The Argentine coach did not perform as expected at the helm of the national team. Its productivity, less than 15% if we only take into account the official duels, worries five months before the start of the Qualifiers. The former striker is free after leaving Peru.
Eduardo Berizzo fails his exams. Five months after the start of the Qualifiers, the national coach does not obtain results and a form of play either. To top it all off, add big papers, like the one suffered by the Under-23s in the charity friendly match against Santiago Wanderes. One of the ANFP’s big bets, after the failure that meant not going to Qatar 2022 and the subsequent departure of Martín Lasarte, is starting to fall apart. In eight months, your numbers are red.
The Toto Selection has not competed officially yet. However, the current scenario raises concerns. The Cordouan accumulates seven games with the Reds. Or nine, if you add two friendlies in which he led the Sub 23: one won, three tied and five lost. That is to say a meager return of 22.22%. If only adult matches are taken into account, productivity drops to 14.29%, with no wins.
When the strategist arrived in the country, in his presentation he didn’t promise a replacement as such but he would consider young footballers in his move. “I think the performance gets you here. The now. Nobody is good yesterday. For me, there is no age, really. A 20-year-old player can make the national team. He will not have the experience, but he has the level. In two years, more than 20 players have made their debut in Paraguay. They will play regardless of their age. My gaze will be on the adult footballer that I know, but also on the youngster that I have to discover.” was the phrase.
By breaking down lists and meetings, new elements have debuted. However, half a year away from vying for one of the World Cup berths to be hosted by Mexico, USA and Canada, it looks like the old guard will continue to command the destinies of the Chilean squad. Arthur Vidal, Gary Medell and Alexis Sánchez continue to hold permanent positions for the coach. Charles Aránguiz is also well regarded when he has no physical complications. bravo claudio which did not appear on the first payslips, has regained ground.
Despite the limited continuity of stories at their clubs, especially the Flamengo midfielder, their places in the squad are apparently not in dispute for Marcelo Bielsa’s former assistant. In the confrontation against Morocco, in September, the first where Berizzo captured an eleven with a formation he put together, Medel, Aránguiz, Vidal and Sánchez played. Two months later, against Slovakia, in the last friendly of 2022, only Puente Altino was not part of the training.
Considering the duels since the clash against the Africans, who finished fourth in the World Cup, Berizzo’s words are on point. In his presentation, the coach who raised O’Higgins to his only title was above all cautious in a definition. “I don’t want to specify them, in parts. Yes, we will pay attention to players who need it. That we are going to be attentive to their work,” he said.
Facing the Africans, the surprises were the inclusions of Valber Huerta (29), Juan Delgado (29) and Nayel Mehssatou (20). Then La Roja played against Qatar, a game in which Gabriel Suazo (25), Esteban Pavez (32), Marcelino Núñez (22) and Ángelo Henríquez (28) appeared as newcomers. It was the first double date in which the coach had the opportunity to train his team on the pitch. Only Chilio-Belgian could be considered a novelty. The Norwich midfielder, another of the youngsters, had already been acting consistently since the second round of the last Qualifiers. The others participated, intermittently, in different processes.
Convulsive start and contradictions
Eduardo Berizzo’s landing in the country happened amid the noisy Byron Castillo affair. At that time, the ANFP was putting all its strength into trying to bring the Reds into Qatar 2022 through administrative channels. The technician mentioned it in his presentation, assuring that if the legal offensive succeeded, the work would be accelerated, given the deadlines. Ultimately, it didn’t happen.
The coach arrived at Pinto Durán with a squad that he had not formed, but with which he was to play his first three friendlies, against South Korea, Tunisia and Ghana. La Roja did not reap good results on the Asian tour. They fell in the first two games, then equalized in the third, but succumbed on penalties.
The technical staff at least appreciated the eruption of Darío Osorio. “He is a footballer with great projection. We wanted him close. We wanted to see him train in the group, see his potential. He is a footballer who is going to have chances, who is going to have minutes and is also going to be part of our plan for the future,” Berizzo said. A promising sentence, but contradictory if we consider that in the upcoming matches he only gave him 14 minutes against Poland.
Another concern is the notorious lack of goals. Just in the fifth game with Toto on the bench, Chile managed to convert, in the 2-2 draw against Ghana. One by Alexis Sánchez, the other by Arturo Vidal. It was the only duel in which the former River Plate defender’s Reds managed to convert. The strategist tested Ben Brereton, Diego Valencia, Ángelo Henríquez and Diego Rubio in attack. On the first tour he used Ronnie Fernández. The results are far from expectations.
Gareca’s luck
Berizzo begins to add detractors. And to top it off, he has a shadow that haunts him. Former Peru coach Ricardo Gareca has always been a favorite name in Quilín. It was an option before choosing Berizzo, but then he was doomed to the playoffs with those of Rímac. This process ended in disappointment for the Incas, which explains their departure.
El Tigre flirted, even with Berizzo at the post. “I am open to all possibilities. I’ve taken enough time and depending on what comes out I’ll get to work. My friend Julio César Falcioni told me very well about Chile, because of its tranquility and its seriousness. I’m interested” , spoke the coach in conversation with DirecTV Sports, at the end of December. He specified, in any case, that he had not received a proposal. “At the level of the selection, I have never had a Chilean project. While I was in Peru, I tried to concentrate. Once I had an approach with an important club. Yes”, he argued. And left the notice. “I am interested in the country to work at some point “, he added.
Pablo Milad supported Berizzo. He maintained that he is the coach who will lead the Reds in the Qualifiers. However, doubts set in and the “blows”, as the strategist called them, are annoying to say the least. The Valparaíso diary is the most painful.
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Source: Latercera
I’m Scott Moore, a professional writer and journalist based in the US. I’ve been writing for various publications for over 8 years now, and have been working as an author at athletistic for the past five years. My work has been featured by some of the leading sports websites and magazines across Europe.
