Chile would change headquarters to Calama to receive Argentina

The sports director of the Chilean Football Federation (FFCh), the Spanish Francis Cagigao, announced this Thursday that La Roja hopes to receive his Argentine simile in the height of Calama, in the north of the country, for the next date for the qualifiers with a view to the final phase of the World Cup in Qatar, next January.

According to the Chilean soccer executive, The steps have already been taken with the relevant bodies and within 24 hours it will be known if Chile will defend the home in the Zorros del Desierto stadium, in the middle of the aridity of the Atacama at more than 2,000 meters of altitude against the albiceleste, already classified for the Qatar World Cup 2022.

“There is no formal answer for now, but it is true that there is a determination on our part and in the next 24 hours there should be a final resolution ”, said the former Arsenal of England talent.

Cagigao detailed the points that remain to reach the resolution, although he anticipated optimism for the final decision of the authorities South American sports.

“One part is sports logistics. I myself visited Calama in February, convinced that we were going to prepare the match with Ecuador, which was later suspended. Today we are in another situation. We await the final resolution of both the aspect of the airport and the stadium itself. The feelings right now are very positive, but these last details are missing ”, he affirmed.

Secondly, consulted by the good moment of the Chilean-British forward Benjamin Brereton Diaz, who has 16 goals in 19 games defending Blackburn Rovers in the Championship, Cagigao had words of praise.

“He went from being a Championship footballer to being an international Championship footballer. We have seen an evolution in their game. I believe that playing with this national team and adapting to it has added confidence and we have seen him in the Championship, where he has 16 goals ”, he pointed out.

“There is no doubt that playing for Chile has helped improve their scoring record, but he is much more than a scorer. He has resources that help us a lot, because he gives us more depth, he gives us a plan B. If Ben continues with this path, it is logical that offers will come to him ”, added the executive.

It should be remembered that to date Chile runs sixth in the South American qualifying table heading to the World Cup event with 16 points in 14 games played, still with options to classify but forced to score against his next rivals: nothing less than Brazil, the undefeated of the qualifiers, and the Argentina by Lionel Messi. (D)