At its core, the “Beautiful Game” is just that -- a game.
It is practiced and played by boys and girls, men and women, people from every manner of political and socioeconomic background, on dirt fields and multi-million dollar stadiums throughout the world.
Look beyond the pitch, however, and you'll see that soccer is far more than a game. It bridges divides and brings people together like no other sport in the world can.
For the South American coastal nation of Chile, soccer has now become a part of the healing process, a beacon of hope after months of despair and rebuilding.
When Chile’s World Cup campaign kicks off on June 16 against Honduras, it will have been 109 days since a monstrous 8.8 magnitude earthquake rocked the nation. The quake, which killed more than 500 people and displaced over 1.5 million, caused billions of dollars in damage from the north to the south of the nearly 3,000-mile long nation.
Now, barely three months after the catastrophe -- which was said to be 700 to 800 times stronger than the quake that ravaged Haiti in January -- a nation that has shown incredible resilience in the face of tragedy sends a youth-laden soccer squad to South Africa.
Sport may not sound like the most appropriate focus so soon after a disaster. For Chile, however, Futbol is exactly what is needed.
Much like in California in the U.S., earthquakes have become an unwelcome -- if all-too-regular -- occurrence in Chile. In 1960, an earthquake measuring 9.5 on the Richter scale (the largest quake ever recorded) left behind an unimaginable trail of damage. At the time, the South American nation was in the midst of preparations to host the 1962 World Cup, and the paralyzing earthquake put the event in serious jeopardy.
Carlos Dittborn, President of Chile's World Cup organization, made an impassioned plea to FIFA (and, really, the world soccer community) to keep the event, saying, "We must have the World Cup because we have nothing else."
The World Cup remained on Chilean soil, and the rebuilding after the earthquake was capped off by a successful tournament. The Chilean people's hard work to keep the games on track was rewarded when its national team secured a record third-place showing, beating Yugoslavia 1-0 thanks to a last-minute goal (Brazil would win the World Cup finals a day later, 3-1 over Czechoslovakia).
Success on the field will never erase tragedy, but the 1962 World Cup helped ease a nation's suffering.
Now the 2010 World Cup can do the same.
Led by Argentine coach Marcelo “El Loco (the madman)” Bielsa, the Chilean national team finished second overall in CONMEBOL qualifying, behind only five-time World Cup champion Brazil and ahead of former champions Argentina and powerhouse Paraguay.
Although their preparation for the tournament was shortened due to the February 27 tragedy (two games were cancelled in March -- "At this moment, it is more important to look after the country's urgent necessities. There will be time for football," the players said at the time), the team stands a strong chance of reaching the second round of the tournament.
Not only does Chile have a favorable draw with Switzerland, Honduras and title-favorite Spain in Group H, its fast-paced attacking style, led by Humberto Suazo, who was the top goal scorer in South American qualifying and plays club ball for Spanish side Real Zaragoza in the competitive La Liga, and Matias Fernandez, a highly sought-after midfielder who plays club ball in Portugal, will put pressure on any opposing defense.
If the Chileans can advance out of group play, the first knockout stage match will be an incredible test. Assuming a second-place finish in Group H (with Spain predicted to win the group), Chile would face the winner of the so-called “Group of Death.” That means a date with either powerhouse Brazil, which knocked Chile out of its last World Cup appearance in 1998 with an easy 4-1 victory, Ivory coast, one of the top African soccer nations, or Portugal, which is led by international superstar Cristiano Ronaldo (North Korea is also in the group, but its chances to progress are quite slim).
Despite the passion for soccer in Chile, the team's results may not be the most important aspect of the trip to South Africa. A recent poll conducted by polling organization Adimark in conjunction with the National Soccer Association found that over 85% of the country feels that the national team brings unity to the country. What's more, of those polled from Chile's lowest financial class -- those who were most affected by the earthquake -- 71.1% offer strong support.
Soccer may be just a game. But for the nation of Chile, it is much more than that -- especially in times like these.
