Team Focus: Chile's Bid to Become the World & People's Champion
Chile have no right to be as good as they are. That may be a sweeping statement but look at the individual components of their team and most are hardly world-beaters, despite recently becoming world champion beaters after a convincing 2-0 win over Spain.
The likes of Arturo Vidal and Alexis Sanchez would certainly force their way into most club sides, let alone international XIs, but there are a number of key players to the side that don't exactly excite from an individual perspective. Put them together, however, and football fans from all over the globe are going weak at the knees.
The back three from the game against Spain is the best indicator to what a curious case Chile really are.
Gary Medel is a strong player with somewhat of a cult following after his stint in La Liga but he's only a centre-back at international level. Indeed, between Medel, Francisco Silva and Gonzalo Jara, the starting defensive trio started 91 league games for their respective sides last season, none of which came at centre-back.
Silva is a dependable if unspectacular midfielder with Osasuna, while Jara is plying his trade in the Championship with Nottingham Forest. For such an unusual backline to keep a team that, coming into the tournament, had a near flawless international record over the last 5 years at bay is quite remarkable, regardless of Spain's dramatic downfall.
While, as mentioned, there are certainly class players within their ranks, no one is carried. No player is a luxury. Jorge Sampaoli certainly deserves credit for instilling such a nature within his side, while Marcelo Bielsa also played a huge role in developing Chile's hugely entertaining and cavalier approach that thrilled fans at the last World Cup.
The style of play has been restrained somewhat now though. It's gung-ho on a leash. The players swarm their opponents in central areas and look to play from defence to attack very quickly. They force errors as much as breaking up play with tackles and interceptions. Prior to Friday's games Sampaoli's side ranked just 19th and 16th respectively in those statistics (17.5 tackles and 13 interceptions per game).
Their pressing style begins from the very first kick of the game and it's paid dividends. Three of Chile's 5 goals thus far have come in the opening 20 minutes of matches, profiting from any early lapses from the opposition, and just one has come after the break - the injury time clincher against Australia. Don’t let a team settle in the early stages and they are less likely to build any momentum. Get the lead then defend it is the plan in it's simplest form, but not without threatening on the counter.
The way in which they break at pace catches opposition defences and, perhaps more importantly, the shields in front of those backlines off guard. The fact that no side have created more clear cut chances than Sampaoli's men (5) before Friday’s (20/06) matches, despite the fact that as many as 26 teams have averaged more shots per game (9), is no coincidence.
The space to run into, particularly when exploiting advanced opposition full-backs, is the kind that players like Alexis Sanchez thrive on. Thus far 42% of the side's attacking touches have come down the right flank to which the Barca man tends to drift (35% down left, 23% down middle).
Chile commit numbers to their attacks knowing that the players have it within them to get back if any are to break down. Their energy levels are Chile’s strongest weapon and it's something that the so-called stars of the team showcase. Vidal - who continues to play through the pain barrier - and Sanchez commit to their roles within the team just as much as the likes of the less heralded Marcelo Diaz and Charles Aranguiz. It's a wonder how long it will take before unconvinced commentators stop uttering something along the lines of "I'd be amazed if they can keep this up."
So far Chile have amazed. They're fast becoming the favourites of the neutral, just as they were in South Africa. Even Chile's fans are gaining fans. The key to this bandwagon continuing to roll may well hinge on their result against Netherlands. Win and they may well avoid a second round meeting with Brazil. Nevertheless, they've beaten the champions, so who’s to say they couldn't dump out the hosts?
Could Chile go all the way at the 2014 World Cup? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
