Qatar 2022 qualifiers: Chile and Venezuela do not stop dreaming about qualifying

The Chilean team commanded by Arturo Vidal will receive the Venezuelan team in Santiago de Chile this Thursday, with the aim of adding three points and dreaming of qualifying for the World Cup.

While Chile entrusts itself to its golden generation and to 'Big Ben', Venezuela regrets sensitive casualties and problems to train. Both teams are in need of points in the South American qualifier for the Qatar-2022 World Cup.

The Chilean team seeks to confirm its apparent rebirth after winning 2-0 against Paraguay and adding 10 points, remaining in eighth place out of ten teams in the pre world championship. For its part, Venezuela defeated Ecuador 2-1 but could not get out of the basement, with seven units.

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Both representations already faced each other in this tie with a 2-1 victory for Vinotinto, a result that became La Roja's first defeat in Venezuelan lands in a World Cup. "If we do not add three, everything else is useless", said the Uruguayan Martín Lasarte, technician of the Red.

The Chilean squad must win at least five of the remaining seven qualifying games to fight a ticket to Qatar. The selection of Venezuela is the first challenge.

Lasarte will have the return of defender Gary Medel. He also has Alexis Sánchez and Arturo Vidal ready, leaders of the golden generation who promise to continue in the fight to reach Qatar.

Plus: Clearer road to Qatar: the benefits of a triumph from Colombia to Ecuador

The goal drought suffered by Chile seems to be resolved with the Anglo-Chilean attacker Ben Brereton, 'Big Ben', who opened the scoring against Paraguay. "With the support of the fans, I am sure that we will keep the three points," said the attacker.

Vinotinto in trouble

The Venezuelan national team is already in Santiago, but his training program was hampered after Chilean health authorities went to his concentration hotel to inspect the team for covid-19.

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Supposedly some players did not have their complete vaccination schedule. But the entire campus gave "negative" in the PCR tests carried out upon arrival in Chile, said the Venezuelan Federation in a statement.

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The event caused displeasure in the visiting delegation and in the dozens of Venezuelan fans who were waiting for the players outside the hotel and many others at the Colo Colo stadium, where training was to take place.

“Points must be played on the court. NOT out of it, ”complained the vice president of the Venezuelan federation, José Antonio Quintero, in a message on Twitter.

After several hours the problem was resolved, but the Venezuelans decided to train at the hotel and spend Tuesday's practice at the stadium for Wednesday, according to local media. Coach Leonardo González will have three absences: defender John Chancellor, midfielder Junior Moreno and forward Yeferson Soteldo.

Lea: Paraguay and the obligation to join in La Paz against Bolivia

"We will first try to be very orderly, it is the most important thing, then we will try to propose, to go on the attack," said González.

The game will be played at 7:00 pm (Colombian time) at the San Carlos de Apoquindo stadium with the arbitration of Brazilian Raphael Claus.

Possible lineups:

Chile: Claudio Bravo - Mauricio Isla, Gary Medel, Guillermo Maripán, Sebastián Vegas - Tomás Alarcón, Erick Pulgar, Arturo Vidal - Jean Meneses, Ben Brereton and Alexis Sánchez. DT: Martín Lasarte.

Venezuela: Wuilker Faríñez - Ronald Hernández, Nahuel Ferraresi, Adrián Martínez, Oscar González - Darwin Machis, Tomás Rincón, Eduard Bello, Jose Andres Martinez, Adalberto Peñaranda - Eric Ramirez. DT: Leonardo González.

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