PM: Yarmyyarmy re Chile underachieving at football

not really. Chile are underachievers, yes, but this isn't a particularly football oriented country and there are only 16 million inhabitants. They did come 3rd in the WC in 62, in Chile obviously.
Now Colombia, there's a massive underachiever. (population over 45 million only qualified 4-5 times, never been beyond the last 16), 1 copa America, a few years ago when nearly all the best players didn't want to go due to the civil war.
Then you've got Peru (30-odd million pop.), only 1 WC 1/4 final, haven't qualified since 1982, no Copa Americas. But they did give the Scotch a proper dance, as they say in Spanish, in 78 - the first international match I remember. Brullyunt and I loved their kit ever since.
Mexico must be the biggest bottlers in Latin America though. over 100 million pop. Massively into football and yet have only made 1 or 2 quarter finals despite having qualified more times than England.

Posted By: Worzel Scrimmage, Nov 19, 02:13:10