Chile lost to Iraq in the FIFA U-17 World Cup group stage match, virtually ending its hopes of going to the round of 16. Earlier in the day, the senior Chile team lost to Brazil 3-0, failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
Every edition of the senior FIFA World Cup throws up upsets during the qualification stages. There are always world-class players whose country fails to qualify. Russia 2018 is no different.
After the latest round of qualifiers, Alexis Sanchez, Arjen Robben, Gareth Bale, Arturo Vidal and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are the unlucky ones to miss out on next year’s mega event. If it had not been for Lionel Messi’s heroics, his name would also have been on that list.
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There are two Chileans on that list, but compounding the South American nation’s woes is the U-17 Chile team’s group stage 3-0 loss to Iraq, which almost rules them out of progressing.
Iraq in action against Chile | Salil Bera
Much was expected of this young team, back home, with the “golden generation” of senior stars slowly on the way out. The intermediary Chile group of players, in their early 20s, have not showed much promise, which is why the country has been so eager for their U-17s to bring hope.
Looking up to their heroes, the Chilean youngsters have told the media on multiple occasions that they seek inspiration from their senior superstars and they would do anything to get to that level. But, with hopes of qualifying from the group stage hanging by a thread, the team would do better to look away from the senior team’s heart-breaking loss to Brazil in the2018 qualifiers.
There are reports that star midfielder Arturo Vidal could be retiring, too, although the player is yet to confirm it. The senior team coach Juan Antonio Pizzi, too, has announced his retirement, according to Chilean papers.
A dark period in the history of Chilean football, no doubt, after an all-time high of winning back-to-back Copa America titles in 2015 and 2016.
