Tshwane/ Pretoria Lotus Versfeld Stadium

The match tonight will be played in Tshwane/ Pretoria at the Lotus Versfeld Stadium. It is an old stadium built in 1903 and renovated in 2009. It is an open stadium with no roof so hopefully the Vuvuzela sounds will disappear into outer space. It is also used as a Rugby stadium. Four matches have been played there to this day.

Serbia - Ghana 0-1
South Africa - Uruguay 0-3
Cameroon - Denmark 1-2
U.S.A. - Algeria 1-0

The match starts at 20:30 local time and the other game in Group H, between Switzerland and Honduras is played at the same time in Mangaung/Bloemfontein.

The referee is Mexican Marco Rodriguez, with International appearances since 1999. He speaks Spanish as all the players on the field, so hopefully there will not be misunderstandings. He has been the referee at the game Germany - Australia 4-0 (1 red - 5 yellow). Let's hope that he will not choose to be the center of attention. We have had really bad referees, and many people have reacted on the level that they have had. Lots of warning have been handed out without motivation and red cards are given out like presents on Christmas. Unfortunately, with so much on stake and with players with same native language, I believe that it will be a tough game with many warning and maybe even a red card in the game tonight. We will not be given the same advantage as we did against Switzerland. Will the Mexican take the pressure and help us take down the Motherland?

Pórtate bien, Cabrón !

Port Elizabeth / Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium

This is the stadium where the Chile vs. Switzerland match is to be played tomorrow. The stadium is newly built and has a capacity for approximately 43,000 persons. Let us hope that it will be filled with red (both team) fans and please NO Vuvuzelas. Three matches have been played there so far.

South Corea - Greece 2-0
Ivory Coast - Portugal 0-0
Germany - Serbia 0-1

The match will be the second of the day, which means that it starts at 16:00 local time. Be sure that you don't miss it.

The referee will be Khalil Al Ghamdi from Saudi Arabia. He has according to FIFA been at an International level since 2003. He was the referee in the match between France vs. Mexico (0-2). Reports say that he was okay, although the referee team missed an offside on Hernandez. He gave away 6 yellow cards and gave Mexico a correct penalty.

Behave

The Wait Is Over

The wait is over, the World Cup in South Africa starts today. Good luck to all countries involved. Chile start their journey next Wednesday, June 16 and we will win this trophy ... remember where you read it first!

Chilean Player Presentation: Defenders

2. Ismael Fuentes **

Date of Birth: 4 August, 1981 Height: 182 cm Weight: 79 kg Foot: Right Caps: 28 Goals: 1 Club: Universidad Católica

Ismael Fuentes is a local player that has a tendency to always be called up to play for the National team. He is definitely not bad, especially not in man-marking. He is tough to play against. Ismael played 8 games in the qualifying round and scoring one goal against Colombia. He may not be a starting player but he is close to being, so we will probably see him in the pitch at some time or other. He recently came back from a 5-year professional trip to Mexico, where he played for Jaguares and Atlas.

3. Waldo Ponce ***

Date of Birth: 4 December, 1982 Height: 183 cm Weight: 77 kg Foot: Right Caps: 25 Goals: 2 Club: Universidad Católica

A personal favorite, Ponce is a modern defender who can play anywhere in the defensive field. He is fast, has good passing skills and scores often at set pieces. Ponce played along Jara, most games as defender in the qualifying round, as many as 13 and scored one of his two goals in “La Roja” against Colombia. Ponce is a starting player, and will hopefully bring much happiness to us fans as he stops the other team’s attackers.

4. Mauricio Isla ***

Date of Birth: 12 June, 1988 Height: 176 cm Weight: 72 kg Foot: Right Caps: 12 Goals: 0 Club: Udinese (Italy)

Isla is the future of Chile, along with the rest of the players that won the bronze medal in the Under 20 World Cup in Canada in 2007. Italian club Udinese saw him and “wanted him at all costs”. Isla can play as either a defensive midfielder or as a defender, where he does both in his club. To prove his high level, Isla played 28 games as a starting player in the Serie A this season. In the qualifying round he only played 5 games and got sent off one time in the draw against Uruguay.

5. Pablo Contreras ***

Date of Birth: 11 September, 1978 Height: 181 cm Weight: 78 kg Foot: Right Caps: 51 Goals: 1 Club: PAOK Thessaloniki (Greece)

Pablo Contreras, one of Chile’s veterans is a full back playing as a regular starter in Greek Champions PAOK. Pablo has a lot of routine from high level football from his many years of European club football after he left Colo-Colo in 2000. Although he only played 5 games in the qualifying round, Bielsa will probably use him as a starting player in the three-man defense. The main reason for his absence is a 20-game suspension he was given after a brawl in Venezuela after a defeat in Copa America. What speak for him are his 51 caps for Chile, which most of all players in today’s team.

17. Gary Medel ***+

Date of Birth: 3 August, 1987 Height: 172 cm Weight: 71 kg Foot: Right Caps: 24 Goals: 3 Club: Boca Juniors (Argentina)

The Chilean “Pitbull” has despite his young age definitely made a mark of himself across Latin America. Medel is along Ponce a personal favorite, and they make a great team together. If Medel plays good in the World Cup, there will be many European clubs after him. He has been playing in Argentinean club Boca Juniors, who has had an awful season, but Medel being their best player. He played 28 games as a starter and scoring 7 goals. Just as Isla, Medel can play as a defender and as a defensive midfielder, because he is literally EVERYWHERE where the ball is. In the qualifying round, Medel played 12 games and scored twice in the 2-0 away win against Bolivia in difficult high altitude capital La Paz. Watch this goal. The “Pitbull” is going to South Africa to leave a mark, just watch.

18. Gonzalo Jara ***

Date of Birth: 29 August, 1985 Height: 178 cm Weight: 77 kg Foot: Right Caps: 34 Goals: 3 Club: West Bromwich Albion (England)

Gonzalo Jara is according to FIFA, a classy, elegant footballer known for his impressive aerial ability and calm reading of the game. During his debut season at hard playing W.B.A in English Championship league Jara played 20 games from start and scoring one goal until he unfortunately got injured. He did not play football in a period of three months until he made a comeback in the International friendly against Mexico which Chile lost 0-1. He also played in the wins against Israel and Zambia. In the qualifying round, Jara played an impressive 13 games and score twice, against Venezuela and Colombia. He will most likely be a starting player in the World Cup. Next season he will play in the highest quality English Premier League since his team W.B.A finished in 2^nd place in the Coca-Cola Championship.

Bon Voyage Chile

The Chilean team has now left Chile to their destination Nelspruit, South Africa. They were greeted in the streets of Santiago by thousands of fans as their bus cruised was escorted by the police to the airport. Hopefully will this departure inspire the team to give their all and play for their people, specially after the earthquake that tragically hit the country in February.

Pictures from: lanacion.cl

Chile - Israel 3-0

Chile won easily, according to reports, over Israel in late nights International friendly against a B-sided Israel in the mist of Concepción. Chile controlled the game and could early score by Suazo in the 19th minute. By halftime Suazo and Valdivia were substituted but Sanchez was still on the pitch and could score the second goal of the game in the 49th minute from outside of the penalty area. Tello finalized the scoring with a beautiful shot from a rebound even further away than Sanchez's goal.

Goalkeeper:
Claudio Bravo (Real Sociedad)

Defenders:
Gary Medel (Boca Juniors) Out 79'
Waldo Ponce (Universidad Catolica)
Gonzalo Jara (W.B.A.)

Midfielders:
Rodrigo Millar (Colo Colo) Out 77'
Carlos Carmona (Reggina)
Rodrigo Tello (Besiktas) *Goal 90'
Jorge Valdivia (Al Ain) Out 46'

Attackers:
Alexis Sanchez (Udinese) *Goal 49' Out 70'
Jean Beausejour (America)
Humberto Suazo (Monterrey) *Goal 19' Out 46'

Subs:
Fabian Orellana (Xerez) In 46'
Felipe Guiterrez (Test player, Universidad Catolica) In 46'
Bernardo Campos (Test player, Santiago Morning) In 70'
Luis Casanova (Test player, O'Higgins) In 77'
José Martinez (Test player, Universidad Catolica) In 79'

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Chile has now played their final game at home and is off to South Africa. One more player has to leave the team. They will play one final friendly against New Zealand in Nelspruit, South Africa June 9th.

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Héctor Mancilla is out?

Chilean striker Héctor Mancilla has recently won the Mexican league with his team Toluca. Mancilla scored 23 league goals in 39 games and has won the Mexican Golden Boot two times in a row. However, Mancilla has not been used in the Chilean National team in more than two substitutes during the qualifying round. Mancilla is still in the official 25-man squad, although he has said in an interview that he will not be on the team that will go to South Africa. He feels mistreated and will spend the free-time with his family instead.

Personally I feel that Mancilla would be a great substitute to Suazo, who is not known for having the best stamina. Suazo is also currently recovering from an injury. Chile will need a striker who can score from any opportunity. Now there is only one player left to leave, who will it be? Cereceda or Estrada ... or someone else?

Picture: deportivotolucafc.com

International Friendly

Chile will play tonight against Trinidad &Tobago for an International friendly match in Iquique, Chile. It was announced late and is mainly a test for players who are in the verge of taking or losing a spot on the team for the World Cup. Therefore are all regular players not called up for the game.

Trinidad &Tobago played in Germany for the World Cup in 2006. They were in a group with Sweden, England & Paraguay. They managed to lose against England and Paraguay, however they did play 0-0 against Sweden. They can be seen as a good test where they have similarities to Honduras, who Chile will play in the World Cup in South Africa this summer.

Mark Gonzalez chat with FIFA

FIFA.com have an article posted where Mark Gonzalez is interviewed. He speaks about his family history, being born in South Africa and moving to Chile as a child. 'Speedy Gonzalez' also talks about La Roja and the importance of coach Bielsa.

Like the other interviews posted before in this blog, a short section is presented and you can read the rest here.

Moreover, this will be a first finals for Gonzalez and his fellow La Roja squad-mates, given Chile’s absence from world football’s top table since France 1998. The former Liverpool flyer firmly believes that Argentinian coach Marcelo Bielsa deserves a large share of the credit for their return: “At first we struggled a bit to adapt to the tempo and system of play that coach Bielsa was trying to get across.”

“But by the end of [South American Zone] qualifying we were playing on instinct, with a well-structured system. What matters most is that we proved we’re a tough team to play and we always go out to try and win,” added Gonzalez, with obvious pride. “He [Bielsa] came to Chile to change how we played the game. What we're doing now is totally different to before. There’s no other coach like him: he’s a perfectionist.”

“He’s very respectful, is a very good guy and is always approachable. When it comes to work he’s very strict, very disciplined. And everything he does is reflected in our play,” continued Gonzalez on former Argentina boss Bielsa, who took over the Chilean helm in August 2007.

Picture: Google

Pinilla & Jiménez are out

As I wrote yesterday, Valdés and Pizarro are doubtful about their future in the Chilean team. Now it is Mauricio Pinilla's turn to tell us that he will most likely NOT play for Chile in South Africa. In an interview, the Grosseto attacker said that he gives up hopes in playing for Bielsa's team. He thinks that Bielsa already has a team that he believes in and that "outsiders" like him will not get a chance to prove their skills. Pinilla has played in the national team, however he has shown an immature personality in his younger years that still haunts him. The Serie B top scorer will not play for Grosseto more this season due to an injury and is also placed in several higher ranked Italian clubs. Today there were rumors of Jiménez's Parma has laid an offer for the striker.

At the same time, Jiménez also speaks about the same issue in another interview. He believes that the Italian based players (excluding Sanchéz & Isla) are not a priority for Bielsa's plans. Jiménez speaks warm of Valdés, who is a friend even though their different clubs.

Pictures from: http://www.transfermarkt.de

Valdés & Pizarro to South Africa?

Jaime Valdés spoke in an interview about his chances of taking a place in La Roja for the World Cup. He has only played two games for Chile, and they were several years ago. Valdés is currently playing his best football in his 10-year Italian career. In the interview, he also said that Bielsa should consider calling David Pizarro, who has also not played any game in the World Cup qualifying round. Both Valdés and Pizarro have been at the top of their game. Pizarro's Roma are now number 1 in Serie A, after Inter lost two points in their draw against Fiorentina this weekend.
Should Bielsa call Valdés and Pizarro?
There is definitely competition for the offensive/creative midfielder roles in La Roja. Valdivia, Orellana, Jimenez, Matí and Villanueva are some player that all have superb creative qualities. FIFA has statistics of all players who played for La Roja in the qualifying round.

Pictures from: http://www.transfermarkt.de

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.