Chile make their debut this Monday against Mexico in the men’s soccer opener at the 2023 Pan American Games with their coach, Argentina’s Eduardo Berizza, under pressure over the senior team’s performance in 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Berizzo has been on the receiving end of criticism, exacerbated by Chile’s 3-0 defeat by Venezuela last Tuesday in a World Cup qualifier that has La Roja on four points from their first four appearances.

“Football has become increasingly unstable. He always goes to the coach when he loses (…). Criticism is part of the job, whether you deserve it or not, and when you lose, there is criticism and the coach is to blame,” the 53-year-old coach said at a press conference after the setback in the Venezuelan city of Maturín. .

Patricio Yáñez, a former striker of the Chilean team, believes that, despite the Argentine’s good performance in these games, his continuity will be at stake in the matches against Paraguay and Ecuador next November.

“What will determine Berizzo’s continuity will be the matches against Paraguay and Ecuador, the rest is music,” the former player said ironically to the sports network. ESPN.

One of his fellow panelists pointed out that the Chilean federation would not be satisfied with the coach’s work and did not fire him due to the lack of money to cover compensation. (D)