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Chile Team Page

Squad

Coach: Jose Sulantay

Roster

Goalkeepers: Cristopher Toselli, Ronald Valladares, Nery Veloso

Defenders: Erick Godoy, Hans Martinez, Nicolas Larrondo, Cristian Sepulveda, Cristian Suarez, Arturo Vidal

Midfielders: Juan Arenas, Carlos Carmona, Gerardo Cortes, Dagoberto Currimilla, Mauricio Isla, Gary Medal, Isaias Peralta

Forwards: Jaime Grondona, Nicolas Medina, Alexis Sanchez, Michael Silva, Mathias Vidangossy

Scouting Report

Strengths: Chile has plenty of attacking options. Midfielder Arturo Vidal and striker Nicolas Medina were the second- and third-highest scorers in the South American qualifiers, and the talented Alexis Sanchez orchestrates the attack from midfield. Several of Chile's key players are starters for their pro teams, which gives them a decided edge on the other teams in the group. Nicolas Larrondo marshals a tight Chilean defence that is hard to break down.

Weaknesses: Chile doesn't have the best track record in this competition, only advancing beyond the first round twice in four appearances. For all of its Latin flair, Chile has been accused at times of being a team composed of great individual players who don't necessarily play together. The South Americans also have the misfortune of playing their first game of the tournament in Toronto against the hosts on Canada Day – hardly an easy game for Chile when you consider the hostile reaction they are bound to receive.

Player to watch: Sanchez, nicknamed El Nino Maravilla – the Wonder Boy – is a marvel with the ball at his feet and causes defenders plenty of problems. A technically adroit player with a keen eye for goals and plenty of speed, Sanchez currently plays for Chilean side Colo-Colo, and he's also appeared in a handful of games for the senior Chilean national team. He began his professional career with the Chilean club Cobreloa in 2005 before being signed by Italian side Udinese, who then loaned him out to Colo-Colo.

Prognosis: Chile will try to build on its impressive fourth-place finish in January’s South American U-20 Championship in Canada. Underachievers in this tournament, the Chileans look to make a lengthy run thanks to a crop of creative and talented players. Offensively explosive with a solid defence and creative in midfield, Chile is a sure bet to advance to the second round from a group that includes Canada, Congo and Austria. Look for the South Americans to win the group ahead of the hosts, and to possibly make it to the quarter-finals. Chile is more than capable of upsetting the traditional favourites (Argentina, Brazil, Portugal), so an appearance in the semifinals wouldn't be that big of a shock.

ROAD TO U-20 THE WORLD CUP

2007 qualification route: Chile secured the last CONMEBOL spot by finishing tied for fourth place with Paraguay with six points in the final stage in the South American U-20 Championship. It won the tiebreaker with a +4 goal differential. Qualifying record: 9 games played, 3 wins, 3 losses, 3 draws Goals for: 20 Goals against: 13 Top goal-scorer in qualifying: Arturo Erasmo Vidal (6)