Continuity could be key to Chile’s World Cup challenge

Naked aggression is the mentality asked of this trio in front of Chile captain and keeper Claudio Bravo. Mauricio Isla (Juventus) and Jean Beausejour (Wigan Athletic) are tailor-made to be attacking outlets at wing back, but Sampaoli sometimes uses the latter further forward, so Santos’ Eugenio Mena slots in on the left.

In midfield, the emphasis is very much about going forward. Juventus star Arturo Vidal typifies this with his box-to-box abilities. Matias Fernandez (Fiorentina) and Jorge Validiva (Palmeiras) are the most attacking options.

Carlos Carmona (Atalanta) can anchor along with Marcelo Diaz (Basel) and Francisco Silva (Osasuna). Charles Aranguiz of Internacional and Felipe Gutiettez (Twente), meanwhile, are adept at various midfield roles.

Barcelona star Alexis Sanchez (66/1 to be leading marksman) heads the wide options. He netted four in qualifying – one fewer than joint-top scorers Vidal and Eduardo Vargas (on loan at Valencia from Napoli). The likes of Jose Pedro Fuenzalida (Colo-Colo), former Liverpool man Mark Gonzalez and Fabian Orellana (Celta Vigo) are also in contention.

Junior Fernandes (125/1), meanwhile, has struggled since coming to Europe two years ago, but looks to be finding his feet during a loan spell at Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb. The centre forward spot looks set to go a senior striker, as the three leading candidates are all aged 30 and over.

Mauricio Pinilla (Cagliari) got the nod in Sampaoli’s squad, but he played two up top against Germany with Vargas (80/1 to be top scorer) and Sanchez splitting to their natural wide areas, leaving the central area vacant. It is the Chilean forward line that is given the most licence to be expressive.

Esteban Paredes (Colo-Colo) and Humberto Suazo (Monterrey) complete the likely attacking options, with this tournament coming too early for Manchester United prospect Angelo Henriquez (on loan at Real Zaragoza).

With more than half of Bielsa’s squad from the last World Cup still in contention, Chile have a great chance to take advantage of the result recorded between Spain and the Netherlands. They won two of their three group games in South Africa 1-0, and a repeat result against Australia in their opener in Brazil is attractive value at 9/2.