SANTIAGO (AP) — With an eye on the Copa América, which starts on June 20 in the United States, Chile called up 24 players on Friday who will play the friendly against Paraguay at the National Stadium in Santiago on June 11, the last date at home before embarking on the trip to the continental tournament.
Two of La Roja’s main references will miss the tournament: Arturo Vidal and Gary Medel.
The roster was announced at a press conference by Argentine coach Ricardo Gareca, who reduced the list of the 55 previously called to 24, which leaves room for the coach to add two more names to the final list, which should be released next June 12.
The squad announced on Friday is practically a preview of the team that will compete in the continental event in the United States, where Chile hopes to repeat the success achieved in the 2015 and 2016 editions, when it reached its soccer apex. Although Gareca warned that he could suffer alterations, since he could “add two players” or even take “24 or 25.”
Although it includes already expected names, such as midfielder Diego Valdes, goalkeeper Claudio Bravo and forwards Alexis Sánchez and Eduardo Vargas, all references of the considered Golden Generation of Chilean football, the formation also brings some surprises due to its notable absences, such as midfielder Charles Aránguiz, midfielder Arturo Vidal and center back Gary Medel.
La Roja will play a friendly match against Paraguay at home on June 11, when the National Stadium in Santiago will dress up to support and say goodbye to its team before embarking on the Copa América.
The Argentine coach pointed out that this last appointment on Chilean soil will serve to “strengthen concepts and also try to define” the strategies for the continental tournament.
For the Copa América, Gareca, in charge of the Chilean bench since the end of January, considered that Chile has a high level and indicated that the first goal of the red team is to advance and “try to qualify”, which is why he asserted that La Roja He is “in search of classification.”
“We really like the level of the players, we have a lot of confidence, we believe in them,” he said at the press conference.
Chile will debut in the Copa América on June 21 against Peru at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Four days later, they will face defending champion Argentina at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey. The group stage will conclude on June 29, with the clash with the debutant Canada at the Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Claudio Bravo (Real Betis, Spain), Brayan Cortés (Colo Colo), Gabriel Arias (Racing, Argentina).
Defenders: Gabriel Suazo (Tolosa, France), Paulo Díaz (River Plate), Guillermo Maripán (AS Monaco), Igor Lichnovsky (America, Mexico), Matías Catalán (Talleres, Argentina), Thomas Galdames (Godoy Cruz), Mauricio Isla ( Independent, Argentina), Felipe Loyola (Huachipato).
Midfielders: Erick Pulgar (Flamengo, Brazil), Rodrigo Echeverría (Huracán, Argentina), Diego Valdés (America, Mexico), César Pérez (U. La Calera), Marcelino Núñez (Norwich, England), Darío Osorio (Midtjylland, Denmark) .
Forwards: Alexis Sánchez (Inter Milan, Italy), Eduardo Vargas (Atlético Mineiro, Brazil), Ben Brereton (Sheffield United, England), Marcos Bolados (Colo Colo), Cristián Zavala (Colo Colo), Víctor Dávila (CSKA Moscow, Russia), Maximiliano Guerrero (U. of Chile).
