Chile v Australia preview: Chile prepared for Arturo Vidal’s absence

As Australia and Chile prepare to go head-to-head in their World Cup 2014 opener on Friday, Chile defender Gonzalo Jara says 'if he's not available, we hope he'll be ready for the next match'.

Chile's Alexis Sanchez, right, and teammate Arturo Vidal train ahead of the 2014 World Cup on Wednesday. Bruno Magalhaes / AP / June 11, 2014

Midfielder is still recovering from knee surgery

CUIABA // Tipped by Pele as one of the tournament favourites and boasting their best-ever squad for a World Cup, Chile must handle soaring and previously unseen expectations ahead of the team’s opening match against big outsiders Australia today.

Spain and the Netherlands – the 2010 finalists – are hogging many of the headlines surrounding Group B, but Chile’s talented lineup and impressive results during the past 18 months demand to be taken seriously.

Thrown into a tough group, the Chileans are starting with what should, in theory, be a straightforward task. Australia, the lowest-ranked side in Brazil at No 62, are in a rebuilding phase and have picked a young squad with future competitions in mind.

An early three points would give Chile a solid platform to put pressure on a losing team in the Spain-Netherlands game.

Of course, Pele’s predictions have been way off in the past – the Brazil great said an African country would win the World Cup before the turn of the century and said Colombia would win it in 1994. Neither of those tips turned into a reality, but he may be onto something with Chile.

In powerful Arturo Vidal, who is an injury doubt for the Australia game, Chile have one of the world’s best midfielders, while speedy forward Alexis Sanchez had a good season at Barcelona and could light up the tournament. And following the appointment of Jorge Sampaoli as coach in December 2012, Chile lost just two of 15 matches last year, including a 2-2 draw with world champions Spain and a 2-0 win against England at Wembley Stadium.

Sampaoli’s high-tempo tactics have been embraced by his players and comparisons are being made between to fellow Argentine Marcelo Bielsa, who led the Chileans to the last 16 in 2010.

Vidal, the powerhouse Juventus midfielder, is struggling to be fit as he recovers from right knee surgery last month.

“Vidal’s spirits are fine, but if he’s not [available], we hope he’ll be ready for the next match,” defender Gonzalo Jara said. “Every goal Arturo has set for himself in life, he has achieved.”

Conversely, Australia face no pressure whatsoever.

“For us, it’s perfect,” Australia’s Tim Cahill said of the low expectations. “Some of these kids are pretty special and nobody knows about them. Hopefully in this World Cup, everyone is going to know about them.”

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