FIFA World Cup 2014: Dark Horses from South America

Two club teams playing football in a stadium, their fervent supporters screaming their lungs out with flares glowing in every stand; outside the stadium there are people shouting, unable to get inside as the stadium is already full. Outside the stadium, you find every person’s eyes glued to his television in bars, offices, homes etc. The teams play a brand of one-touch attacking football with clever skill and slick passing coupled with some slack defending.

Where would you find this mix of raw passion and beautiful football? Well, look no further than the title, it is South America. And it is from this magical continent that today I highlight four teams who can go all the way come Brazil 2014. We all know Brazil and Argentina, we know their players, and we know they are the perennial favorites but what of Colombia, Chile, Ecuador and Argentina?

Colombia

Nicknamed Los Cafeteros due to coffee production in Colombia, Colombia currently sit fourth in the world ranking. Let us explore the reasons which make them fourth.

In defence, led by their 40-year-old goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon, the central defence is one of their few weaknesses as they haven’t settled on a centre-back pairing yet as Mario Yepes, Aquivaldo Mosquera, Luis Perea and Santiago Arias fight for the two positions, out on wide you have the two overlapping full-backs Juan Zuniga and Pablo Armero. No sane coach would select two attacking full-backs who almost act as auxiliary wingers, but then Jose Pekermen is no ordinary coach.

Apart from the central defenders, the only other defensive-minded player in the team is Carlos Sanchez . Nicknamed ‘the Rock’, here is a classic destroyer who sits in front of the defence and does all the dirty work. Sanchez is ably supported by Abel Aguilar who sprays the passes left and right.

On the right wing you have possibly the best player in Serie A right now – Juan Cuadrado, the Fiorentina winger has been setting the pitch on fire with his fine skill and pinpoint crosses while on the left you have another skilful player in James Rodriguez who loves to drift inside and supply through balls.

Upfront the partnership of Porto star Jackson Martinez with Radamel Falcao is as lethal as they come, as Martinez regularly drifts into space and sometimes makes decoy runs, pulling defenders towards him leaving ‘El Tigre’ free in space to pull the trigger.

Colombia also have Teo Gutierrez, another high-flying forward to depend on if they need further attacking impetus.

When you watch Colombia, you see a team that is compact in defence and ruthless in attack. This team is my pick to go the furthest amongst the dark horses.

Chile

When you reminisce about the 2010 World Cup, few people can forget the all attacking 3-5-2 formation of Chile. Coached by Marcelo Bielsa, this was the team that won people’s hearts with their attacking football. But the question is with a change of coach, do they remain the same team?

When Chile outplayed England at Wembley, the English players were in awe to see a team that was so comfortable in possession and had such technical ability. Chile still play a 3-4-3 which alternates with a 4-3-3 and Claudio Bravo manning the posts, Gonzalo Jara, Waldo Ponce and Gary Medel forming the back three. Despite playing in an unfamiliar position, Medel has done quite well.

Arturo Vidal, widely considered the best DM currently, protects his back three and recycles possession. He is supported by Jorge Valdivia/ Carlos Carmona who provide the intensity required in central midfield. Matias Fernandez, another player with great vision, supplies through balls and is always on the lookout for runs from the front two.

Out wide, Mauricio Isla on the right and Jean Buseaujour on the left act as wide midfielders who provide a balance in attack and defence as they bomb forward to add width to Chile’s overall play.

Upfront Alexis Sanchez starts in a withdrawn forward position and can be a real handful with his dribbling and finishing prowess as England found out recently. Eduardo Vargas is currently the man preferred to lead the line and the on-loan Napoli hitman has been quite effective with his mazy runs and eye for a pass as well his finishing abilities. Humberto Suazo waits in the wings and can be called upon if Chile need a more physical centre-forward.

Such is the quality of this Chile team that they can play any style they want, they can keep the ball, they have the pace to counter attack, they can even be physically imposing. Expect them to bring their A game to Brazil.

Ecuador

In a continent known for its attacking play, one team that stands out for its defence is Ecuador, undoubtedly the meanest defence of South America. This team conceded just 3 goals at home in qualifying and churned out results ala Greece.

A physically imposing team, Ecuador play a 4-4-2 formation. Most of their players play in the Ecuadorian division so they are an unknown entity to the outside world. The fact they have outperformed fancied Uruguay in qualifying and held Argentina to draws does support their credentials. Their star players include Antonio Valencia, Jefferson Montero and Felipe Caicedo. All three have pace which is quite useful on the counter attacks that they frequently engage in

Expect a lot of 1-0, 0-0 results from the games they are involved in, as this is a team which knows its strengths and weaknesses and directly plays to its strengths. They have been unbeaten at home during qualifying; it is only while traveling that they have suffered. To me this sounds a possible weakness as they step out of their comfort zone, but you never know, after Greece’s Euro ‘04 win anything is possible in football.

Ecuador recently lost the services of the talented Christian Benitez who died due to a heart attack. Let’s hope Ecuador can keep his memory alive by doing something special at the World Cup.

Uruguay

The last team to be profiled is Uruguay.’ La Celeste’ have not been on top of their game lately as they finished behind Ecuador and had to qualify through the play-offs, but you can never write off this team. The reigning Copa America champions have always produced top notch performances on the grandest of stages.

The core of the team which finished fourth in the previous World Cup remains the same. Uruguay employ a 4-3-3 formation with the brilliant Fernando Muslera starting in goal. Captain Diego Lugano and Diego Godin have developed an understanding at centre-back and with the latter’s rich vein of form with Atletico Madrid, expect them to have few problems in the centre. In qualifying, Lugano was well below par, but expect him to give it his all in possibly his last World Cup.

Uruguay have two world class options for the left-back spot – Jorge Fucile and Martin Caceres while Maxi Perreira starts as the right-back.

In midfield, the experienced duo of Walter Gargano and Diego Perez provide the steel needed. Midfield is one area where Uruguay have so many resources, they can play Alvaro Perreira and Gaston Ramirez as wingers if they want more width in their play. Alternatively they can go narrower with Christian Rodriguez or Nicolas Lodeiro playing through the middle and supplying the forwards with through balls.

Many teams will envy their strike force as the trio of Edinson Cavani, Luis Suarez and Diego Forlan can wreak havoc to any defence. Uruguay also have Abel Hernandez waiting in the wings.

On paper La Celeste seem to be the strongest of these four teams, but their performance of late has left a lot to be desired. However with Forlan coming to form, never count them out as on their day they have the potential to beat any team.

Come June 2014 and we shall find out whether these dark horses can outrun their European counterparts or not.