Bidal Blasts Chile Coach: Squad Omission Not Football-Related, Will Keep Pushing for World Cup

The 2024 Copa América is set to begin this week, and Chile’s national team has announced its roster without veteran midfielder Bidal, sparking speculation. Bidal himself held a press conference to express his dissatisfaction, stating he feels “sad and angry” about not representing his country in this significant tournament.

In the conference, Bidal targeted Chile’s head coach, Gareca, claiming that he was left out for “non-football reasons.” He said, “This has nothing to do with football; it’s the coach’s decision. Of course, he has the right to choose the players he deems fit for the Copa América, and I had hoped to be part of the squad.”

Bidal has made 142 appearances for the Chilean national team, helping them win back-to-back Copa América titles in 2015 and 2016. Despite being 36 years old and not at his peak form, with recent knee surgery impacting his performance, he sees the inclusion of veterans like Vargas, Bravo, Arias, Isla, and Sánchez in the 26-man squad and believes his own contribution as a key figure in Chilean football should have been considered.

Despite his disappointment, Bidal remains hopeful of future call-ups to the national team. He remarked, “I’m not with the national team now, but I believe the upcoming World Cup qualifiers will be tough, and we must get Chile into the World Cup. I’ll work hard to regain my form and look forward to a possible return to the national team soon.”