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South American U-17 Championship Profile: Chile
Goal.com's Tim Sturridge gives his verdict on the host nation of the Sudamericano U-17 tournament...
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Apr 13, 2009 8:06:19 PM
Home Advantage
Chile enjoy home advantage at this year’s South American U-17 championships in Iquique.
A host nation can normally expect a good run at a championship and Chile will be hoping that this year is no exception.However, when Chile put on a friendly tournament two months ago as part of their preparations of Iquique they found home advantage did not count for much.
Peru, Ecuador and the USA were invited to Chile in February to participate in La Serena Cup. Chile suffered a 2-0 defeat in their first game against the States and finished the tournament in last place after falling 3-1 to Peru.
Chile’s preparations have also been hampered by absences from the squad, some forced and some through coach César Vaccia´s own choice. The ultra-skilful Nelson Bustamante has not been released by Italian club Brescia to take part in the tournament. He is believed to be in the middle of a hormone therapy treatment similar to the procedure undergone by Lionel Messi at Barcelona.
Bustamante´s treatment is believed to have cost Brescia $300,000 and they are not willing to jeopardise their investment by allowing the player to return home.
“Nelson will without doubt one day be a great player,” coach Vaccia said. “In Brescia they are doing specific work with him and he is unable to play the South American.”
Even though Vaccia had his hands tied with Bustamante it was his choice not to include Piero Garate, a move which raised a few eyebrows in Chile.
Garate was an important cog in the Chilean U-15 team which finished fourth in their domestic championships two years ago. The midfielder has played with the majority of Vaccia´s squad at international level for over two years, but has been deemed surplus to requirements on this occasion.
Vaccia was forced to justify his selection when questions were raised in the local media.
“It has been without doubt one of the hardest moments for me as coach,” Vaccia explained. “But today, this minute, there are players who I believe are giving more.”
Lack Of Success
Successes at this level have been few and far between for Chile and they have qualified for the World Cup on just two occasions.
Their latest appearance on the global stage came after a third-place finish in South American U-17 championship of 2007. During that tournament both Milovan Mirosevic and Juan Viveros notched four goals to share the golden boot with Hull City´s Geovanni.
Despite exiting at the group stage during the following World Cup, Chile went out with a bang beating Thailand 6-2, Viveros helping himself to a brace along the way.
In 1993 Chile reached the World Cup in Japan after their best ever showing in their domestic championships, a second place finish behind hosts Colombia.
Chile found their rhythm again at the proceeding World Cup and breezed through the group stage unbeaten to set up a quarter-final clash with Czechoslovakia.
Chile thumped a Czech side which included AC Milan´s Marek Jankulovski 4-1 to progress to the semi-finals. After failing to puncture the Samuel Kuffour-led Ghanaian defence in the semis, and leaking three at the other end, Chile restored some pride by beating Poland in the third place play-off on penalties.
Fixtures
18/4 vs. Uruguay
20/4 vs. Argentina
26/4 vs. Ecuador
29/4 vs. Venezuela
Star Player
Camilo Peña - Universidad Católica (CHI) –Aged 16
With Nelson Bustamante kept back in Italy Vaccia´s team are without El Nuevo Messi Chileno (The New Chilean Messi).
The coach has also axed Piero Garate who would be a contender for Star Player.
One player still around who does have the game to trouble opposition defences is Camilo Peña
Peña´s game combines pace, feints and the kind of direct running which will keep defenders occupied all afternoon.
Peña is on the books at Universidad Católica and will benefit from playing alongside many of his team-mates from club level.
The Chilean squad contains five players from Universidad Católica and a further six from Colo Colo.
Coach
As outlined above coach César Vaccia is capable of making decisions which can baffle those who follow youth football in Chile and has left himself open to criticism on a number of occasions.
Recently Vaccia reacted to the disappointing showing at La Serena Cup by giving his squad 10 days off from training.
Back in 2003 Vaccia led a highly talented squad to the South American U-17 championships and expectation back home was high.
Vaccia was able to field Matias Fernandez, Carlos Villanueva and Hans Martínez but despite having this talent at his disposal Chile failed to advance from the first group stage.
The coach insists things will be different this time out and that his team will settle for nothing less than World Cup qualification.
“We want to go for top spot in the group and ensure direct passage to Nigeria,” Vaccia said. “If not, then we will go into the second group and qualify from there.”
Squad
Goalkeepers: Leonardo Rayo (Colo Colo), Darío Melo (Palestino)
Defenders: Enzo Andía (U. Catolica), Pedro Salgado (U. Catolica), Matías Navarrete (U. Espanola), David Villarroel (F. Vial), Mario Parra (Palestino), José Fernández (Colo Colo), Jorge Aravena (Colo Colo)
Midfielders: Claudio Sepúlveda (U. Catolica), Santiago Dittborn (U. Catolica), Camilo Peña (U. Catolica), Gustavo Ramírez (Colo Colo), César Valenzuela (Palestino), Alex González (Wanderers)
Forwards: Álvaro Ramos (M. Iquique), Erick Mora (Cobreloa), Frank Fernández (U. Catolica), Matías Jadue (U. Catolica), Cristián Contreras (Colo Colo)
Tim Sturridge, Goal.com
Chile enjoy home advantage at this year’s South American U-17 championships in Iquique.
A host nation can normally expect a good run at a championship and Chile will be hoping that this year is no exception.However, when Chile put on a friendly tournament two months ago as part of their preparations of Iquique they found home advantage did not count for much.
Peru, Ecuador and the USA were invited to Chile in February to participate in La Serena Cup. Chile suffered a 2-0 defeat in their first game against the States and finished the tournament in last place after falling 3-1 to Peru.
Chile’s preparations have also been hampered by absences from the squad, some forced and some through coach César Vaccia´s own choice. The ultra-skilful Nelson Bustamante has not been released by Italian club Brescia to take part in the tournament. He is believed to be in the middle of a hormone therapy treatment similar to the procedure undergone by Lionel Messi at Barcelona.
Bustamante´s treatment is believed to have cost Brescia $300,000 and they are not willing to jeopardise their investment by allowing the player to return home.
“Nelson will without doubt one day be a great player,” coach Vaccia said. “In Brescia they are doing specific work with him and he is unable to play the South American.”
Even though Vaccia had his hands tied with Bustamante it was his choice not to include Piero Garate, a move which raised a few eyebrows in Chile.
Garate was an important cog in the Chilean U-15 team which finished fourth in their domestic championships two years ago. The midfielder has played with the majority of Vaccia´s squad at international level for over two years, but has been deemed surplus to requirements on this occasion.
Vaccia was forced to justify his selection when questions were raised in the local media.
“It has been without doubt one of the hardest moments for me as coach,” Vaccia explained. “But today, this minute, there are players who I believe are giving more.”
Lack Of Success
Successes at this level have been few and far between for Chile and they have qualified for the World Cup on just two occasions.
Their latest appearance on the global stage came after a third-place finish in South American U-17 championship of 2007. During that tournament both Milovan Mirosevic and Juan Viveros notched four goals to share the golden boot with Hull City´s Geovanni.
Despite exiting at the group stage during the following World Cup, Chile went out with a bang beating Thailand 6-2, Viveros helping himself to a brace along the way.
In 1993 Chile reached the World Cup in Japan after their best ever showing in their domestic championships, a second place finish behind hosts Colombia.
Chile found their rhythm again at the proceeding World Cup and breezed through the group stage unbeaten to set up a quarter-final clash with Czechoslovakia.
Chile thumped a Czech side which included AC Milan´s Marek Jankulovski 4-1 to progress to the semi-finals. After failing to puncture the Samuel Kuffour-led Ghanaian defence in the semis, and leaking three at the other end, Chile restored some pride by beating Poland in the third place play-off on penalties.
Fixtures
18/4 vs. Uruguay
20/4 vs. Argentina
26/4 vs. Ecuador
29/4 vs. Venezuela
Star Player
Camilo Peña - Universidad Católica (CHI) –Aged 16
With Nelson Bustamante kept back in Italy Vaccia´s team are without El Nuevo Messi Chileno (The New Chilean Messi).
The coach has also axed Piero Garate who would be a contender for Star Player.
One player still around who does have the game to trouble opposition defences is Camilo Peña
Peña´s game combines pace, feints and the kind of direct running which will keep defenders occupied all afternoon.
Peña is on the books at Universidad Católica and will benefit from playing alongside many of his team-mates from club level.
The Chilean squad contains five players from Universidad Católica and a further six from Colo Colo.
Coach
As outlined above coach César Vaccia is capable of making decisions which can baffle those who follow youth football in Chile and has left himself open to criticism on a number of occasions.
Recently Vaccia reacted to the disappointing showing at La Serena Cup by giving his squad 10 days off from training.
Back in 2003 Vaccia led a highly talented squad to the South American U-17 championships and expectation back home was high.
Vaccia was able to field Matias Fernandez, Carlos Villanueva and Hans Martínez but despite having this talent at his disposal Chile failed to advance from the first group stage.
The coach insists things will be different this time out and that his team will settle for nothing less than World Cup qualification.
“We want to go for top spot in the group and ensure direct passage to Nigeria,” Vaccia said. “If not, then we will go into the second group and qualify from there.”
Squad
Goalkeepers: Leonardo Rayo (Colo Colo), Darío Melo (Palestino)
Defenders: Enzo Andía (U. Catolica), Pedro Salgado (U. Catolica), Matías Navarrete (U. Espanola), David Villarroel (F. Vial), Mario Parra (Palestino), José Fernández (Colo Colo), Jorge Aravena (Colo Colo)
Midfielders: Claudio Sepúlveda (U. Catolica), Santiago Dittborn (U. Catolica), Camilo Peña (U. Catolica), Gustavo Ramírez (Colo Colo), César Valenzuela (Palestino), Alex González (Wanderers)
Forwards: Álvaro Ramos (M. Iquique), Erick Mora (Cobreloa), Frank Fernández (U. Catolica), Matías Jadue (U. Catolica), Cristián Contreras (Colo Colo)
Tim Sturridge, Goal.com
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|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £100 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
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| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power for a free bet up to £50 |
|
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