SANTIAGO (AP) — With the return of historic midfielder Arturo Vidal and the call of striker Ben Brereton recovering from injury, coach Martín Lasarte will combine youth and experience as Chile face Uruguay and Brazil on the decisive double date that will end the qualifiers for the Qatar World Cup.
Chile will face Brazil on March 24 at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro and on the 29th of the same month it will host Uruguay in San Carlos de Apoquindo, in the Chilean capital.
Uruguayan Lasarte summoned 27 players on Monday.
Vidal returns after purging two punishment dates earlier this year, absent from the 2-1 home defeat to Argentina and the 3-2 away win over Bolivia.
Also noteworthy is the call of Brereton, whose participation was in doubt due to a sprained ankle suffered on February 14 with the Blackburn Rovers of the English second division.
If he continues his good evolution, it is estimated that the Chilean nationalized English will be able to play against Brazil and Uruguay. Brereton, 22, made his debut for the national team in mid-2021 and has scored three goals in the playoffs.
The “Roja” marches in the sixth step of the South American qualifiers with 19 points, three from Uruguay and two from Peru, who occupy fourth and fifth place.
The top four teams qualify directly to Qatar, while the fifth will have to play an intercontinental playoff against an Asian team.
In the call there are four archers because goalkeeper Brayan Cortes is suspended and will not be able to travel to Brazil.
In the group there are several stars of the so-called Golden Generation who won the 2015 and 2016 editions of the Copa America. Among them are Vidal, goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, defenders Mauricio Isla and Gary Medel, steering wheel Charles Aranguiz and attacker Alexis Sanchez.
Among the novelties is the call for the return of experienced striker Luis Jiménez.
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Chile Squad:
Archers: Claudio Bravo (Betis, Spain), Bryan Cortes (Colo Colo), Sebastián Pérez (Catholic University), Zacarias Lopez (La Serena).
Defenders: Paulo Díaz (River Plate, Argentina), Mauricio Isla (Flamengo, Brazil), Benjamín Kuscevic (Palmeiras), Guillermo Maripán (Monaco, France), Gary Medel (Bologna, Italy), José Pedro Fuenzalida (Catholic University), Enzo Roco (Elche, Spain), Gabriel Suazo (Colo Colo), Sebastián Vegas (Monterrey, Mexico).
Flyers: Charles Aranguiz (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Claudio Baeza (Toluca, Mexico), Marcelino Núñez (Catholic University), Pablo Parra (Puebla, Mexico), Erick Pulgar (Galatasaray, Turkey), Diego Valdes (America, Mexico), Vidal (Inter Milan, Italy).
Forwards: Ben Brereton (Blackburn Rovers, England), Victor Davila (Leon, Mexico), Luis Jimenez (Palestino), Jean Meneses (Leon, Mexico), Joaquín Montecinos (Audax Italiano), Alexias Sanchez (Inter Milan, Italy), Eduardo Vargas (Atletico Mineiro, Brazil).