He was named after one of England's greatest goalscorers but it is at the other end of the field that Gary Medel is forcing observers of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ to sit up and take notice. The Chile defender has posted two performances of such skill and consistency that he has raced to the top of the Castrol Index.
Chile have taken six points from a possible six and the impact they are making in their first FIFA World Cup since 1998 is underlined by the presence of three of their team in the top six of the Castrol Index, an innovative system which uses the latest technology to objectively analyse and rank player performances.
Before arriving in South Africa, Medel, who is still just 22, had already put down a marker as one of South America's burgeoning talents, but his claims to fame have now reached a far wider audience. He was named at birth after Gary Lineker but his drive and tireless running as a wingback or holding midfielder for his club Boca Juniors make him better known by the nickname ‘El Pitbull’.
However, it is as a central defender that he has shone at South Africa 2010, showing a maturity beyond his years and working well in tandem with Waldo Ponce, who sits just behind him in second in the Castrol Index. Ponce was another Chile player to maintain his standards as Marcelo Bielsa's team followed up an impressive performance against Honduras with another narrow victory over Switzerland. Castrol Performance Analysts were impressed with a defensive group that has still to concede a goal and which has allowed only three long-range shots on target in the tournament so far.
Experience tells
Carlos Carmona, a veteran of two FIFA U-20 World Cup tournaments - Netherlands 2005 and Canada 2007 - has also excelled for Chile, covering the hard yards in a midfield department known for their tireless work-rate and energy.South American players occupy the leading four positions, emphasising the impact made by the continent's representatives at South Africa 2010.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 2nd place in the Coca-Cola Championship.
GOAL: What does the Chile national team represent for the people after the Earthquakes?
LJ: Even though I wasn’t a part of the group of players who helped qualify the nation, I think that the players who were a part of the side followed the situation very closely, because the Chilean population did go through an Earthquake.
GOAL: How are your reports with Bielsa? What is your role in the National team?
LJ: With Bielsa, I have an excellent relationship. Before going to West Ham, I needed a document that would allow me to play in England (like a visa), and he helped me to obtain it, saying that I was an important player for the national team. The group of players that he used, though, did very well and seeing that they finished second in the qualification group, I believe that the World Cups go those who have earnt them. Personally, I doubt I will go.
GOAL: A Chilean player you believe is an excellent acquisition for European or Italian football in particular?
LJ: To say [Udinese striker] Alexis Sanchez would be too easy seeing that he is doing very well in Italy. I suggest Waldo Ponce, the Chilean defender who plays for Universidad Catolica.
GOAL: How come Matiaz Fernandez has not been able to impose himself like many imagined?
LJ: I ask myself the same thing (laughs). It is very strange. He arrived in Europe, to Villarreal, after being elected as the best South American player, but has not been able to make a name for himself like he knows. At Sporting now, he is doing well, but not at the level we all expected him to. He is not demonstrating his qualities on a continual basis.
