2024-09-24 01:25:26
With Brazil and Colombia looming as the national team’s next rivals, the outlook for Gareca seems increasingly uncertain, especially given the absence of the national football authorities and the demands of the team’s veterans.
With World Cup qualifiers underway and the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon, the Chilean national team is facing one of its most complex moments. After the humiliating 1-2 defeat to Bolivia at the Estadio Nacional, La Roja is in the penultimate position in the CONMEBOL standings, only above Peru, and its future in the competition is uncertain.
The lack of goals has been one of the most obvious problems. In the first matches of these qualifiers, Chile has scored only 2 goals in 4 games, an alarming figure considering the level of competitiveness in the South American region. Although key players such as Alexis Sánchez and Eduardo Vargas continue to be part of the team, their performance has not been enough to cover the offensive deficiencies. The lack of a solid replacement in the forward line leaves the team without a clear solution, and the new generations have not managed to make the necessary impact to stand out on the international scene.
Coach Ricardo Gareca, hired with the hope of replicating the success he had with the Peruvian national team, is under pressure. His arrival, which generated expectations due to his career, has not produced the expected results. Questions about his tactical approach and his choice of players increase with each defeat, especially after the episode with Ben Brereton, who was substituted in the first half, generating harsh criticism of the former Peru coach.
Furthermore, the lack of role models within the current squad adds further uncertainty. The “Golden Generation”, which led Chile to two Copa América titles, seems to have been left behind, with no emerging stars able to take over from players like Arturo Vidal and Gary Medel.
The calendar is not in Chile’s favour either. In the next FIFA match, La Roja will face Brazil at the National Stadium in Santiago, a historically difficult opponent. Although Chile is playing at home, Brazil is the favourite, which adds pressure to the team. Later, Chile will have to visit Colombia, another of the region’s strong teams, in a duel that will be key to keeping their hopes of qualifying alive.
Unlike in previous years, when Chile was considered one of the strongest teams in South America, today La Roja is no longer a favourite in big matches. Bookmakers often give them as underdogs even in home games, a sign of the decline in their performance and international recognition of the crisis the team is going through. Despite this, you can still get coolbet bonus codes for the matches.
Replacement, the great difficulty
The lack of generational change is another of the major problems affecting the national team. Since the emergence of the “Golden Generation”, Chile has not managed to form a group of young players who can take on responsibility. The few minutes that the new prospects receive in their clubs and the lack of opportunities in the senior national team are causing concern. While other countries such as Ecuador or Uruguay show a constant renewal, Chile continues to depend on veteran players.
As the qualifiers progress, the concern among fans and pundits is evident. The combination of poor results, lack of leadership on the field and a challenging schedule puts Chile in a difficult position.
Commentators and former players agree that if Ricardo Gareca does not introduce significant changes to the roster, Chile’s situation could worsen even further. The insistence on players who no longer perform at the expected level and the lack of integration of new promises continue to be one of the main problems. The absence of an adequate replacement has generated frustration both among the fans and in the squad itself, which feels the lack of real solutions to reverse the crisis. If bold decisions are not made, qualification for the World Cup will become increasingly remote.
Furthermore, the noise that has arisen in the dressing room, motivated by poor tactical decisions and internal management of the team, continues to be an obstacle. Rumours of internal divisions and lack of trust between the coaching staff and the players affect the atmosphere and performance on the pitch. Sports talk shows suggest that without a firm intervention by the Chilean football authorities to demand results and put pressure on the coach and the squad, the situation will not change. The lack of institutional leadership could be the final blow to Chile’s aspirations in these qualifiers.