GARY MEDEL NAMED IN 30-MAN CHILE WORLD CUP SQUAD

Cardiff City’s Gary Medel has been named in Chile’s provisional 30-man World Cup squad for this summer’s tournament in Brazil.

Head Coach Jorge Sampaoli will whittle his squad down to 23 ahead of the 2nd June deadline.

Medel, a regular starter in defence for Chile collecting 59 caps, has been selected amongst seven defenders in the squad that also includes European stars Arturo Vidal of Juventus and Barcelona’s Alexis Sanchez. Sampaoli will whittle his squad down to 23 ahead of the 2nd June deadline.

The 26-year-old will join fellow City star Kim Bo Kyung in Brazil this summer following Kim’s earlier call-up for South Korea’s World Cup squad. 

Chile feature in Group B of the tournament alongside reigning Champions Spain, Louis Van Gaal’s Holland and Australia. ‘La Rojas’ will get their World Cup underway with a clash with the Socceroos  on the 13th June at Arena Pantanal in Culaba.

Goalkeepers: Claudio Bravo (Real Sociedad/ESP) Johnny Herrera (Universidad de Chile), Cristopher Toselli (Universidad Católica), Paulo Garcés (O'Higgins)

Defenders:Gary Medel (Cardiff City/WAL), José Rojas (Universidad de Chile), Eugenio Mena (Santos/BRA), Gonzalo Jara (Nottingham Forest/ENG), Marcos González (Unión Española), Enzo Andía (Universidad Católica)

Midfielders: Arturo Vidal, Mauricio Isla (both Juventus/ITA), Marcelo Díaz (FC Basel/SUI), Francisco Silva (Osasuna/ESP), Rodrigo Millar (CSD Atlas/MEX), Pedro Pablo Hernández (O'Higgins), Felipe Gutiérrez (FC Twente Enschede/NED), José Pedro Fuenzalida (Colo Colo), Carlos Carmona (Atalanta/ITA), Jean Beausejour (Wigan Athletic/ENG), Charles Aránguiz (Internacional/BRA), Miiko Albornoz (Malmo FF/SWE)

Forwards: Alexis Sánchez (Barcelona/ESP), Eduardo Vargas (Valencia/ESP on loan from Napoli/ITA), Jorge Valdivia (Palmeiras/BRA), Mauricio Pinilla (Cagliari/ITA), Esteban Paredes (Colo Colo), Fabián Orellana (Celta Vigo/ESP), Matías Fernández (Fiorentina/ITA), Gustavo Canales (Unión Española)