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Chile boasts the second oldest professional football governing body in
South America, the Federación de Fútbol de Chile, which
was founded in 1895. From then until now, the Federación
oversees and controls the Chile national football team. As is
the case in most South American countries, Chile boasts some of the
most avid football fans around which is not surprising considering the
country has enjoyed a long love affair with the FIFA World Cup.
In fact, the Chile national football team was one of just thirteen
teams that played in the inaugural World Cup in 1930. That year the
Chilean squad started off well enough, as they dispatched Mexico and
France without giving away a single goal. However, a 3-1 loss at the
hands of Argentina ended Chile's World Cup hopes that year. And while
Chile has not always qualified for the world's premier football
competition, its national football team always gives a hundred percent.
Since 1930 the Chilean national football team has competed in seven
World Cups, its best result being third in 1962, the same year Chile
hosted the venerable competition. On that occasion Chile lost to Brazil
(who went on to win the World Cup that year) 4-2 in the semifinals, but
beat Yugoslavia 1-0 to snatch third place. In 1974, Chilean player
Carlos Caszely made history by becoming the first player to receive a
red card in a World Cup match, and being sent off.
Marcelo Bielsa is currently the head coach of the Chile national
football squad and has been since 2007. Before then he coached the
Argentinean national football team between 1998 and 2004.
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