Chile national football team

The Chile national football team represents Chile in all major international football competition. The team is controlled by the Federación de Fútbol de Chile and is a founding member of CONMEBOL. They have appeared in seven World Cup tournaments.

Related Topics:
Chile - Football - Federación de Fútbol de Chile - CONMEBOL - World Cup

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Chile participated in the first World Cup in 1930. They started off well beating Mexico and France without giving up a goal. A 3-1 loss to Argentina in their final game left them in second place in their group, eliminating them from the tournament.

Related Topics:
1930 - Mexico - France - Goal

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Their best World Cup result was a third place finish in 1962, when Chile was the host nation. Chile lost to eventual champion Brazil 4-2 in a semifinals match, but beat Yugoslavia 1-0 in the third place match.

Related Topics:
1962 - Brazil - Yugoslavia

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La Roja's most infamous moment came on September 3, 1989. During a {{Wc|1990}} qualifying match at Rio De Janeiro's Maracanã stadium, Brazil lead Chile 1-0. A defeat for Chile would eliminate them from the tournament. Around the 67 minute mark, Chilean goalkeeper Roberto "Cóndor" Rojas fell to the pitch with an apparent injury to his forehead. A firework, thrown from the stands, was smoking about a yard away. After carrying Rojas off the pitch, the Chilean players and coaches refused to return claiming conditions were not safe. The match went unfinished.

Related Topics:
September 3 - 1989 - Maracanã - Roberto "Cóndor" Rojas - Firework

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After studying video of the match showing that the firework had not made contact with Rojas, FIFA awarded Brazil a 2-0 win (eliminating Chile from the 1990 World Cup). Chile was banned from qualifying for the {{Wc|1994}}, and Rojas was banned for life (although an amnesty was granted in 2001).

Related Topics:
FIFA - 2001

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