Official Squads for Group B

Wow, only 4 defenders.

 

Of course its an exaggeration but this could be the most one-man-focused squad at the World Cup. There is quality like Sanchez, Isla, Medel and Fernanez, but Vidal just stands out from this team. If Vidal isn't fit for the tournament, Chile is done for.

Also... four defenders, including one that is a DM at club level. I know Chile is going for 3-5-2 and the fullbacks are listed as midfielders, but still...

 

BREAKING: The 4 players to miss out on the final squad are Mark Birighitti, Josh Kennedy, Tom Rogic & Luke Wilkshire: http://t.co/HQ0KmZWaTx

— Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) June 3, 2014

Oliver BOZANIC FC Luzern, SWITZERLAND
Mark BRESCIANO Al Gharafa, QATAR
Tim CAHILL New York Red Bulls, USA
Jason DAVIDSON SC Heracles Almelo, NETHERLANDS
Ivan FRANJIC Brisbane Roar, AUSTRALIA
Eugene GALEKOVIC Adelaide United, AUSTRALIA
Ben HALLORAN Fortuna Dusseldorf, GERMANY
James HOLLAND FK Austria Vienna, AUSTRIA
Mile JEDINAK Crystal Palace FC, ENGLAND
Mitchell LANGERAK B.V. Borussia 09 Dortmund, GERMANY
Mathew LECKIE FSV Frankfurt 1899, GERMANY
Massimo LUONGO Swindon Town FC, ENGLAND
Ryan McGOWAN Shandong Luneng Taishan FC, CHINA
Matt McKAY Brisbane Roar, AUSTRALIA
Mark MILLIGAN Melbourne Victory, AUSTRALIA
Tommy OAR FC Utrecht, NETHERLANDS
Mat RYAN Club Brugge KV, BELGIUM
Matthew SPIRANOVIC Western Sydney Wanderers, AUSTRALIA
Adam TAGGART Newcastle Jets, AUSTRALIA
James TROISI Melbourne Victory, AUSTRALIA
Dario VIDOSIC FC Sion, SWITZERLAND
Alex WILKINSON Jeonbuk Hyundai, KOREA REPUBLIC
Bailey WRIGHT Preston North End FC, ENGLAND

 

Vidal may be important for the team, but he is just one man and with him alone, we are nothing.
Sampaoli's system is based on the cappabilities of the whole team's players to asume diferent roles and labours throughout the games. The success of the team during the whole tournament, will depend on all of the players in the squad, as the system is highly demanding on each and everyone of them (very likely that, depending how they feel, by the end of game 3, they will have played at least for one complete match, each).

Besides, Vidal is still under recovery from his relatively recent knee surgery, so it is very likely that he will miss our first and maybe our second match as well. If Chile achieves a couple of good results in the 2 first matches, and depending how the other teams do, he might even not get considered for the third match, in order to give him the most time possible for full recovery (a downgraded Vidal has little to no use for our team, we need from him his 100 % and even more), but down here we all hope, he does makes it against Spain and Netherlands.

Btw, Fernandez and Fernandes, both lost the WC, due to injuries and aren't part of the squad.

Now, is this risky ?
well yes, it is.
But Chile got here asuming that same kind of risks, so we aren't going to change and we will continue doing what we have been doing since Sampaoli asumed as coach of our team, as till now, it has worked for us.

One thing is almost a guarantee, in our matches there will be lots of goals, goals for and goals against, almost in every match played.

 

How do you like your chances without Vidal?

 

Undenniably, without him in the pitch, our chances might get reduced.
He is a formidable player and one of the best out there.

But your question shouldn't be how I feel without him. It should be, how will I feel when he is back.
For the case, when that happens, you will not be asking me anything. Instead, you will be asking our opponents what they may think over it.


I'll feel great when that happens.

 

Well, we beat England in Wembley pretty easily without Valdivia and Vidal, our two most fundamental players. Our team obviously loses a lot without either of these two, but the thing that troubles other teams when they play Chile is more the constant pressure and in general our style of play, as opposed to individual players. Without Vidal I see us fighting for second place with the Dutch, with Vidal I think we would be favorites for second and then possibly upset Spain.

 

Shirt numbers for Spain officially announced.
1 Casillas
2 Albiol
3 Piqué
4 Javi Martínez
5 Juanfran
6 Iniesta
7 Villa
8 Xavi
9 Torres
10 Fabregas
11 Pedro
12 De Gea
13 Mata
14 Alonso
15 Ramos
16 Busquets
17 Koke
18 Jordi Alba
19 Diego Costa
20 Cazorla
21 Silva
22 Azpilicueta
23 Reina

 

Not really.

Albornoz, Silva, Medel, Jara and Rojas play as central back in our NT.

If Sampaoli plays 3-5-2 or 3-4-3, I think that Silva, Medel and Jara will be the starters, and Albornoz and Rojas on the bench.

If Sampaoli plays 4-4-2 or 4-3-3, I think that Isla, Medel, Jara and Mena will be the starters, and Silva, Albornoz and Rojas on the bench.

 

De Gea apparently injured in training and out. Guess that means Casillas is staying... good news... for Chile and Australia.

 

He had a very bad day, almost the same as everybody else in their team.
I wouldn't count him out, as he is still a great goalkeeper (of course most Spain fans at this moment are calling him lots of stuff, but that is just because they are still swallowing the bitter taste that their recent defeat gave them).