An ideal debut and a historic triumph: Why we should be concerned about the triumphs of Gareca’s Chile and Lorenzo’s Colombia

Nothing less was expected. Because of the rival (a humble Albania) and because he was on the substitute bench: Ricardo Gareca. With a resounding 3-0, the era of the ‘Tigre’ began in the Chilean team, but beyond the result, ending a streak of three games without winning, in the neighboring country they highlight that their team has shown signs of being the before.

The friendly played at the Ennio Tardini stadium in Parma, Italy, has restored hope to a Chilean country that in the last eight years suffered greatly by not attending the World Cup and today, just as happened to Peru since 2015, they come with I look forward to the near future thanks to the Argentine coach.

Eduardo Vargas (19′) He was in charge of making it 1-0. Nothing more perfect for this beginning. Gareca decided to call him up despite the criticism he had been receiving from the fans and the Chilean press, and the forward paid with a goal.

Marcos Bolados (83′) and Víctor Dávila (92′) They sentenced the match. The curiosity of the day was that Ben Brereton assisted on the last goal. The Englishman with Chilean roots had been criticized by ‘Tigre’ for his language and was included in the squad for these friendlies due to the injuries that dented the first list. “You have to talk to him very slowly, in football in general it is not done like that,” the coach had pointed out in the preview of the match about the forward of Sheffield United of England.

The friendly seems to be the beginning of the generational change that is so demanded in Chile. Gareca did not call up Arturo Vidal, for example, and left Alexis Sánchez, who came on in the second half, on the substitute bench. But the Argentine has made it clear that the banners of the golden generation are not essential.

The second test for the ‘Tiger’ in charge of the southern team will be this Tuesday at the Vélodrome stadium in France. La Roja will face the French team that today (3 pm / Star+) will face Germany at the Parc OL in Lyon.

Colombia consolidates

It is Peru’s next rival in the Qualifiers (September 24 in Lima on date 7) and is showing signs of being a team to fear: Colombia beat Spain 1-0 at the Olympic Stadium in London.

Daniel Muñoz (61′), full back for Crystal Palace in the Premier League, scored a great goal, after an extraordinary play by Luis Díaz, for the only goal of the match.

In this way, the coffee team not only managed to beat Spain for the first time in its history (they faced each other four times), but they have accumulated 17 games without losing: 12 wins and five draws. Among those twelve victories are those achieved against Germany and Brazil, two other superpowers in world football.

In fact, this incredible streak began with the arrival of coach Néstor Lorenzo, who led Melgar to the semifinals of the Sudamericana 2022. With the Argentine, Colombia is the only South American team that has not lost in the Qualifiers, undefeated that will be played against the Bicolor

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