SANTIAGO.- Venezuela visit this Tuesday to Chili with the pressure of returning to the path of victory that allows them to continue dreaming of their first World Cup qualification, against a Red team that sinks further with each date.
Although it started strong and added points with draws against Argentina, Brazil or Uruguay, the Vinotinto team has not won since October 2023, when it beat Chile 3-0.
Despite its irregularity, Venezuela has 12 points and is in seventh place, which gives it access to the playoffs.
Their rival, bottom-place Chile, has just six points after 11 games played.
The duel will be played this Tuesday at the National Stadium in Santiago and will be directed by Argentine Facundo Tello.
Venezuela lagging behind
After having added seven of the first 12 points they played in the qualifiers, Venezuelan hope was skyrocketing.
The six direct places and the extra one for the playoffs predicted an auspicious path for the so-called “Cinderella of South America”, the only Conmebol team that has never gone to a World Cup.
But Argentine Fernando ‘Bocha’ Batista’s team has achieved only five points from the last 21.
“We are going to go out and compete (against Chile) and if things go well a good result can come,” said Leandro Cufré, who coached the last match against Brazil due to Batista’s suspension.
But now Bolivia threatens that classification. The highland team, also with 12 units, is adding points thanks to the 4,150 meters above sea level of its stadium in El Alto.
Chile with calculator in hand
Against Venezuela, Chile has the last chance to dream, at least, of the playoffs.
This double date had the opportunity to add six key points against direct rivals. But the first opportunity, against Peru, was wasted with only a draw.
“Now we have to become strong at home. The three points on Tuesday, against Venezuela, have to be ours,” said veteran midfielder Arturo Vidal after the goalless draw against Peru.
Direct classification already seems like a utopia. With 21 points still up for grabs, Chile is 10 away from sixth place and has yet to play against Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.
For Chile’s coach, Ricardo Gareca, the match against Venezuela will be very intense. “They are fighting for the first time in their history to get into a World Cup. There is going to be a very optimistic atmosphere on their part (Venezuela),” he told the press.
If La Roja loses against Venezuela they will be nine points away from the playoffs, an almost definitive sentence.
