Chile
Rank: 13 World Cup appearances: Best result: TOP SCORERS (QUALIFYING) Did you know? Chile are nicknamed "La Roja" or "The Reds" which they share with Spain. But they were dubbed "El Equipo de Todos," or "Everybody's Team" due to their crowd-pleasing attacking style of play.
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Chile's dream of going far at the World Cup finals will hinge on how they perform against world champions Spain and the 2010 World Cup runners-up, Netherlands, in a tough group.
With the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal, and a tactical discipline not often seen in the team from the far west of the continent, Chile could cause a number of surprises.
They finished third in the South American qualifiers, behind Argentina and Colombia, and a great spell in the final stages turned them into a respected and often feared team with Vidal, Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas all in top form.
This campaign has many Chileans dreaming of going beyond the last 16, the stage where they said goodbye to the World Cup in their last two appearances. But Brazil could be in their path in the second round and that is bad news.
Sampaoli must resolve a recurring problem: an unstable back line that shows fragility when they play against the big guns.
Chile are set to play without a classic number nine and Sampaoli could use playmaker Jorge Valdivia or Mauricio Pinilla in the central striker position.
The 33-year-old Humberto "Lollipop" Suazo, a regular for Chile up front before Sampaoli's arrival, is doubtful having only just come back for his Mexican club Monterrey after a four-month absence due to a shoulder injury.
Weighing up the pros and cons, Chile just about come out on the plus column, but all that might count for nothing if they meet Brazil earlier than they would like to.
STRENGTH
Unpredictable
Chile have the ability to play any way they wish, be it slow, possession football or quick, incisive attacks. That makes them difficult to plan for, but perhaps what is most frustrating is that they refuse to allow other teams to settle into their own rhythm and plan.
WEAKNESS
Injuries
28-year-old midfielder Matias Fernandez needed surgery to repair an ankle injury, ruling him out of the World Cup just barely a month before it all kicks off, which means coach Sampaoli must scour through other options with very limited time.
Defence
While goalkeeper Claudio Bravo is sure of his place, the defence sometimes shows a vulnerability that is the main aspect Sampaoli must work on if he wants to be the man to take Chile to the knockout stages.
ONE TO WATCH
Alexis Sanchez
There are many examples of players who have shrugged off the poverty of formative years to become household names but Chile forward Alexis Sanchez can point to a background that was about as tough as they come.
Born in Tocopilla in Chile's northern mining region, a grim port city dominated by a gigantic power plant and a saltpeter processing facility, Alexis barely knew his father and was raised by a mother who scraped a living as a cleaner at her son's school.
His talent shone through from an early age, earning him the nickname 'El Nino Maravilla' (Boy Wonder), and he quickly realised soccer offered a way out that would also allow him to help his mother and family.
Blessed with exceptional pace and ball control, Alexis is at his best when running at defenders down the right, either cutting inside to shoot or darting to the byline and sending over dangerous crosses.
He believes he developed as a player during his first appearance at the World Cup finals in South Africa and is not short on confidence ahead of the latest edition in Brazil.
Coach: Jorge Sampaoli
Jorge Sampaoli has a challenging goal in his meteoric coaching career: to lead Chile to new heights in Brazil. This may have been unimaginable a few years ago, but now the Argentine has it within reach.
Sampaoli never played professionally because a serious shinbone injury forced him to quit when he was 19 after a short spell in an amateur team.
His arrival turned Chile from a lopsided team with behaviour problems into a respected and admired side that many think could be the biggest surprise in Brazil.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Claudio Bravo (Real Sociedad), Johnny Herrera (Universidad de Chile), Cristopher Toselli (Universidad Catolica)
Defenders: Gary Medel (Cardiff City), Jose Rojas (Universidad de Chile), Eugenio Mena (Santos), Gonzalo Jara (Nottingham Forest)
Midfielders: Arturo Vidal (Juventus), Mauricio Isla (Juventus), Marcelo Diaz (Basel), Francisco Silva (Osasuna), Felipe Gutierrez (FC Twente), Jose Pedro Fuenzalida (Colo Colo), Carlos Carmona (Atalanta), Jean Beausejour (Wigan), Charles Aranguiz (Internacional), Miiko Albornoz (Malmo)
Forwards: Alexis Sanchez (Barcelona), Eduardo Vargas (Valencia), Jorge Valdivia (Palmeiras), Mauricio Pinilla (Cagliari), Esteban Paredes (Colo Colo), Fabian Orellana (Celta Vigo)
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