Chile salutes its new kids on the block

 

Despite defeat by Brazil, Chile has finally cast aside its jealousies and rivalries and found inspiration in its young footballers

Chile, led by their Argentinian coach, Marcela Bielsa, aka El Loco, were talked about for their passion and agility. Photograph: Claudio Santana/AFP/Getty Images

"Thanks for everything kids!" blared the headline of La Cuarta, Chile's populist news daily yesterday. The national team may be out of the World Cup after a 3-0 thrashing by the five-time champions Brazil, but they will be welcomed home as heroes.
Known as "La Roja" (The Reds), Chile's team was the youngest in the competition, which showed in their passion, agility, and, unfortunately, mistakes on the field. As other teams were beset by scandal in the group stages, Chile were talked about for their action-packed attack, leading to solid victories over Honduras and Switzerland, their first World Cup victories since 1962, when they hosted the tournament.
If ever there was a year that Chile needed to shine on the international stage it is 2010. Following a devastating earthquake in February, the country was shaken, shattered, then united in a mission to rebuild before the winter rains. World Cup football became the glue that cemented this nascent sense of national unity.
In September Chile celebrates its bicentennial, but 200 years of independence from Spain has not provided a sense of national identity. Unlike neighbouring Argentina or nearby Brazil where national flags sprout from every third apartment window, in Santiago the signs of World Cup fever were reserved for match days. Chileans are not patriotic, often criticising their country to the extent of berating expats, "Why would you live here?"
Typically Chileans look to foreigners for a measure of self-worth and this World Cup was no different. Most of the attention given to the Chilean team was focused on an Argentinian – the coach, Marcelo Bielsa, aka El Loco or The Crazy One – who was regularly photographed contorting his face into wild screams, exhortations and hair pulling as his young superstars sparked but never quite took flight.
And yet, this World Cup provided a tunnel of focused optimism in which the nation's best characteristics were reinforced and the legendary jealousies, rivalries and envy were dumped aside. Chileans saw their nation's potential unleashed on the world in a young, intelligent group of players whose camaraderie screamed "team".
Unlike most of South America, Chile is not a football nation. Only Venezuela has less interest in football and their excuse is baseball – the national pastime. Chile has never been a sports nation, unless you include competitive parking at the supermarket or an hour a week of gym for schoolchildren who are often seen running around the block in blue jeans and rain boots.