Gianni Truvianni

<!– /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:”"; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:70.85pt 70.85pt 70.85pt 70.85pt; mso-header-margin:35.4pt; mso-footer-margin:35.4pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:Standardowy;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:”";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:”Times New Roman”;
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}

It was back in 1962 that Chile won their last world cup match. This being when they defeated Yugoslavia (now divided in to several countries) by 1-0 for third place in a game in which the only goal was scored in the last minute. It was at that moment that Chile was declared third yet many years and four world cup participations went by without their wining a single match in a world cup. Close they would come, as they did in 98 when in the last minutes of the game they were leading by a goal against both Italy and Austria; only to have both teams get late equalizers which continued Chile’s winless streak. This being the case till today when Chile would not be denied a long deserved victory which they got thanks to Beausejour’s goal in the 34^th minute of the game.

Chile, for its part played well and in all honesty not only could but should have scored more goals yet at the end of the day what counts is that they got both the three points and above all the win they had been so hungry for after so many years of waiting. Honduras, for its part playing in its first world cup since 1982 when a controversial penalty given to Yugoslavia eliminated them, did not play badly though the truth being could have lost by a lot more than one goal. This given Chile’s almost constant attack which if not for the inability of the Chileans themselves to finish off plays or Honduras’s goalkeeper Valladares; would have finished in a rout yet as is the result was a dignified lose for Honduras.

I, for my part must say that I am glad Chile won; this given all the time I once spent in Chile back in the early 90s. It being back then that I got a chance to travel through out Chile from Arica in the north to Santiago to Vina Del Mar in the south and see for myself what a marvelous countries lies in the southern part of the Andes. I must admit there was a certain charm about being in Chile and its people, who in their warmth made me feel welcome in their country. It is at this moment that I am reminded of some of the people I met in Chile who I am sure are going to be celebrating this win with all the enthusiasm and joy Chileans are known to have.