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Chile bows out with heads held high
Posted: Sunday June 28, 1998 11:08 AM
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Ivan Zamorano was one of Chile's more exciting players (AP) |
PARIS (Reuters) -- Chile's
attractive football and sporting behavior won it many friends in France and did
much to erase the disgrace that kept it out of the last two finals.
The side's first World Cup appearance since 1982 had been about far more
than winning, coach Nelson Acosta said.
"Basically we are happy. We've done an awful lot to redeem our image and
the image of our behavior. And in footballing terms we played
enterprisingly and we got to the second round. It's just unfortunate that
then we came up against the world champions."
The man who most embodies Chile's new soccer image, striker and captain
Ivan Zamorano, walked off Parc des Princes arm in arm with Ronaldo after
his side had been swept aside 4-1 in the second round by Brazil.
"We set out to play as equals against the world champions ... I'm very
proud of my team and of what we've done," said Zamorano.
It was all a far cry from the naked ambition that marred a World Cup
qualifier at Brazil's Maracana stadium in 1989 when Chile's goalkeeper
Roberto Rojas faked an injury supposedly caused by a missile thrown from
the stands.
The attempt to have the score -- 1-0 to Brazil -- overturned and the match
awarded to Chile failed, and they not only missed the 1990 World Cup but
were banned from the 1994 competition. Rojas was barred for life.
At France '98, Chile failed in its aim of scoring a first win at a finals
since 1962, when it hosted the competition, and a first ever finals victory
outside South America.
But the Chileans did not lose a group match and the 2-2 draw with Italy in their
opening game was a result to savor, Italy only saving themselves with a
late Roberto Baggio penalty.
Brazil's manager Mario Zagallo -- who played against Chile in Brazil's 4-2
win in the 1962 semifinals -- was full of praise for a team that had come
out and attacked for 90 minutes.
"We were playing a good team who came here to play football and not to get
physical," he said in remarks undoubtedly aimed at Norway, who beat
Brazil with two breakaway attacks after keeping nine men behind the ball
for most of the match.
But Chile does have its problems. Acosta said he would quit at the end of
the year in frustration with Chile's set-up which, he said, did not give
him the stability to groom a side with the tactical and mental strength to
be truly competitive.
"Chile needs to transform its game," he said. "If we content ourselves with
what we've done at this World Cup, we won't be back for many years."
He said that after France '98, "there are people who are going to say,
fine, that's good, we can go on like this for another 16 years, doing the
same things."
"Well, I'm not available for that, to keep on and not have the possibility
of making progress, or at least making the attempt."
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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