Chile call up Pavez for decisive World Cup qualifier against Brazil

Sao Paulo (Brazil) Oct 8 (IANS) Chile football coach Juan Antonio Pizzi has called up midfielder Esteban Pavez for his team s final 2018 World Cup qualifier against Brazil said the country s professional football association (ANFP).

The 27-year-old replaced Bayern Munich s Arturo Vidal on Saturday who is suspended for the match at Sao Paulo s Allianz Parque reports Xinhua news agency.

Pavez who plays his club football for Brazil s Atletico Paranaense has been capped just three times for Chile s national team.

Chile are currently third in South America s CONMEBOL standings and must defeat group leaders Brazil to be assured of a World Cup place.

The top four CONMEBOL teams will earn a direct berth at next year s tournament while the fifth-ranked side will advance to an intercontinental playoff.

The 2018 World Cup will be played in 11 Russian cities from June 14 to July 15.

--IANS
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