They earned a spot in their squad or their breakthrough earned them a major overweight in transfer benefits. The 11 best, here.
In a complex year for football in Chile international, due to the failures of the national team heading to Qatar 2022 and the clubs representing Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana again it was the proper names that saved the silver and invited to think about better results facing a 2023 of strong demands for the league’s protagonists and a red that begins the route to the 2026 Canada/United States/Mexico World Cup, for which there is a more or less drawn idea.
THE SAGITTARIUS
Brayan Cortés was responsible for several undefeated hurdles, enjoyed his season of consolidation, won the Chilean tournament with Colo Colo, took place in the national team and life rests on his shoulders after Claudio Bravo, no doubt.
THE DEFENDER
Óscar Opazo and Gabriel Suazo flew at the ends of Colo Colo as fullbacks and offensive agents. If one was missing it was always noticed, and the great form of both of them was discovered by the whole world, earning Torta a transfer to Racing as a free agent and the captain a safe step into European football, albeit without any financial win for his club. But the memory that no one wanted to renew is more than anecdotal: the former Wanderino left behind his worst times after the long injury and once again captivated people with ferocious bullfights, while Suazo was the best of Colo in the best cacique year since 2017, even internationally, intertwining River and Fortaleza, and settling on Chile’s left.
Since the Selection is a priority and everything starts with the solidity in the background, the moment of Paulo Díaz and Guillermo Maripán is also worth entering the ideal XI of the 22nd course. The Palestino-formed was untouchable in River for the third consecutive year and the Memo has come to captain Monaco because his leadership is contagious. The duo paint to start the qualifiers.
THE MIDDLE AREA
In the middle there is no room for doubt. Transferred to CSKA Moscow, Felipe Méndez ended the year in Berizzo’s XI after consolidating himself as a starter at both Unión and the Russian giant, amid solidity but also versatility to fill every place in between. He is and remains important for the National Team, as is Marcelino Núñez who had his peak at Catholic University and played over 20 games for Norwich after a fierce first semester, in which he is still a newcomer but seems to have lasted years. Giving away his smile and simplicity, he has managed to dominate the championship and although he lost his place at one point, he was always important to score goals and take on heavy responsibilities. Extravagant and deadly, he took a penalty kick against Birmingham and the yellow people wouldn’t let go of him.
It is impossible to ignore Arturo Vidal, who, through his advanced football experience, managed to add a Coppa Italia (with Inter), a Copa Libertadores! and a Copa do Brasil on his record. It was the first change for Inzaghi and also the first for Dorival Júnior in his first 6 months with Flamengo, against whom he struggled to play and where everyone respects him. Upstairs for Chile, he is still the owner and both participatory and goal-setting, so the king has no expiration date.
FRONT SIDES
Darío Osorio saved games, managed a declining university of Chile and invited her to hope for better days. The young blue was eyed by Wolverhampton but Azul Azul favored the club’s future interests and kept him in the squad. Osorio experienced shocks typical of an 18-year-old player, but with 35 games and 8 official goals (plus one against Colo Colo in a friendly match) he was the soul of a great team that managed to survive in the relegation battle .
Ben Brereton scored 13 goals in 2022 (calendar year) and established himself as a starter in Chile and also established himself as attack leader for Blackburn Rovers who continued to struggle to achieve their Premier League dream. The best thing about Ben is that he is a centre-forward but also a winger, a second striker but a good creative. He appears on all sides of the offense, provides assists, filters well, defines for sure and has another decade at the top level.
And if Alexis Sánchez, the Ex-Niño, were not present in this roster, the story – and the weight of the block in charge of the target – would be a different story. Thrown out by Inter only because of how much he charged, as his level was above acceptable but rather transcendent in the rival goals, he signed for Marseille and once again felt important to the owner of his letter, as had not happened since Arsenal.
He has scored a total of 16 goals between all competitions, including his crying spell with La Roja who continues to lead as an irreplaceable old star.
Who would have been the best in 2021?
THE DT
Without a doubt, it is Manuel Pellegrini, who brought Betis back into the top league in the Old Continent, won the Copa del Rey and competed on all fronts. Jaime García deserves a mention in Chile, as does Damián Muñoz. Both in their style, with teams where running and giving to the last drop are required, they put Ñublense and Curicó in the Copa Libertadores as national vice champions and 3rd place. From the B, Nico Núñez’s year was almost perfect, and in addition to achieving the ascent as monarch, although not without complications at the end, he won the Copa Chile and made Magallanes even greater.
THE BIG SURPRISE
Silently, Matías Fernández left Cordero Unión La Calera for Independiente del Valle and won the Copa Sudamericana in a row of 5 or 3 as a right winger. Later he won the Ecuador Cup. A champion by nature, who won the B and the Chile Cup with Wanderers, at the age of 27 he has not yet been identified by the national team.
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BELOW, THE IDEAL XI FOR THE CHILEANS IN 2022:
Source: Goal