Sanchez stars for Chile in 2- 0 win
LONDON ( AP) : hile showed their World Cup credentials yesterday as Alexis Sanchez’s double ended England’s 10- match unbeaten run with a 2- 0 victory in a friendly.
The Barcelona forward headed in from Eugenio Mena’s cross after seven minutes at Wembley Stadium and lifted the ball over goalkeeper Fraser Forster in stoppage time after England were ripped apart.
“Sanchez has got everything it takes to be a real star of the World Cup tournament,” Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli said through a translator. “He’s in a really good vein of form and showed his class tonight.”
With Sanchez taking his international tally to 22 goals in 63 games, Chile were able to replicate their 1998 victory at the old Wembley.
“It’s one of those events that will go down in history - when you come to the cathedral of football and win,” Sampaoli said. “It’s great to make the Chilean people happy ... and what it does show is that we can compete against teams on an equal footing.”
With a vibrant display in chilly London, the visitors delivered a reality check to England as they prepare for the World Cup in Brazil next year, inflicting the hosts’ first loss of 2013.
On a night when three players made their England debuts, Roy Hodgson’s side forced goalkeeper Claudio Bravo into making a string of fine saves but lacked fluency.
England round off the year against Germany on Tuesday when Chile face
CBrazil in Toronto. “We learned a lot about our squad players and a lot about what it will be like to play against South American opposition,” England coach Roy Hodgson said. “I think that was the best display of passing from a goalkeeper ( Bravo) I have ever seen.”
This was one of three games England will play until Hodgson has to name his World Cup squad, and he used it to experiment.