A deeper view of the kit

As I wrote here, the Chilean World Cup shirt is sponsored by Brooks. The shirt has been officially presented to the public. According to this site, Brooks Sports, Inc. was founded in 1914 by Morris Goldenberg and is a company that produces high performance shoes, soccer and running apparel. Brooks originally produced bathing shoes in 1917 before moving into sports by producing baseball cleats in 1920 and football boots in the 1930s.
In the comment section, people wrote what I suspected. The shirt has divided the public into two. Either you hate it or you ... find it okay. Many are sad that it is a relatively unknown company that has their logo on the shirt. However, those of you who wear it on the fields, on the stadiums, at pubs, or at home. Wear it with PRIDE.Pictures belong to: footballshirtculture

Serie B goals

Mauricio Pinilla (1-0): Serie B (2010-03-27) Grosseto - Cesena 1-1

Pinilla continues to produce goals for Grosseto in Serie B. He scored one from the penalty spot in the game against Cesena. Grosseto and Brescia both have 49 points, right behind the top 3 teams in the Serie B. Watch the goals below.



Nicolás Córdova (1-1): Serie B (2010-03-27) Albinoleffe - Brescia 1-1

Nicolás Córdova scored the early equalizing goal for Brescia against Albinoleffe. Brescia are now on third place, two points behind the spot for Serie A next season. Pinilla's Grosseto are rivals right behind on the same points. Córdova is a thirty-one-year old central midfielder who has played for several Italian clubs since 2002. Unfortunately he has only played three games for Chile, and may not be an option for Bielsa's squad for the World Cup.

Jaime Valdés 2 goals

Jaime Valdés (2-0 + 3-0): Serie A (2010-03-24) Atalanta - Cagliari 3-1

Valdés played an important part of Atalanta's victory over Cagliari in their struggle against degragation.Valdés two goals were marked by a great confidence, since the first was a penalty and the second .... you have to watch it!?!?!

3 friendly matches planned

Chile will play three friendly matches before the World Cup.

2010-03-31 Chile - Venezuela
2010-05-16 Mexico - Chile
2010-06-09 Chile - New Zealand (In Nelspruit, South Africa)

Remember that Chile had to cancel two friendlies (see below) due to the effects of the earthquake in February.

One week closer to the World Cup

Chilean goalscorers in Europe week 11.

Rodrigo Tello (1-1): Turkcell Süper Lig (2010-03-19) Kasimpasa - Besiktas 2-2

Rodrigo Tello has been an important player for Besiktas. The team is currently on 4th place, one point after leading Galatasaray. The 30-year old allrounder scored the second goal of the game. Beautiful? Judge by yourself.



Mauricio Pinilla (1-0 + 2-0): Serie B (2010-03-20) Grosseto - Sassuolo 2-2

Chilean striker Maurico Pinilla is probably the most talked about player of the Serie B right now. His team Grosseto is currently on fifth place only one point to Serie A advancement. Pinilla's 22 goals have made an echo in higher division clubs and it is said that Fiorentina have their eyes on him. Pinilla is known for frequently changing clubs, having played for different clubs in seven countries despite the young age of 26. Although, he has the ability to score goals, and this weekend he scored two against Sassuolo. Watch them below.

Rough Diamonds

An interesting article from FIFA about the young star players in Chile's team for the World Cup.

Pizarro goal

David Pizarro (2-3): Serie A (2010-03-14) Livorno - Roma 3-3



Pizarro scored Roma's last goal in the game against Livorno. Although, in the shadows of Lucarelli who scored a hat-trick for Livorno. Roma lost ground in the chase for the Serie A title. Pizarro has been one of the best in Roma this season, delivering many assists and scoring important goals as well.

Unfortunately, David Pizarro has recently stated that he will NOT play for La Roja in this year's World Cup. Since he hasn't played in the qualifying round, he sees that it would be wrong to come in and play in the tournament. David has been away from the national team for quite a while now and states in the interview that he sees the final in his active career. He will return to his hometown Valparaiso and play for the team in his heart, Santiago Wanderers when the contract with AS Roma is terminated in 2013, after more than 10 years in Italy.

¡Fuerza Chile!

Spanish team U.D. Almeria had during this week's game against Barcelona (with millions of TV-viewers) the decency to have remove their original sponsor from their kit and place ¡Fuerza Chile! on instead. Despite the fact that they don't have any Chilean players or staff members. According to their homepage, prior to the game, the referees tried to consult the league officials if the team were permitted to play in that shirt. Many games around Europe started with a silent moment for the victims of the Chilean and Haitian earthquake's these previous months. U.D. Almeria's president Alfonso Garcia also claimed that the shirts are also for sale with the proceeds going directly as donations for the victims of the Chilean earthquake.
RESPECT!!!

U.D. Almeria and the city of Almeria is now a personal favorite and deserves a special blogspot despite the fact that they played 2-2 against Barcelona, when Real Madrid is chasing.

Another week of football

Fabian Orellana (2-4): La Liga (2010-03-07) Malaga - Xerez 2-4

Xerez took an important victory against Malaga in their struggle to remain in La Liga next season. After two expulsions on each team, Xerez with Orellana as a offensive midfielder/striker, could win the match after being down a goal. Orellana scored late in the match what would be the last goal and leaving Malaga with no hope of coming back. Like Suazo last week, Orellana had a shirt with the text "Fuerza Chile" on under his Xerez kit. Respect!

14

Chile is now ranked by FIFA in their March 2010 ranking as Top-14 Nation in the world.

1. Spain
2. Brazil
3. The Netherlands
4. Italy
5. Germany
6. Portugal
7. France
8. England
9. Argentina
10. Greece
11. Croatia
12. Russia
13. Serbia
14. Chile
15. Mexico
16. Switzerland

35. Honduras

Butterfly effect

More bad news.

Due to the tragedy of the earthquake, The Chilean football federation have suspended two friendly matches and all divisions of leauge Apertura. The fixtures against North Korea and Costa Rica have been cancelled. This is bad timing for the team, due to the fact that they need to play matches before the World Cup later this year.
I fully understand the reasons of this decision, and I am NOT questioning it at all.
Next game will therefore be against Venezuela March 31th.
Fuerza Chile!

Brooks

The Chilean World Cup kit has been presented. The shirt have the classic red color and is sponsored by Brooks. It is an unknown company to me, and I know that many would like "la roja" to wear Nike or Adidas.

But more important, those of you who will get the privilege to wear the shirt, wear it with pride.

More goals despite tragedy

Humberto "Chupete" Suazo (0-1 + 0-2): La Liga (2010-02-27) Getafe - Real Zaragoza 0-2

Chupete Suazo has been one of Zaragoza's best player after being bought in late Jan. from Mexican club Monterrey. Suazo was also top-goalscorer in the South American World Cup qualifying round, scoring 10 goals. He is already 2nd top-goalscoarer in Zaragoza, with the disadvantage of only have played 5 games for the team this season. Suazo played great and honored the victims of the earthquake (see previous entry) by having a "fuerza Chile"-shirt under his kit. Here are the goals.




Jaime Valdés (2-1): Serie A (2010-02-28) Milan - Atalanta 3-1.

Jaime Valdés scored a great goal for his Atalanta who are struggling for survival to remain in Italian Serie A. It is a very nice goal, a soloraid against Ac Milan. Not alot of players who can manage to do that. Enough said, just watch!

Earthquake

As you may know, Chile was struck by a massive earthquake on feb. 27th.

Fuerza Chile!

Hopefully, out of this tragedy, greatness will rise. Let us see an inspired "La Roja" in South Africa.