Chile may have slumped to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Netherlands on Monday afternoon, but don’t be deceived by this result, Chile still have a part to play at this World Cup. 
The team led by Jorge Sampaoli arrived in Brazil as being one of the ‘ones to watch’ for the tournament. They were a team that promised to excite as they play in an intense, high tempo and high risk way. It was predicted by many that Chile would progress through the group stages, with everybody who predicted that expecting it to be at the expense of the Netherlands.
Well, Chile have progressed to the second round, and with relative ease at that. What’s amazing about the outcome of Group B is that their success came at the expense of the reigning world champions – Spain.
Their exciting, breakneck style is something that began under the management of Marcelo Bielsa, and Sampaoli has built on the foundations laid by his predecessor. Under the guidance of Bielsa, Chile were knocked out of the 2010 World Cup by Brazil, and this year we will have the pleasure of watching the two sides go head-to-head once again in the Round of 16.
Sampaoli’s job was by no means an easy one as he took over during a time of crisis. With Claudio Borghi in charge, qualification for the 2014 World Cup began in disastrous fashion for La Roja as they lost their first two matches against Argentina and Uruguay respectively. Conceding four times in each game they only managed to score once, something needed to change so Borghi was dismissed and Sampaoli stepped into the role following a successful stint in charge of Universidad de Chile.
Their commitment to attacking is incessant, with not too much thought or care being put into defending. Going forward they boast a couple of world class players like Arturo Vidal and Alexis Sanchez, but opposing defenders have more than them to think about as their intense focus on attack means they are supported each time they go forward by at least four others and so they are very much a force in which the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
The team is flawed, however. It would be a fair criticism to say they lack balance, their obsession with attack often leaves them exposed at the back and they are always liable to be carved open by a simple ball over the top into the acres of space left between their defensive line and goalkeeper. They are not just weak due to a lack of numbers at the back, but the individuals that make up their back three are no more than average in quality. Gary Medel and Gonzalo Jara look set to play in the second tier of English football next season, while Francisco Silva plays for Osasuna in Spain, having only left his home country in 2013.
Brazil will be well aware of the threat posed by Chile, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said in December that he would rather face the Netherlands or Spain than their South American neighbours. What will also be worrying for A Selecao, is that they are yet to really get out of second gear. They did what they needed to do to get through the group but were by no means convincing. In order to get past Chile they need to step up their game and they need to do it fast. The hosts are tipped by many as favourites for the tournament, and if they are to go on and win the World Cup this could be the most testing challenge they face.
Chile made light work of an albeit under-performing Spain team and could do the same to a below par Brazil. Xabi Alonso played one of his worst games in recent years in that match and I put that down largely to the incredible levels of intensity and stamina shown by the Chilean players to not give him a second to decide on his next move whenever he was in possession.
This being said, if Scolari’s men come into the match on form, it’s going to be an intriguing contest and could prove a step too far for La Roja. If Brazil bring their best, then expect goals, as both teams have an abundance of attacking talent and like almost everyone else at the tournament, look weak at the back.
If Sampaoli can guide his men past the hosts, it’s difficult to see who is going to stop them.
Follow Conor Clancy on Twitter: @concalcio
