Gareca gave in to popular pressure and called up Arturo Vidal

The choice of Chile, Ricardo Garecagave in today to popular clamor in Chile and agreed to call up the Colo Colo midfielder Arturo Vidala reference for the ‘Golden Generation’, for the important date of the qualifying rounds for the 2026 World Cup, where Chile will attack the last selections against Peru and Venezuela.

Vidalwho on Sunday was declared champion of the league with “el cacique” and had a very irregular season, is facing Garecawho he has heavily criticized in previous matches and has no qualms about publicly berating him for not calling him and other active players from the generation that won the America’s Cup in 2015 and 2016.

Since then, the provision of chilli It was one failure after another, not even qualifying for Russia World Cup 2018 or Qatar 2022, or achieve good results in the following America’s Cup.

Currently, they close the South American qualifying group for the next World Cup, with only five points, very far from the direct access positions and even the playoffs.

Vidal, who was called up on Friday due to an injury to the Huracán midfielder (Argentina) Williams Alarconhas even stated that he will not wear “the Red” as long as Gareca continues to lead the national team.

Despite the attacks of Colocolino, the Argentine coach distanced himself from a discussion with the footballer and said at the time that all the players are still an option to combine future rosters.

The Chilean team faces the last double date of the year against visiting Peru, on Friday the 15th, and Venezuela at home, on Tuesday the 19th, as its last chance to score points after defeats to Argentina and Bolivia in September, and Brazil and Colombia in October.

The former Barcelona, ​​​​​​Inter and Bayern Munich player will wear La Roja again at the age of 37, after not being part of the team in the last Copa América in the United States, or in the four qualifying matches coached by Gareca . .

Vidal’s last call was in September 2023, when Chile was coached by Argentine Eduardo Berizzo and the midfielder played for Brazilian Athletico Paranaense.

During that double date, he injured his right knee in the match against Colombia, for which he had to undergo surgery and his recovery took several months, although in the middle he returned to the Chilean league to play with Colo Colo, after a 17-year international career.

Through the albos he emerged as the club’s greatest reference, having been the protagonist of the Copa Libertadores this year, returning to play in the quarterfinals after six years, and achieving the 34th title of ‘Cacique’ in Chile, and for them. , since Months ago, fans and journalists have demanded his return to the national team.

“It’s really a dream. I may have won many, but nothing like this. Coming home, at 37 years old and being champion, just say thank you,” Vidal said after being crowned.

The loss of midfielder Williams Alarcón from the Argentine Huracán opens the door for the return of the ‘King’, news that the president of Colo Colo Aníbal Mosa announced on Sunday night amid celebrations.

The mission now is to keep alive the hope of qualifying for the World Cup with Chile seven points away from seventh place, the last place that gives access to the playoffs and in the hands of Bolivia.

For its part, Alarcón’s loss also caused a conflict, as the player played a few minutes at his club this weekend, which is why the Chilean football federation is considering reporting the situation to FIFA.