Steve Foster
Well-known member
The late night game on Friday 13th sees Chile playing Australia.
CHILE
Prospects
New coach Jorge Sampaoli has brought a swagger back to Chile's football, combining aggressive pressing with a fluent passing game. Fun to watch, tough to play against, La Roja have the potential to reach the quarter-finals for only the second time in their history - if their best 11 stay fit.
Key player
Lightning quick Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez, 25, hit a rich vein of goalscoring form for club and country over the course of the season. Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal is equally indispensable, although the 27-year-old has recently had surgery on his knee.
One to watch
Jorge Valdivia is as much a playboy as he is a playmaker but he remains a fantastic talent.
"El Mago" (The Magician) is in his 30s, but his brilliant eye for a defence-splitting pass is undimmed. The classic number 10 has served two lengthy bans from international football for but retains the faith of coach Sampaoli, who calls him an "irreplaceable talent".
The boss
Jorge Sampaoli replaced Claudio Borghi midway through qualifying, quickly reviving Chilean fortunes. A self-confessed disciple of fellow Argentine Marcelo Bielsa (who led Chile in 2010) he is a passionate, energetic touchline presence. Early in his career he was blocked from watching his lower league team play, so climbed a nearby tree, from where he bawled instructions at his players.
How they qualified
They finished third in South American qualifying despite a mid-campaign wobble which saw them lose four games in a row. A change in coach halted the slump, and they recovered to win five of their last six games.
World Cup record
This is only the third time they have qualified in eight tournaments, but they did reach the last 16 in 1998 and 2010 - losing to Brazil on both occasions. They got to the semi-finals on home soil in 1962, again losing to the Brazilians.
Fifa ranking: 14
Squad
Goalkeepers: Claudio Bravo (Real Sociedad), Johnny Herrera (Universidad de Chile), Cristopher Toselli (Universidad Catolica).
Defenders: Gary Medel (Cardiff City), Gonzalo Jara (Nottingham Forest), Jose Rojas (Universidad de Chile), Eugenio Mena (Santos), Mauricio Isla (Juventus).
Midfielders: Jorge Valdivia (Palmeiras), Felipe Gutierrez (Twente), Jose Pedro Fuenzalida (Colo Colo), Francisco Silva (Osasuna), Arturo Vidal (Juventus), Charles Aranguiz (Internacional), Marcelo Diaz (Basel), Carlos Carmona (Atalanta), Miiko Albornoz (Malmo).
Forwards: Alexis Sanchez (Barcelona), Esteban Paredes (Colo Colo) Eduardo Vargas (Valencia), Jean Beausejour (Wigan Athletic), Mauricio Pinilla (Cagliari), Fabian Orellana (Celta).
AUSTRALIA
Prospects
Australia are the lowest ranked country to qualify, and the remit for new coach Ange Postecoglou is to bring through the youth. His predecessor Holger Osieck was sacked in October after back-to-back 6-0 defeats by Brazil and France, having been accused of staying too loyal to the Socceroos' ageing players.
Key player
Australia's player of the year and newly appointed captain, Mile Jedinak, will have to play a vital role as chief midfield protector if the Socceroos are to enjoy a fruitful World Cup. In the prime of his career, the Crystal Palace skipper can also play in defence.
One to watch
Mathew Ryan has just been named as the Belgian league's goalkeeper of the year in his very first season in European football.
The man tasked with replacing Mark Schwarzer in the national team is learning from one of the best at Club Brugge - his head coach is legendary Belgian Michel Preud'homme, winner of the Yashin Award for best goalkeeper at the 1994 World Cup.
The boss
Ange Postecoglou stated "when your country calls, you answer" after signing a five-year deal. As a player, Greek-born Postecoglou won four Australia caps. He is a former national youth-team coach and led Brisbane Roar to two A-League titles. He has forged a reputation for starting and reviving numerous careers.
How they qualified
Now firmly established as an Asian Football Federation member, the Socceroos qualified automatically behind Japan but their passage to Brazil was not easy. Winless in their first three matches, they went unbeaten over the last five and secured their place seven minutes from time in the final game against Iraq.
World Cup record
They have reached their third successive finals, and their fourth in total. Under Guus Hiddink, they reached the last 16 in 2006 but lost in stoppage time to eventual winners Italy.
Fifa ranking: 62
Squad
Goalkeepers: Eugene Galekovic (Adelaide United), Mitchell Langerak (Borussia Dortmund), Mat Ryan (Club Brugge).
Defenders: Jason Davidson (Heracles Almelo), Ivan Franjic (Brisbane Roar), Ryan McGowan (Shandong Luneng Taishan), Matthew Spiranovic (Western Sydney Wanderers), Alex Wilkinson (Jeonbuk Hyundai), Bailey Wright (Preston North End).
Midfielders: Oliver Bozanic (Luzern), Mark Bresciano (Al Gharafa), James Holland (Austria Vienna), Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace), Massimo Luongo (Swindon Town), Matthew McKay (Brisbane Roar), Mark Milligan (Melbourne Victory), Tommy Oar (Utrecht), James Troisi (Melbourne Victory), Dario Vidosic (Sion).
Forwards: Tim Cahill (New York Red Bulls), Ben Halloran (Fortuna Dusseldorf), Matthew Leckie (FSV Frankfurt 1899), Adam Taggart (Newcastle Jets).
An easy win for Chile? What do you think?
CHILE
Prospects
New coach Jorge Sampaoli has brought a swagger back to Chile's football, combining aggressive pressing with a fluent passing game. Fun to watch, tough to play against, La Roja have the potential to reach the quarter-finals for only the second time in their history - if their best 11 stay fit.
Key player
Lightning quick Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez, 25, hit a rich vein of goalscoring form for club and country over the course of the season. Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal is equally indispensable, although the 27-year-old has recently had surgery on his knee.
One to watch
Jorge Valdivia is as much a playboy as he is a playmaker but he remains a fantastic talent.
"El Mago" (The Magician) is in his 30s, but his brilliant eye for a defence-splitting pass is undimmed. The classic number 10 has served two lengthy bans from international football for but retains the faith of coach Sampaoli, who calls him an "irreplaceable talent".
The boss
Jorge Sampaoli replaced Claudio Borghi midway through qualifying, quickly reviving Chilean fortunes. A self-confessed disciple of fellow Argentine Marcelo Bielsa (who led Chile in 2010) he is a passionate, energetic touchline presence. Early in his career he was blocked from watching his lower league team play, so climbed a nearby tree, from where he bawled instructions at his players.
How they qualified
They finished third in South American qualifying despite a mid-campaign wobble which saw them lose four games in a row. A change in coach halted the slump, and they recovered to win five of their last six games.
World Cup record
This is only the third time they have qualified in eight tournaments, but they did reach the last 16 in 1998 and 2010 - losing to Brazil on both occasions. They got to the semi-finals on home soil in 1962, again losing to the Brazilians.
Fifa ranking: 14
Squad
Goalkeepers: Claudio Bravo (Real Sociedad), Johnny Herrera (Universidad de Chile), Cristopher Toselli (Universidad Catolica).
Defenders: Gary Medel (Cardiff City), Gonzalo Jara (Nottingham Forest), Jose Rojas (Universidad de Chile), Eugenio Mena (Santos), Mauricio Isla (Juventus).
Midfielders: Jorge Valdivia (Palmeiras), Felipe Gutierrez (Twente), Jose Pedro Fuenzalida (Colo Colo), Francisco Silva (Osasuna), Arturo Vidal (Juventus), Charles Aranguiz (Internacional), Marcelo Diaz (Basel), Carlos Carmona (Atalanta), Miiko Albornoz (Malmo).
Forwards: Alexis Sanchez (Barcelona), Esteban Paredes (Colo Colo) Eduardo Vargas (Valencia), Jean Beausejour (Wigan Athletic), Mauricio Pinilla (Cagliari), Fabian Orellana (Celta).
AUSTRALIA
Prospects
Australia are the lowest ranked country to qualify, and the remit for new coach Ange Postecoglou is to bring through the youth. His predecessor Holger Osieck was sacked in October after back-to-back 6-0 defeats by Brazil and France, having been accused of staying too loyal to the Socceroos' ageing players.
Key player
Australia's player of the year and newly appointed captain, Mile Jedinak, will have to play a vital role as chief midfield protector if the Socceroos are to enjoy a fruitful World Cup. In the prime of his career, the Crystal Palace skipper can also play in defence.
One to watch
Mathew Ryan has just been named as the Belgian league's goalkeeper of the year in his very first season in European football.
The man tasked with replacing Mark Schwarzer in the national team is learning from one of the best at Club Brugge - his head coach is legendary Belgian Michel Preud'homme, winner of the Yashin Award for best goalkeeper at the 1994 World Cup.
The boss
Ange Postecoglou stated "when your country calls, you answer" after signing a five-year deal. As a player, Greek-born Postecoglou won four Australia caps. He is a former national youth-team coach and led Brisbane Roar to two A-League titles. He has forged a reputation for starting and reviving numerous careers.
How they qualified
Now firmly established as an Asian Football Federation member, the Socceroos qualified automatically behind Japan but their passage to Brazil was not easy. Winless in their first three matches, they went unbeaten over the last five and secured their place seven minutes from time in the final game against Iraq.
World Cup record
They have reached their third successive finals, and their fourth in total. Under Guus Hiddink, they reached the last 16 in 2006 but lost in stoppage time to eventual winners Italy.
Fifa ranking: 62
Squad
Goalkeepers: Eugene Galekovic (Adelaide United), Mitchell Langerak (Borussia Dortmund), Mat Ryan (Club Brugge).
Defenders: Jason Davidson (Heracles Almelo), Ivan Franjic (Brisbane Roar), Ryan McGowan (Shandong Luneng Taishan), Matthew Spiranovic (Western Sydney Wanderers), Alex Wilkinson (Jeonbuk Hyundai), Bailey Wright (Preston North End).
Midfielders: Oliver Bozanic (Luzern), Mark Bresciano (Al Gharafa), James Holland (Austria Vienna), Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace), Massimo Luongo (Swindon Town), Matthew McKay (Brisbane Roar), Mark Milligan (Melbourne Victory), Tommy Oar (Utrecht), James Troisi (Melbourne Victory), Dario Vidosic (Sion).
Forwards: Tim Cahill (New York Red Bulls), Ben Halloran (Fortuna Dusseldorf), Matthew Leckie (FSV Frankfurt 1899), Adam Taggart (Newcastle Jets).
An easy win for Chile? What do you think?
