Forwards Ben Brereton and Alexis Sánchez, plus midfielder Arturo Vidal, head the list of 26 called up by the Chilean team that seeks to continue fighting in qualifying for a ticket to the Qatar-2022 World Cup.
Paraguay on November 11 in Asunción and Ecuador in Santiago five days later, are the obstacles that La Roja must overcome to advance from the sixth position in the world championship standings.
With 13 points, Chile is waiting expectantly to get into the direct fight in the South American classification, which many believe is the most complicated in the world.
If until two dates ago Chile was almost evicted, the two home victories against Paraguay (2-0) and Venezuela (3-0) added to the results of the rest of the South American teams, incredibly favored the Red, which returned to have a vital pulse.
Anglo-Chilean striker Ben Brereton, idol of Blackburn Rovers in the English second division, became the goal card for a team that suffered from a goal drought at 22 years of age. Now, along with Vidal and Sánchez, who have returned to play for Inter Milan, they give hope to continue in the fight for qualification.
Although in the first instance they were announced casualties, the midfielders and backbone of Chile Charles Aránguiz (Bayern Leverkusen / Germany) and Erick Pulgar (Fiorentina / Italy) were included in the payroll by the Uruguayan coach Martín Lasarte, which gives hope that can play at least one game with the Red.
Meanwhile, Paulo Díaz, defender of Argentine River Plate, was out due to injury, while veteran midfielder Luis Giménez was not called up despite his good performances in the previous two dates.
The South American qualifiers grant four direct places for the World Cup in Qatar, while the fifth placed will play a playoff with a representative from Asia.
The roster of soccer players of the Chilean team is as follows:
Archers: Claudio Bravo (Betis / Spain), Gabriel Arias (Racing / Argentina), Brayan Cortés (Colo Colo).
Defenses: Mauricio Isla (Flamengo / Brazil), Guillermo Maripán (AS Monaco / France), Gary Medel (Bologna / Italy), Valber Huerta (Catholic University), Eugenio Mena (Racing / Argentina), Enzo Roco (Elche / Spain), Francisco Sierralta (Watford / England), Nicolás Díaz (Mazatlán / Mexico).
Frills: Erick Pulgar (Fiorentina / Italy), Ignacio Saavedra (Catholic University), Tomás Alarcón (Cádiz / Spain), Charles Aránguiz (Bayer Leverkusen / Germany), Claudio Baeza (Touca / Mexico), Pablo Galdames (Genoa / Italy), Marcelino Núñez (Catholic University), Diego Valdés (Santos Laguna / Mexico), Arturo Vidal (Inter / Italy).
Forwards: Ben Brereton Díaz (Blackburn Rovers / England), Jean Meneses (León / Mexico), Joaquín Montecinos (Audax Italiano), Edson Puch (Catholic University), Alexis Sánchez (Inter / Italy), Eduardo Vargas (Atlético Mineiro / Brazil).(AFP)