Different decisions in a short period of time raise doubts about Tigre’s work as national team coach. Pablo Milad warned that the Argentine knows that he must change his project and that his support will exist until there are mathematical options to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
La Roja is experiencing decisive days in its fight to access the 2026 World Cup. Last Friday, in the ANFP press room, Ricardo Gareca began his plan for the memorable duels against Brazil, in Santiago, and Colombia, in Barranquilla. Out loud and with great surprises, Tigre announced the 26 players he will use to try to correct the course of a team that is today penultimate in the Qualifiers, four points behind Bolivia, its predecessor.
It was a pretty tense press conference, especially towards the end. The Argentinian knows he no longer has the same support after the blow caused by the historic defeat against Bolivia. For this reason, as soon as he finished revealing the selected ones who will join the call, the first doubts and the first criticisms immediately appeared. There were a series of decisions that didn’t work out and weren’t explained well by the coach. The players who seemed permanent, who had been starters and even captains, were simply no longer there. Several were erased in one fell swoop.
The strange case of Brereton
Obviously, one of the most notable absences was that of Ben Brereton Díaz, the only Chilean to play in the Premier League, the best league in the world. Nor did he summon other elements that, unlike the Southampton striker, the Tiger had high esteem, such as Gabriel Arias and Mauricio Isla. The surprise was total.
After the pay was handed over, questions from the press appeared. As the DT answered journalists’ questions, his tone of voice rose. Sometimes he even seemed bored.
The fact is that the absences of several players who appeared as permanent starters in the Gareca plan left no one indifferent. After the retirement of Claudio Bravo, it was Mauricio Isla who took on the role of captain of La Roja. The side He led the team against Argentina and Bolivia. Now the Tiger decides not to call it, despite the fact that it was a name given from the beginning of his process. A situation similar to that of Gabriel Arias, who took over the porch. To explain the goalkeeper’s situation, the strategist excused the goalkeeper’s problems. “He has been through some personal situations, and I need to give him a break to calm certain things down,” he explained.
At the ANFP, they do not hide their concern. Some have already let go of the coach’s hand. We are far from the days when optimism reigned. In fact, Pablo Milad himself puts pressure on the technical staff. “Gareca will change the pattern. He spoke of many new players, very hungry and eager to advance, to be able to stay alive. Hopes, enthusiasm, desire were renewed. Chile played well in the friendly matches. I mean, there is equipment, but players have to give 120% to get good results. He already knows he has to reinvent himself for these games. With the constant change of players, he saw that some responded to him and others less. Some who responded later did not. This is why it must change, try a different situation with the players who responded to it,” said the president of Chilean football. The sportsman .
Beyond the words, in Quilín, the change in the coach’s speech is making noise. A week before giving the new call, the coach had stated that his intention was not to leave any group for the future. “I have no idea of making a generational change. I just call based on what I see. I don’t have any particular intention, the only intention I have is to qualify for the World Cup. It’s a process with two World Cups from which we have come out, which leads over time to rethink certain things about football and which young people can participate in it. Chile is in this process; “a process of seeing and finding as early as possible to produce results” he pointed out.
An opinion that he modified the day of the press conference, emphasizing that one of his obligations is to leave a competitive team, whoever is leading it. “There are guys with huge projection, like Osorio, but the idea that the team can work keeps me firm. Maybe you get carried away because the possibilities of losing points that we had are reduced, but I maintain that we can save units in unfavorable scenarios. I have an obligation, as a coach, to leave a competitive team. “Since I’m the one in front, I hope someone else comes.” he said this time.
Lack of purpose
Gareca rules out having problems with Ben Brereton. In fact, he says it’s a footballer he likes, but he doesn’t call him. And when you use it, it only takes a few moments. “I like it, otherwise I wouldn’t have called him before.” But in 40 minutes he has to play, that’s what he has to play. If he has to play 15 minutes, I want to see him. All the other colleagues are in the same situation. Now it’s my turn to go out because I want to see other options, which can offer other alternatives. Just that » said.
The coach says he wants to see other alternatives on offense. However, their roster lacks net forwards. Only Eduardo Vargas and Víctor Dávila acted as nine at La Roja. Without being its original position. The newcomers are now Maximiliano Guerrero, Gonzalo Tapia and Lucas Cepeda. The three usually go outside. The UC man can also position himself inside the zone. Even if it is clear that for Tigre, the holder in goal position is Turboman. Perhaps, his biggest whim since his arrival at Juan Pinto Durán.
In line with the midfielders, but directly linked to the generation of play, a major flaw in recent matches, he incorporated Luciano Cabral. But when it came to explaining the call, El Tigre moved from the field to the life of the former Coquimbo Unidos. “His story wakes me up, we see it as an improvement. Besides the fact that he is an interesting boy in terms of football, we saw the possibility of recalling him. Now there is greater continuity and we are thinking about it. We want you to adapt and get to know the national team. “We have to give him a chance,” he said.
Now watch the local league
Of the 26 summoned, nine act in the local environment. Everyone in the big three teams. The previous pass included five players from the national competition. He now opts for a base of footballers from the leader, the University of Chile. There is Matías Zaldivia, Fabián Hormazábal, Marcelo Morales and Guerrero. Three defenders and an attacker. Something that doesn’t attract attention when you consider that the line that looked worst in September was the back. Also among them were Brayan Cortés, Esteban Pavez, Lucas Cepeda and Carlos Palacios, from Colo Colo. And Tapia, from UC. With this, Gareca seems to move away from his first impressions of the National Championship, leaving behind other concepts, such as experience in qualifying matches.
“In some cases we go for experience in qualifying,” he said in August. Now he gets rid of, for example, Isla and Eugenio Mena. “We want to see guys who have to coexist with the team and the national team. We have solved this problem (…) We can consider date by date. Now we’re calling four from the U because they’re having a good time and we want to see other options. “We’ve been trying to maintain something for eight dates,” he said.
With its latest determinations, the Tiger lowered the average age of the Reds from 28.1 years to 25.5 years. Even though he knows there is no proper name on his list that can save him. “During this period, we haven’t seen anyone who has stood out. We trust the players, but we don’t see a savior. We haven’t seen it before and we don’t see it now. So the savior must be the team that does a good job. So it could be Alexis, but he’s a certain age and we have to see what he wants. At the time, I clarified about Bravo, who left football overnight. We don’t know what we can find. We have to find a great collective sense, not just from the players. “This will give Chile a chance to achieve a goal,” he said.
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.
