Luis Marin, Jaime Valdes and Charles Aranguiz were the surprise names in Chile (9/2 to win Group H) coach Marcelo Bielsa’s 30-man preliminary squad for the World Cup.
Union Espanola’s Marin has won the battle for the third goalkeeping berth over Universidad Catolica’s Cristopher Toselli and will travel to South Africa alongside Real Sociedad’s Claudio Bravo and Miguel Pinto.
Atalanta midfielder Valdes and Colo Colo midfielder Aranguiz, who has just recovered from a knee injury, did not feature in qualifying, but both make the squad.
Flamengo midfielder Claudio Maldonado was not included despite getting over cruciate ligament surgery very quickly.
Universidad Catolica defender Hans Martinez and Osvaldo Gonzalez, who reached the Mexican Bicentenario semi-finals with Toluca, also missed out.
Squad: Claudio Bravo (Real Sociedad), Miguel Pinto (Universidad de Chile), Luis Marin (Union Espanola); Roberto Cereceda (Colo Colo), Pablo Contreras (PAOK), Ismael Fuentes (Universidad Catolica), Mauricio Isla (Udinese), Gary Medel (Boca Juniors), Gonzalo Jara (West Brom), Waldo Ponce (Universidad Catolica), Arturo Vidal (Bayer Leverkusen); Charles Aranguiz (Colo Colo), Carlos Carmona (Reggina), Marco Estrada (Universidad de Chile), Matias Fernandez (Sporting Lisbon), Gonzalo Fierro (Flamengo), Jose Pedro Fuenzalida (Colo Colo), Manuel Iturra (Universidad de Chile), Rodrigo Millar (Colo Colo), Pedro Morales (Dinamo Zagreb), Rodrigo Tello (Besiktas), Jorge Valdivia (Al-Ain), Jaime Valdes (Atalanta); Jean Beausejour (America), Mark Gonzalez, Hector Mancilla (Toluca), Fabian Orellana (Xerez), Esteban Paredes (Colo Colo), Alexis Sanchez (Udinese), Humberto Suazo (Real Zaragoza).
Meanwhile, Juventus winger Mauro Camoranesi feels Italy (12/1 to win World Cup) have “a very strong squad for the World Cup and nobody wants to take us on.”
Camoranesi has had a poor campaign, but remains in Marcello Lippi’s 30-man preliminary list.
“This is a very strong Italy squad for the World Cup and if I look at our opponents, nobody wants to take us on,” said the 2006 winner.
“The other teams know they’d be facing a side that has lifting the trophy as its sole objective.”
The Azzurri are the reigning holders with many of the same players who were in Berlin four years ago.
“We feel in good shape and now need to work ourselves very hard indeed over the next two weeks,” continued Camoranesi.
“History tells us the favourites for the World Cup are always the same, basically: Germany, Brazil, Argentina, and France.
“On top of them Spain have proved they are very strong by winning Euro 2008 and will fight to the end.
“With Fabio Capello’s arrival, England have improved a great deal.”
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