On June 11, Chile fell 0-2 to Bolivia in a decisive World Cup qualifier, confirming their elimination with two rounds remaining. The defeat leaves Chile with just 10 points and at the bottom of the South American standings—8 points behind the intercontinental playoff spot held by Venezuela.
This marks the third consecutive World Cup that Chile will miss. The last time La Roja reached the finals was back in 2014 in Brazil. That era was led by stars Sanchez and Vidal, who guided Chile to consecutive World Cup knockouts and back-to-back Copa America titles in 2015 and 2016. In 2016, Chile even ranked 4th in the FIFA world rankings.
But a lack of emerging talent and aging squad dynamics have taken their toll. Now 36 and 38, Sanchez and Vidal still fight for their country, but time has caught up with them. This loss likely marks their final appearance in a World Cup qualifier—a bitter goodbye for two icons.
