The U.S. Men’s National team’s first match of 2015 will pit Jurgen Klinsmann’s squad against a domestic-based Chile side in their January 28 friendly in Rancagua.
Chile announced its roster for the friendly on Tuesday and former Liverpool striker Mark Gonzalez and defender Gonzalo Fierro are the most experienced players on a side made up largely of players who have yet to make a national team appearance for Chile. In fact, only defender Jose Rojas returns from the Chilean World Cup team that impressed in Brazil this past summer.
The friendly is not being played on a FIFA fixture date, meaning clubs aren’t obligated to release players for the match, but the Chilean League and MLS have released players for the match.
Here is the Chile squad for the friendly vs. the USMNT:
GOALKEEPERS: Johnny Herrera (Universidad de Chile), Paulo Garcés (Colo Colo).
DEFENDERS: Cristian Suárez (Universidad de Chile), José Rojas (Universidad de Chile), Osvaldo González (Universidad de Chile), Gonzalo Fierro (Colo Colo), Erick Pulgar (Universidad Catolica), Diego Valdés (Audax Italiano), Juan Cornejo (Audax Italiano), Paulo Diaz (Palestinian).
MIDFIELDERS: Gonzalo Espinoza (Universidad de Chile), Marco Medel (Santiago Wanderers), Jaime Valdes (Colo Colo), Bryan Carrasco (Audax Italiano), Cesar Valenzuela (Palestinian).
FORWARDS: Roberto Gutiérrez (Universidad Catolica), Mark Gonzalez (Universidad Catolica), Andres Vilches (Huachipato), Angelo Sagal (Huachipato) and Juan Delgado (Colo Colo).
What do you think of this squad? Think the U.S. should steamroll this Chile team? Wishing the U.S. were playing Chile on a FIFA fixture date in order to face the full Chilean team?
Share your thoughts below.
They are gonna tear us a new a hole in Chile. It’s all due to the gross mismanagement of our team and system.
Thank god…. now Wondo will be able to score!
will be interesting to see if mark gonzalez still has the goods. remember him having blistering pace back in the day.
COLO COLO!!!!! Legendary Team.
Can”t wait! …to see who starts, shifts in, excels, gets first caps and, yes, even scores (gasp)! Go boys!
Johnny Herrera is a superb goalkeeper. One of the best domestic goalkeepers (some say the best) in South America. The US attack is definitely going to be tested.
also, a horrible human being…then again nothing new with athletes, these days…..
The goalkeeper was arrested after a fatal accident that involved him speeding under the influence of alcohol in Santiago, Chile and hitting and killing a 22-year-old female student in the early morning hours of December 20, 2009. After an arrangement with the victim’s family, Herrera was sentenced to pay 25 million pesos(about 50 thousand) to the family and donate football implements to football schools. On September 17, 2012 the goalkeeper was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, due to this the Ministerio Público asked for the reopening of the previous case. On June 27, 2013, Herrera was found guilty and sentenced to 41 days in jail and 2 years without a driver’s license. He did not serve jail time because of “pena remitida” that the Chilean justice system imposed on him. He also got caught early last year driving with out a driver´s license, paid and got off….again.