Few fixtures in South American soccer carry as a lot historical past as Brazil vs. Chile. On Thursday evening, the 2 sides will meet on the iconic Maracana. For Brazil, the stakes are comparatively low—they’ve already secured their spot on the 2026 World Cup, which shall be held in the US, Canada, and Mexico. For Chile, nonetheless, the state of affairs is starkly totally different.
La Roja endured one in all their worst-ever qualification campaigns, leaving them eradicated earlier than the ultimate rounds of play. As soon as thought-about South America’s rising pressure after back-to-back Copa America titles in 2015 and 2016, Chile’s golden era is now in decline. However as followers scanned the squad checklist for this conflict, they seen a evident absence. Why is Arturo Vidal, one in all Chile’s most iconic midfielders, not enjoying towards Brazil?
Beneath new coach Carlo Ancelotti, the Selecao are undefeated at dwelling and keen to finish their qualifying marketing campaign in model. The Italian has rotated his squad, utilizing these fixtures as a chance to check youthful gamers and experiment with new tactical approaches.
Chile, in the meantime, has had little to have a good time. The crew managed solely two victories of their complete marketing campaign, resulting in the resignation of coach Ricardo Gareca. Caretaker boss Nicolas Cordova has since been handed the reins, tasked with overseeing not simply matches, however a full-scale rebuild of Chilean soccer. And it’s on this rebuild that Vidal’s omission finds its clarification.
Surprising squad reset
Cordova made headlines along with his September squad announcement, leaving out Arturo Vidal, Alexis Sanchez, and Charles Aranguiz—three legends who outlined Chile’s most profitable period. As a substitute, the caretaker coach opted for a youthful, inexperienced group, hoping to put the groundwork for the long run.
“After one other dismal worldwide window in June, Cordova dropped 13 gamers from the group beforehand chosen by Ricardo Gareca,” reported Chilean outlet La Tercera. That purge included not solely Vidal and Sanchez but additionally goalkeeper Brayan Cortes and suspended defender Francisco Sierralta.
The end result is among the youngest squads in Chile’s trendy historical past: 20 gamers with fewer than 10 caps, and 9 awaiting their senior debut. For the primary time in over a decade, Chile’s nationwide crew will face Brazil with out the presence of its legendary midfield common, Arturo Vidal.
At 37, Vidal has loved probably the most illustrious careers in Chilean soccer. From his Champions League runs with Juventus and Bayern Munich to his management in Copa America triumphs, he has been the heartbeat of La Roja for practically 20 years. However his absence towards Brazil—and the truth that he was not sidelined by damage—suggests a painful reality: this will likely sign the winding down of his worldwide profession.
