The start of La Roja’s new era under the horizon of a fresh coach began with a demanding run: five defeats and two draws, including confrontations with Qatar and Slovakia, before a victory over Paraguay.
Edward Berizzo emerged as the official manager of La Roja on May 26, stepping into a role that would shape a national team eager to rebuild momentum. His coaching journey began as a quarterbacking figure in 2011 with Estudiantes de La Plata, and he carved paths at O’Higgins (2012-2014), Celta de Vigo (2014-2017), Sevilla (2017-2018), and Athletic Club (2018-2019). He arrived in Chile to succeed Martín Lasarte, who left with a record of seven wins, nine losses, and six draws across 22 matches, equating to a 40 percent effectiveness rating.
Berizzo’s arrival in South America came after his tenure with Paraguay, a role he assumed in 2019 following the surprise resignation of Colombian Juan Carlos Osorio. With the Albirroja, he oversaw 31 matches, spanning friendlies, Copa América campaigns, and South American qualifiers. The record under his guidance included seven wins, 13 draws, and 11 losses, yielding a 36.57 percent effectiveness. In terms of goals, Paraguay scored 31 and conceded 39 with him managing the side. Across 93 possible points, they accumulated 34.
He arrived at the national team with a familiar coaching staff: Sebastian Rambert and Ernesto Marcucci as technical assistants, Roberto Bonano as goalkeeper coach, Fernando Morelli as physical trainer, and Carlos Kisluk as assistant — the same core he had built during his first national team experience.
During his public presentation on a Monday, Berizzo outlined his aims for the World Cup qualification cycle for 2026. He spoke of restoring the sensations of success, of a relentless drive to win, and of reaffirming the value of his work. He didn’t shy away from acknowledging that the Paraguayan chapter had not met expectations, but viewed it as a learning opportunity to reinforce purpose and press forward. He reflected on his earlier alliance with Marcelo Bielsa, noting the shared philosophy and the responsibility to deliver results on the global stage.
Berizzo described his plan as a balance between exploiting the mature qualities of established players and identifying the emerging talents to be integrated into the squad. He spoke of a broad recruitment approach, where young players would be called in for training camps to assess their readiness for the senior team. He emphasized that twenty-year-olds can already be considered for national duty if they demonstrate the necessary readiness and maturity.
The first engagement under Berizzo came at the Daejeon World Cup Stadium, in a friendly against South Korea, during a tour of Asia. In that match, the team suffered a 2-0 defeat, with goals from Hwang Hee-Chan and Son Heung-Min proving decisive against a squad still finding its rhythm under new leadership.
Shortly after, the side faced a 0-2 loss to Tunisia at the Kirin Cup in Kobe, marking a difficult start to Berizzo’s tenure on another continent. This start drew comparisons with the weakest beginnings by a national boss in the country’s recent history and stood as a reminder that rebuilding takes time and patience. The slump continued as the team sought a competitive balance in the minutes that followed, a pattern echoed in older eras when new coaches faced early trials.
Despite the rocky start, the team navigated the early fixtures with a stubborn resolve, often pushing to the end in close games and displaying moments of promise amid setbacks. The results included a tense 2-2 draw with Qatar in a match staged at the Franz Horr Stadium in Vienna, a game defined by critical chances and a missed penalty by Alexis Sánchez that reshaped the narrative of that tour.
As the European tour unfolded, the team did not abandon the road ahead. They faced a narrow defeat to Poland on the heels of the same summer pilgrimage, with the match underscoring the persistent challenge of translating potential into consistent scores. The year closed with a 3-2 victory over Paraguay at the Monumental, marking a rare success as Berizzo’s system began to gain traction.
Goalkeepers and players responded to the plan on the bench and in training, as Berizzo’s approach emphasized a blend of robustness, tactical flexibility, and a clear pathway for young talents to enter the fold. The tactical map built around a mature core while offering opportunities for fresh faces to contribute to the national cause. In the end, the campaign finished with a finish line shaped by resilience and a continuing journey to rediscover the team’s winning rhythm.
In review, Berizzo’s tenure with La Roja demonstrated a methodical rebuild: a mix of veteran stability and a fertile arena for younger players to grow. The early losses were not just setbacks but part of a broader process to reestablish identity, strengthen the squad’s cohesive shape, and set a sustainable foundation for the road to 2026. The work ahead remained substantial, yet the direction suggested a team intent on reclaiming its competitive edge on the world stage.
In assessment pieces, analysts chart Berizzo’s performance in the national team with careful attention to the evolving composition of the roster and the evolving tactical ideas that he brought to the dugout. As fans watched the squad mature under his guidance, the focus remained on establishing a consistent brand of play, cultivating depth across positions, and building a resilient mindset for the demanding fixtures that lie ahead. This is the framework that Berizzo aims to carry into the 2026 cycle, always with a view toward sustained progress and a renewed sense of national pride.
Source: Goal