Test your football knowledge in our World Cup Quiz

Chile Squad For Copa America 2007 - Liverpool's Gonzalez, Villarreal's Fernández & Palmeiras' Valdivia Named - Maldonado Misses

Submitted by Scott Harkness on Tue, 26/06/2007 - 04:41.

Chilean head coach Nelson Acosta has named his 22-man squad for Chile’s Copa América campaign. After missing out on the World Cup Finals in Germany, ‘La Roja’ have a young and talented squad for the tournament in Venezuela.

Chile have a number of impressive young players in the squad, and the talented La Roja team could spring a few surprises under the 'bald strategist' Nelson Acosta.

Chile has a strong midfield for the tournament, with the skilful Palmeiras midfielder Jorge Valdivia – nicknamed ‘The Wizard’ - with left-sided Besiktas star Rodrigo Tello and Liverpool winger Mark ‘Speedy’ Gonzalez all posing threats.

To add to midfield, Matías Fernández, who currently plays for Spanish club Villarreal CF, is an offensive midfielder, a playmaker and a free kick specialist that, if required, can also play as a striker or centre forward.

Before leaving to Spain to join Villarreal CF, Fernández was awarded the South American Footballer of the Year 2006, while he was still playing with Chilean club Colo-Colo.

Chile will be without with the experience of holding midfielder Claudio Maldonado, who plays for Brazilian side Los Santos and despite a wealth of attacking options, a lack of experienced defenders may be Chile’s weak-point.

Acosta has named Colo-Colo striker Juan Gonzalo Lorca to join the senior squad for the tournament after recently featuring in friendly matches against Costa Rica and Jamaica, who he scored against.

He will be joined in attack by CF Monterrey forward Humberto Suazo and veteran La Roja striker Reinaldo Navia, who plies his trade in Mexico with CF Atlas.

Full 22-Man Chile Squad For Copa América Finals 2007, Venezuela:

Goalkeepers: Claudio Andrés Bravo (Real Sociedad, Spain), Nicolás Peric (Audax Italiano, Chile).

Defenders: Alvaro Andrés Ormeño (Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, Argentina), Sebastián Roco (Santiago Wanderers, Chile), Ismael Fuentes (Jaguares de Chiapas, Mexico), Miguel Augusto Riffo (Colo-Colo, Chile), Jorge Vargas (Red Bull Salzburg, Austria), Pablo Contreras (Celta Vigo, Spain), Gonzalo Jara (Colo-Colo).

Midfielders: José Luis Cabión (Deportes Melipilla, Chile), Rodrigo Tello (Besiktas, Turkey), Mark González (Liverpool FC, England), Jorge Valdivia (Palmeiras, Brazil), Matías Fernández (Villarreal CF, Spain), Manuel Iturra (Universidad de Chile), Arturo Sanhueza (Colo-Colo), Rodrigo Melendez (Colo-Colo), Carlos Villanueva, (Audax Italiano, Chile), Gonzalo Fierro (Colo-Colo).

Strikers: Humberto Suazo (CF Monterrey, Mexico), Reinaldo Marcelinho Navia (Atlas, Mexico), Juan Gonzalo Lorca (Colo-Colo).


( categories: | | )