Betting on Chile at the World Cup 2010

Manager: Marcelo Bielsa
Captain: Claudio Bravo
FIFA World Ranking: 15
World Cup Appearances: 8
Best World Cup: Third Place – 1962

Chile Team Profile

Chile have a formidable record when it comes to qualifying for World Cup’s, with South Africa 2010 set to be their ninth appearance in the competition often touted as the greatest sporting spectacle on the planet. However, unlike ever before Chile come into the finals in tremendous form and full of optimism after finishing the South American round of qualifying in 2nd position, just one point shy of the World No.1′s Brazil.

Despite only being ranked 15 in the FIFA Rankings, Chile were just a point off Brazil in the South America standings and finished above three others South American nations competing in South Africa this summer; Paraguay, Uruguay and even Argentina. Moreover, only Brazil could better Chile’s scoring exploits of 33 goals in 18 qualifiers in what was a prolific qualification campaign for the Chileans.

Marcelo Bielsa, an Argentine at heart, has worked wonders with the Chilean team and his direct reward was to reach the South African finals in 2010. He has made Chile a more potent attacking force, with Humberto Suazo the star of qualifying with 10 goals in 18 qualifiers, while consistency has also been added to their game, while both attributes will serve them well in South Africa as they pit their wits against some of the World’s best nations on a more regular basis.

Nicknames: La Roja (The Red One) 

Manager

Marcelo Bielsa is a huge favourite with the Chilean public after his efforts to guide Chile to the World Cup in South Africa were successful, even finishing above the country Bielsa originates from, Argentina.

Bielsa does have the necessary international experience to make Chile a big player in South Africa as he was the man who guided Argentina to Olympic Gold at the 2004 Olympics, while that same year he took Argentina to the finals of the Copa America, unfortunately losing the final. The fans were more than happy with the work Bielsa was doing at the Argentina helm, but Bielsa himself decided enough was enough and later resigned from his managerial post.

The highlight of Bielsa’s managerial reign with Chile was of course gaining qualification into South Africa, but the 1-0 win at home to Argentina will certainly be up there. It would also be ironic should Bielsa meet Argentina in South Africa, as were he to mastermind Argentina’s downfall once again, it would surely be meet with a hostile reception back home in his home land of Argentina. 

Chile Key Players

Suazo, because of his predatory instincts, generally receives most of the plaudits because of the sheer amount of goals he’s scores, but both Matias Fernandez and Alexis Sanchez played an ample role in an effective forward unit for Chile.

The three generally set up in a diamond like formation, with Suazo the main striker and Fernandez and Sanchez occupying the wings. Fernandez plays the role of architect to perfection, squeezing balls through to a potent and on-his-toes Suazo, while on the opposite side of the pitch will be Sanchez, an explosive and tricky customer who will look to put his blistering pace and acceleration to good effect by sprinting to the touchline and whipping in some delicious deliveries.

Both Fernandez and Sanchez act mainly as the suppliers, while Suazo’s keen eye for goals and composure in front of the goal makes him the ideal hitman up front for Chile. They each play a pivotal role informing a deadly duo for Chile in the final third.

Strengths

Chile were very prolific throughout qualifying, so we feel their obvious strength is their attacking play. With the help of Humberto Suazo, who scored 10 during the qualifiers, and Matias Fernandez in Midfield who scored 4, Chile were able to find the net on no less than 32 occasions, just one shy of Brazil who managed 33. To fall shy of a Brazilian team packed full of attacking flair and quality, you have to be doing some right in the final third of the pitch, so Chile will be a dangerous opponent and difficult to defend against if there record in qualifying serves them well.  

Weaknesses

Chile’s defence appears to be their achilles heels as they conceded more goals in qualifying than any of the other four South American nations who made South Africa’s cut. Claudio Bravo, a goalkeeper for Real Sociedad in Spain, was in goal for all of Chile’s 18 qualifiers and conceded 22 goals. Bravo is just 27 years-old, and for a goalkeeper that’s pretty young. It also doesn’t bode well that their reserve keepers are also very young, with Bravo’s main contenders for the gloves younger than he is. You always need a man with maturity, authority and experience between the sticks and unfortunately for Chile, they don’t have that in Claudio Bravo.

We must say that Chile’s defence did perform a lot better when playing at home, but they won’t have the luxury of playing on home soil in South Africa, so their defence will need to sharpen up soon before they clash with teams which will provide their defence with a thorough examination.

Chile Qualification for the World Cup

Sector: South America
Finishing Position: 2nd
Win-Draw-Lose: 10-3-5
Goals Scored: 32
Goals Conceded: 22

Chile Qualifying Statistics

• Chile score a total of 32 goals in 18 qualifiers, the second best offensive record in the South American qualifying zone.
• The Chileans boast the worst defensive record out of the four automatic qualifying nations from South America, conceding 22 goals in 18 games.
• Humberto Suazo finished as South America’s deadliest striker, scoring 10 goals in 18 appearances during qualifying.
• Chile received the most amount of penalties during qualifying – make of that what you will – with referees handing them four penalties in total.

World Cup Potential: 3/5

The Chileans won’t be a team the bigger nations will ideally look forward to playing, while the group they were drawn in, Group H, means they have a fantastic opportunity of making the last-sixteen. Their main strength is their forward play, spearheaded by South America’s most prolific forward during qualifying, Humberto Suazo, but their defence could be their downfall as their desire to commit men to attack often leaves them exposed and lightweight at the back. If they can get the right balance, Chile could be one of the tournament’s surprise packages. They are definite value and could quite easily make light of their 66/1 quote.

Chile World Cup Betting Odds

Chile to win the World Cup: 50/1 – Bet365 

Before the World Cup the odds on Chile were 66/1 

Official Chile World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers

Claudio Bravo (Real San Sebastian)

Miguel Pinto (Universidad de Chile)

Luis Marin (Union Espanola)

Defenders

Waldo Ponce (Universidad Catolica)

Ismael Fuentes (Universidad Catolica)

Gonzalo Jara (West Bromwich Albion)

Gary Medel (Boca Juniors)

Mauricio Isla (Udinese Calcio)

Arturo Vidal (Bayer Leverkusen)

Pablo Contreras (PAOK Thessaloniki)

Marco Estrada (Universidad de Chile)

Midfielders

Carlos Carmona (Reggina Calcio)

Rodrigo Millar (Colo Colo)

Jorge Valdivia (Al Ain)

Matias Fernandez (Sporting Lisbon)

Rodrigo Tello (Besiktas Istanbul)

Gonzalo Fierro (Flamengo)

Juan Beausejour (America)

Strikers

Humberto Suazo (Real Zaragoza)

Alexis Sanchez (Udinese Calcio)

Mark Gonzalez (CSKA Moscow)

Esteban Paredes (Colo Colo)

Fabian Orellana (Xerez)

last update: 18 June 2010

World Cup 2010 Chile Fixtures – Group H

28/06 – 19.30 – Round of the last 16: Chile – Brazil: 0-3

World Cup 2010 Group H - Table

World Cup Fixtures and Results

World Cup Group H teams: Spain, Paraguay, Switzerland, Honduras. Here it is, the final group preview of the best value bets for the World Cup. Tournament favourites Spain were the last seeded team to be drawn from the hat, and they find themselves in an interesting group, but one which they should have no trouble at all negotiating through. The countdown to South Africa 2010 is firmly on right now, and time is running out to get your pre-tournament bets down. This guide to the groups, is designed to help you find the best returns on your World Cup Odds, when looking deeper than the main outright markets. Spain surely have the dominance over Group H, but is there some big surprises to come from one of the tournament’s fancied Dark Horses, Chile?

Group Outright: Spain 2/7 at Stan James
Yes, they are the European Champions, and yes, they have an embarrassment of riches in their squad at the moment. They had a concern over a trio of stars not being fit enough for the world cup, but Adreas Iniesta, Fernando Torres and Cesc Fabregas all look well on the path to recovery, and should fulfil their roles at South Africa 2010. There is little about Spain to pick holes in, as they probably have the most envious squad at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, from front to back. Their big match temperament had always been called into question, but they firmly put that to bed with their triumph at Euro 2008, and since then Vicente Del Bosque’s side have looked untouchable. There is something about the Spaniards going into this World Cup, which makes it hard to bet against them. It is not just the all round class and form which they displayed, nor is it the fact that they will only likely face World Cup Odds front runners Brazil in the final, but it is the air of confidence coming out of the camp. They have been unfazed by the injuries, and have just gone about their business without a lot of fuss, or headline grabbing. They are the strongest team in Group H by a country mile, and should be able to press on from their previous success, and be the first European team to win the World Cup outside of their own continent. It will also be the first time that Spain have won the World Cup, and they have the ability to do it in impressive style. Tight at the back, deadly up front, there should be no stopping them on route to the second round.

To Qualify: Switzerland 13/8 at Paddy Power
A bet which will surprise some, as they Swiss, despite topping their European qualification group ahead of Greece, have not have not had the best build up to the tournament. They suffered a shock defeat against Costa Rica, and that was their third international friendly defeat in a row. They did rally themselves on Saturday though, to give Italy the run around, dominating most of the match in a 1-1 draw. The Swiss looked quite confident of their own ability during qualification, but have maybe found the going just a little bit tougher in their build up. They are the ones charged with taking on Spain in the group opener, and when coach Ottmar Hitzfeld says that the Swiss are not simply going to roll over, the master tactician should not be ignored. He will, no doubt, have a game plan up his sleeve, but whether it will be enough to take down the Spaniards remains to be seen. The much improved draw against Italy will have given them a lot of hope, and their strength is in their team unity, and being able to close out opposition. You are not going to see an expansive game from the Swiss, and in a group with some Latin flair, their discipline in defence could be the one thing that gets them through. Therefore, while not favourites to qualify, they do represent some decent value in this market if you like.

To Finish Second: Chile 6/5 at Paddy Power
If you do not fancy the chances of Switzerland creeping into second place, then a better bet for your World Cup betting strategy, will probably be backing Chile. Coach Marcelo Bielsa is one of the characters which will stand out from the dug out, as he leads his team forward. He has done wonders for instilling a new character to Chile, which makes them a stronger candidate than they ever been at the World Cup. When you think of Chile in World Cups past, you think of a defensively weak team, and that is the one area which Bielsa has worked hard on correcting, after drilling home his own unique style to the Chilean national side. During qualification from the South American zone, where they finished in second place, just one point behind Brazil, Chile showed a much improved all round ability and self control thanks to Bielsa’s system. This means they are much stronger at the back, and that point was proven during a good qualification campaign. That is not to say however, that anything has been taken away from their strong attacking prowess. They have the ideal start in playing Honduras, which means that if Switzerland lose against Spain, it will put pressure on them in having to play catch-up.

Over 16.5 Group Goals: 9/10 at Bwin
This group should have goals in it. Plenty of goals, with the way being led by Spain and Chile. Both have the capacity to run up some big scores.
Spain hit an average of 2.80, while Chile hit an average of 1.78 goals per match during their respective qualification zones. As harsh as things may be on Honduras, they will likely be the whipping boys, and unless Switzerland get back to their tight, efficient game, then they could be exposed by Spain and Chile too. Over the six group games that is just an average of 2.75 goals needed to hit this bet, which on paper, looks pretty feasible.

To Concede Most Goals: Honduras 11/17 at Bwin
Honduras finished third in the CONCACAF group, finishing three points behind Mexico, who they actually did beat during qualification. They had a fairly mixed bag of results, winning some games strongly, and then disappointing in other. Have landed themselves a tough draw, and their build up has not been the best. In 2010 they have lost to Turkey and Venezuela, whilst drawing matches against Belarus and most recently Azerbaijan in their international friendly matches. Having to face the attacking power of Spain and Chile, they really could face a lot of time defending. They conceded an average of a goal per game during qualification.

Chile have wielded the axe to their provisional squad, as coach Marcelo Bielsa has cut five more players from the squad. That leaves just two players from the remaining bunch to be cut to leave the final 23 man squad which he will take with him to South Africa. The goalkeeping spots have now been finalised and there are fourteen European based players in the squad at the moment, including Gonzalo Jara, a defender from West Brom. Midfielder Manuel Iturra has failed to make the cut, after getting sent off in an international friendly defeat against Mexico, after a dangerous tackle. 10 man Chile lost 1-0 to the busy Mexicans, in Mexico, who go on to face England at Wembley on May 24th. Chile kick off their World Cup fixtures against Honduras on June 16th, and the South American side are attracting a lot of betting interest.

Chile, one of the teams participating in the World Cup in Group H, are being fancied strongly for the title of dark horses of the competition. Bielsa has built an incredibly strong team spirit after taking charge of the nation for the qualification campaign, and while it took some time to get things the way he wanted in terms of tactics, by the end, Chile were simply flourishing. They finished as runner’s up to qualification winners Brazil, pushed into second place by just one point, and that should make them a strong runner. The World Cup draw was not that kind to them however, as they landed in a group with tournament favourites Spain.

Still, betting on Chile at the World Cup to get out of Group H looks to be something of a decent bet, as the main challengers, in what is likely to be a race for second spot, will be Switzerland. Chile do have good organisation, and are probably better prepared than they have ever been for taking on the World Cup. The second spot in Group H will land a second round match against the winners of Group G, which is likely to be Brazil, so there are no easy routes to the final for Chile. Their trump card could be from the strength that Bielsa brings to the side, and with a strong attacking flair, there is a serious chance that they could be in the running for the second round.

Chile squad:
Goalkeepers: Claudio Bravo, Miguel Pinto, Luis Marin
Defenders: Roberto Cereceda, Pablo Contreras, Ismael Fuentes, Mauricio Isla, Gary Medel, Gonzalo Jara, Waldo Ponce, Arturo Vidal
Midfielders: Carlos Carmona, Marco Estrada, Matias Fernandez, Gonzalo Fierro, Rodrigo Millar, Rodrigo Tello, Jorge Valdivia
Forwards: Jean Beausejour, Mark Gonzalez, Hector Mancilla, Fabian Orellana, Esteban Paredes, Alexis Sanchez, Humberto Suazo
 

If their qualification process from the South American zone is any indication of how they may perform at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, then Chile could be earmarked in World Cup odds as one of the most promising underdogs. Chile finished in second place in qualifying, just one point behind Brazil, and they will take with them a lot of hope into their Group H action in South Africa. One of the visible strengths of the Chile national side in reaching the World Cup finals, was their clear understanding of teamwork, and playing to a system where everyone new instinctively where they should be, and where their team-mates would be lurking.

Coached by Marcelo “El Loco” Bielsa, Chile have a distinctive flair going forward, which should cause their Group H opponents, namely Spain, Switzerland and Honduras, a great deal of problems. The players of Chile are keen to put all of their success down to the strengths of Bielsa’s system, which took some time to adapt to, but has now made them a force to be reckoned with. Former Liverpool winger Mark Gonzalez is looking forward to the World Cup with great affinity, Chile’s first appearance on the world stage since 1998. Gonzalez has personal ties with South Africa, as he was born there, before his parents took him back to Chile. He will be a key influence in one of the strongest underdog teams participating in World Cup 2010.

Naturally Spain, who were recently knocked off the top of FIFA World Rankings by Brazil, will be the team to beat in Group H, and perhaps the tournament itself. With the strength of the Spaniards, World Cup odds has Chile in a close race with Switzerland, to battle it out for second spot in the group, which would see them safely through to the second round of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. If anyone can take a point off Spain in Group H, they will be setting themselves up for success, but wit h Chile’s final group match coming against the European Champions, Chile will know by that stage, just how much work they will have to do. Nothing is to be taken for granted in the World Cup, and therefore Chile will back themselves to cause some upsets.

Shopping around at the best bookmakers for betting on the World Cup, will show that Chile are a good price, although their path to the deeper parts of the competition won’t be easy. If they finish second in the group, it would likely set them up with another encounter with familiar South American opponents, Brazil, in what could be a fascinating match. The Brazilians beat Chile twice in qualification.

Manager: Marcelo Bielsa
Captain: Claudio Bravo
FIFA World Ranking: 15
World Cup Appearances: 8
Best World Cup: Third Place – 1962

Chile Team Profile

Chile have a formidable record when it comes to qualifying for World Cup’s, with South Africa 2010 set to be their ninth appearance in the competition often touted as the greatest sporting spectacle on the planet. However, unlike ever before Chile come into the finals in tremendous form and full of optimism after finishing the South American round of qualifying in 2nd position, just one point shy of the World No.1′s Brazil.

Despite only being ranked 15 in the FIFA Rankings, Chile were just a point off Brazil in the South America standings and finished above three others South American nations competing in South Africa this summer; Paraguay, Uruguay and even Argentina. Moreover, only Brazil could better Chile’s scoring exploits of 33 goals in 18 qualifiers in what was a prolific qualification campaign for the Chileans.

Marcelo Bielsa, an Argentine at heart, has worked wonders with the Chilean team and his direct reward was to reach the South African finals in 2010. He has made Chile a more potent attacking force, with Humberto Suazo the star of qualifying with 10 goals in 18 qualifiers, while consistency has also been added to their game, while both attributes will serve them well in South Africa as they pit their wits against some of the World’s best nations on a more regular basis.

Nicknames: La Roja (The Red One) 

Manager

Marcelo Bielsa is a huge favourite with the Chilean public after his efforts to guide Chile to the World Cup in South Africa were successful, even finishing above the country Bielsa originates from, Argentina.

Bielsa does have the necessary international experience to make Chile a big player in South Africa as he was the man who guided Argentina to Olympic Gold at the 2004 Olympics, while that same year he took Argentina to the finals of the Copa America, unfortunately losing the final. The fans were more than happy with the work Bielsa was doing at the Argentina helm, but Bielsa himself decided enough was enough and later resigned from his managerial post.

The highlight of Bielsa’s managerial reign with Chile was of course gaining qualification into South Africa, but the 1-0 win at home to Argentina will certainly be up there. It would also be ironic should Bielsa meet Argentina in South Africa, as were he to mastermind Argentina’s downfall once again, it would surely be meet with a hostile reception back home in his home land of Argentina. 

Chile Key Players

Suazo, because of his predatory instincts, generally receives most of the plaudits because of the sheer amount of goals he’s scores, but both Matias Fernandez and Alexis Sanchez played an ample role in an effective forward unit for Chile.

The three generally set up in a diamond like formation, with Suazo the main striker and Fernandez and Sanchez occupying the wings. Fernandez plays the role of architect to perfection, squeezing balls through to a potent and on-his-toes Suazo, while on the opposite side of the pitch will be Sanchez, an explosive and tricky customer who will look to put his blistering pace and acceleration to good effect by sprinting to the touchline and whipping in some delicious deliveries.

Both Fernandez and Sanchez act mainly as the suppliers, while Suazo’s keen eye for goals and composure in front of the goal makes him the ideal hitman up front for Chile. They each play a pivotal role informing a deadly duo for Chile in the final third.

Strengths

Chile were very prolific throughout qualifying, so we feel their obvious strength is their attacking play. With the help of Humberto Suazo, who scored 10 during the qualifiers, and Matias Fernandez in Midfield who scored 4, Chile were able to find the net on no less than 32 occasions, just one shy of Brazil who managed 33. To fall shy of a Brazilian team packed full of attacking flair and quality, you have to be doing some right in the final third of the pitch, so Chile will be a dangerous opponent and difficult to defend against if there record in qualifying serves them well.  

Weaknesses

Chile’s defence appears to be their achilles heels as they conceded more goals in qualifying than any of the other four South American nations who made South Africa’s cut. Claudio Bravo, a goalkeeper for Real Sociedad in Spain, was in goal for all of Chile’s 18 qualifiers and conceded 22 goals. Bravo is just 27 years-old, and for a goalkeeper that’s pretty young. It also doesn’t bode well that their reserve keepers are also very young, with Bravo’s main contenders for the gloves younger than he is. You always need a man with maturity, authority and experience between the sticks and unfortunately for Chile, they don’t have that in Claudio Bravo.

We must say that Chile’s defence did perform a lot better when playing at home, but they won’t have the luxury of playing on home soil in South Africa, so their defence will need to sharpen up soon before they clash with teams which will provide their defence with a thorough examination.

Chile Qualification for the World Cup

Sector: South America
Finishing Position: 2nd
Win-Draw-Lose: 10-3-5
Goals Scored: 32
Goals Conceded: 22

Chile Qualifying Statistics

• Chile score a total of 32 goals in 18 qualifiers, the second best offensive record in the South American qualifying zone.
• The Chileans boast the worst defensive record out of the four automatic qualifying nations from South America, conceding 22 goals in 18 games.
• Humberto Suazo finished as South America’s deadliest striker, scoring 10 goals in 18 appearances during qualifying.
• Chile received the most amount of penalties during qualifying – make of that what you will – with referees handing them four penalties in total.

World Cup Potential: 3/5

The Chileans won’t be a team the bigger nations will ideally look forward to playing, while the group they were drawn in, Group H, means they have a fantastic opportunity of making the last-sixteen. Their main strength is their forward play, spearheaded by South America’s most prolific forward during qualifying, Humberto Suazo, but their defence could be their downfall as their desire to commit men to attack often leaves them exposed and lightweight at the back. If they can get the right balance, Chile could be one of the tournament’s surprise packages. They are definite value and could quite easily make light of their 66/1 quote.

Chile World Cup Betting Odds

Chile to win the World Cup: 50/1 – Bet365 

Before the World Cup the odds on Chile were 66/1 

Official Chile World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers

Claudio Bravo (Real San Sebastian)

Miguel Pinto (Universidad de Chile)

Luis Marin (Union Espanola)

Defenders

Waldo Ponce (Universidad Catolica)

Ismael Fuentes (Universidad Catolica)

Gonzalo Jara (West Bromwich Albion)

Gary Medel (Boca Juniors)

Mauricio Isla (Udinese Calcio)

Arturo Vidal (Bayer Leverkusen)

Pablo Contreras (PAOK Thessaloniki)

Marco Estrada (Universidad de Chile)

Midfielders

Carlos Carmona (Reggina Calcio)

Rodrigo Millar (Colo Colo)

Jorge Valdivia (Al Ain)

Matias Fernandez (Sporting Lisbon)

Rodrigo Tello (Besiktas Istanbul)

Gonzalo Fierro (Flamengo)

Juan Beausejour (America)

Strikers

Humberto Suazo (Real Zaragoza)

Alexis Sanchez (Udinese Calcio)

Mark Gonzalez (CSKA Moscow)

Esteban Paredes (Colo Colo)

Fabian Orellana (Xerez)

last update: 18 June 2010

World Cup 2010 Chile Fixtures – Group H

28/06 – 19.30 – Round of the last 16: Chile – Brazil: 0-3

World Cup Group H - Table

World Cup Fixtures and Results

World Cup Group of Chile