Planet World Cup - The All-Time World Cup - Group F

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The all-time World Cup

January 11th 2005		Santiago, Estadio Nacional
IRELAND - CHILE			1-1 (1-1)


      GOALS                   24'  1-0  Dennis Irwin (penalty)
                              32'  1-1  Jorge Aravena

      REFEREE                 Ivan Eklind (Sweden)

      ATTENDANCE              69,000

      YELLOW CARDS            O'Leary, Roy Keane, Carey (IRE)
                              Parraguez, Eyzaguirre (CHI)



      IRELAND (Coach: Jack Charlton, system 4-3-3)

       1 Pat Bonner
       3 John Carey
       5 Paul McGrath
      12 David O'Leary
       2 Dennis Irwin
       8 John Giles                   (-62)
       6 Roy Keane (captain)
       7 Liam Brady                   (-84)
      10 Don Givens                   (-88)
       9 John Aldridge
      11 Steve Heighway

      Substitutes:
       4 Mark Lawrenson               (+62)
      14 Noel Cantwell                (+84)
      15 Ray Houghton                 (+88)



      CHILE (Coach: Fernando Riera, system 4-3-3)

       1 Roberto Rojas
       2 Luis Eyzaguirre
       3 Lizardo Garrido
       5 Elias Figueroa
       4 Javier Margas
       7 Alberto Fouillouz            (-73)
      14 Nelson Parraguez
      10 Jorge Aravena                (-89)
       8 Marcelo Salas
       9 Ivan Zamorano
      11 Leonel Sanchez (captain)

      Substitutes:
      12 Francisco Valdes             (+73)
       6 Raul Sanchez                 (+89)

MATCHREPORT

    Chile were considered to be slighty favourites in this match, played on home soil, against the Irish Republic. But this turned out to be a match in which neither of the two teams would risk something, and a draw was the logical result. After 90 minutes of careful play it ended 1-1.

    The score was already reached at half-time. After 24 minutes Dennis Irwin was called to the spot to take a penalty, when Parraguez had fouled Roy Keane. The Irish full-back made no mistake and sent Roberto Rojas the wrong way. Ireland was in front but it wasn't to be for very long. Eight minutes later the score was level again. Paul McGrath headed a Sanchez cross immediately into Jorge Aravena's feet. A bullet followed and it went in from the post next to Bonner: 1-1.

    These were the highlights of a very little entertaining first half. Both teams wouldn't take any chances. A lot of midfield play was the result. Ireland tried to use the combination, through their technically very gifted midfielders Giles, Keane and Brady, but they found serious opponents in Fouilloux and Parraguez, both capable of tackling and winning a ball. Chile on the other side mostly played the long ball, directly to their forwards Salas and Zamorano. Both had played a great World Cup 1998 together, but David O'Leary and John Carey were tougher competition than they had faced in France. This is what the spectators had to be satisfied with. They had started yelling and screaming for the home team, but both teams had succeeded in silencing the crowd. Too little surprising thoughts in the Irish team, too little ingenuity with the Chileans. Elias Figueroa, the much praised libero, never supported his midfielders.

    After the break, a little more speed in the game. Chile tried to put the Irish under pressure a little more and Bonner all of sudden had to come into action. He saved a diving header from Zamorano and when Aravena tried his luck for a second time, Bonner was present and kept the shot out. In the meantime referee Ivan Eklind went on with showing yellow cards. Before half time Parraguez and O'Leary had been shown one, afterwards Eyzaguirre, Keane and Carey followed. It looked a little exaggerated. Ireland-Chile was a match with quite a lot of fouls, but players hardly ever went over the line. Both teams fought openly, without dirty tricks.

    The question was who would throw the game open, but the answer was: no one did. Jack Charlton, the man with the bizarre doublerole during this tournament (a player for England, a coach for Ireland) made two substitutions, but he brought a defender for a midfielder and a midfielder for a striker. There were times when we saw The Giraffe more courageous. His Chilean adversary Fernando Riera took Francisco Valdes into the game, in place of Fouilloux, in an attempt to add a little more creativity to his team, but it was too little, too late. Chile had to settle for a draw, Ireland were satisfied with 1-1 in the Estadio Nacional. It left both teams one point ahead of Belgium, but most people agreed that in fact the Belgians were the winners on the night. France were considered to be unbeatable force in this group anyway, none of these two teams had shown that this allegation could be falsified.

    This Friday Portugal takes on Northern Ireland in Buenos Aires. For both teams this is the chance to go on top in the group, together with Brazil. Portugal have a brilliant front line, with Eusebio as the man at the wheel. Coach Otto Gloria is thinking about lining his team up with no less than four strikers: Figo, Eusebio, Simoes and Torres or José Aguas. But don't underestimate Northern Ireland. They were always hard to beat and this will be the debut at the very highest level for George Best. The outside right has promised to make the most out of it and that will even scare the Portugese, being not at their strongest in the back-line. Said Belqola will be the referee in the Estadio Monumental, packed with a capacity crowd.

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