Chile 1 Switzerland 0

Chile set up under an assertive 3-4-3 for this fixture against a more conservative Switzerland. The South Americans played with plenty of attacking intent early in the game, but it was frenetic and hasty rather than measured and incisive. Early chances were limited to long-range efforts from Beausejour and Carmona.

The nature of the game changed on the half-hour when Swiss midfielder Behrami was sent off for pushing his arm into Vidal’s face. Despite their numerical advantage, Chile didn’t look like breaking down a highly organized Switzerland in the remainder of the half. Beausejour did put in a couple of good crosses from the left – one was met by an unconvincing Suazo header, and the other resulted in a tame shot from Sanchez which was easily saved by Benaglio.

Coach Marcelo Biesla attempted to invigorate this same formational approach in the second-half with a change in personnel. Gonzalez replaced Vidal and was positioned at left-forward with Beausejour withdrawing to the left wing-back slot. Paredes was introduced as centre-forward on the hour, with Valdivia (who had replaced Suarez at half-time) taking over playmaking duties from Fernandez. Chile continued to find it hard to navigate a way through a packed Swiss defence in the second period. There was a glimpse of a breakthrough early in the half after Sanchez charged down Grichting, but the Chilean forward could not set himself for the one-to-one against Benaglio.

Just as it seemed as though a resolute Swiss side would force a stalemate, on 75 minutes, Valdivia played Paredes into the box – Paredes crossed for Gonzalez whose downward header bounced off the turf and into the roof of the net. Paredes had further opportunities to double the lead, but he blazed wide after he was played in by Gonzalez, and shot wide on another occasion after he had neatly stepped inside Von Bergen. Gonzalez also shot tamely after meeting a Sanchez cross on the edge of the 18-yard box. With the game approaching full-time Switzerland almost punished Chile’s inability to finish the game, but Derdiyok shot wide from an excellent position after some tidy build-up play.

Despite Chile’s attacking line-up they perhaps lack key creative individuals to dismantle defences: without more influential players the attack-minded approach is workmanlike rather than dazzling. Switzerland are a well-organized team, boasting a miserly defence, but as they were down to 10 men for the majority of the game, Chile should have perhaps demonstrated more cutting edge in attack. Valdivia appeared more influential than Fernandez in behind the centre-forward, whilst wide players Sanchez, Gonzalez and Beausejour made reasonable inroads down the flanks. The defensive trio was sound, although fairly untested, whilst Carmona was solid at the base of midfield. It could perhaps be queried why Biesla retained three central-defenders when faced with a Switzerland team playing 4-4-1. Perhaps an assertive 4-3-3 would have been more fruitful with just two central-defenders marshalling the lone Swiss forward.

Chile’s attacking approach does not undermine their defensive security. But against sides that can defend and attack, they may become excessively stretched. Despite accruing six points from two games, Chile could still be edged out of a place in the Round of 16, but it would be good to see the South Americans in the knock-out stages.