsa’s blend of attacking football with the team’s youthful vigour.
Chile’s defensive frailties cost them in the 1998 World Cup, where they held the lead in all three games in the group stage. Having eventually drawn all three to finish 2nd, they were brutally exposed by Brazil in the 2nd round.

Clearly, neither Chile nor Paraguay are contenders for the top prize in world football next summer. They are, however, dark horses. The build up to previous World Cups has been dominated by claims that any number of teams could lift the trophy – Brazil,Argentina, Germany, Italy, Holland, France, Spain and, with a predictable inevitability, England. South Africa could be a little different, as there are few sides who really stand out above the rest. It could be the time for some of South American football’s lesser lights to really shine.

 

In other SAF News...

Argentina Apertura 2009 Week 9: Boca Make It Three In A Row As San Lorenzo Lead The Way

Brazilian Team ´Score´ 9 Goals In 9 Minutes

Brazilian Serie A Round-Up: Week 30

In The Absence Of Class, Maradona Gets Lucky

 

 

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