Chile Football Blog

“While the chances of winning the title are limited, the opportunity of pleasing the fans watching you is in your hands. Luckily, Chile has grasped that”. The above quote came from Johann Cruyff, writing shortly after Chile were eliminated from the tournament at the hands of Brazil. Following on from the group stage, the secular [...]

Chile may be out of this World Cup but their players return to Santiago with reputations enhanced and heads held high. It was not the fact that they made the last 16 that was impressive it was the way in which they did it. Johann Cruyff knows a thing or two about entertaining football and [...]

Chile are out of the World Cup after losing 3-0 to Brazil at Ellis Park. Goals from Juan, Luis Fabiano and Robinho put the Selecao through to the quarter finals, eliminating Marcelo Bielsa’s great entertainers in the process. Brazil beat Chile at the set piece and on the counter, exposing vulnerabilities apparent in Bielsa’s side [...]

In this game artisans take on artists for a place in the quarter finals. Whilst nothing in that statement sounds unusual, the casting of Brazil as artisans certainly is. Dunga’s Brazil are solid, pragmatic, ruthless and effective while Marcelo Bielsa’s Chile play a game based on the notion that the most effective way to win [...]

Chile scraped through to the knockout stages of the World Cup despite losing 2-1 to Spain in an exciting encounter at Loftus Versfeld. David Villa scored one goal and made another as Spain overcame ten-man Chile but Switzerland’s failure to beat group minnows Honduras in tonight’s other game saw both teams qualify from Group H. [...]

Switzerland’s victory over Spain on the first day of World Cup Group H was a disaster for both of these teams. Had Spain beaten the Swiss, both sides would have six points by now and a draw would have put both through. Instead, Chile must take something from the European Champions to be certain of [...]

Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa remained cautious about his side’s World Cup chances yesterday, despite admitting that he was pleased with their performance in beating Switzerland 1-0. Despite taking a maximum six points from their opening two matches, Bielsa was keen to point out that Chile still need a point from their final game to ensure [...]

Chile have one foot in the last 16 after Mark Gonzalez’s headed goal took them to victory against ten man Switzerland. Gonzalez struck in the 75th minute and Chile squandered a hat full of second half chances after Valon Behrami controversially saw red before the break. The game followed a similar pattern to Chile’s first [...]

This game was always going to be crucial in determining who would qualify from Group H, but after Switzerland’s shock win over Spain last week, it has taken on even more importance. The winner of this game will have one foot in the last 16 and could go on to top the group and avoid [...]

Chile got their World Cup campaign off to a winning start with a dominant performance against Honduras in Nelspruit today. Despite the win, Marcelo Bielsa said his side will need to show more if they are to progress from Group H. Jean Beausejour’s first half tap in was enough to give La Roja a 1-0 [...]