Venezuela knows no quinto malo

Slowly, quietly, quietly, Venezuelan football has gone out of the backlog that had the rest of his teammates in Conmebol. First it was the Copa Libertadores, where by dint of insistence, its clubs have been climbing to ever higher instances . Then came the Copa America, where it weathered the first round wrapped up by his people, but they met with Uruguay and until there came the ordeal. But the progress is undeniable: this generation is a stone throw away a ticket to reach South Africa. Or at least half ticket.

With four matches, Venezuela is seventh, just three points for fifth place (Ecuador). The next day qualifying visit to the selection of Chile, and then get to Peru. "It's a historic opportunity," said coach Cesar Farias. And is that in times not so remote, the burgundy was accustomed to being regarded as espárring the area and get to that panel at the bottom.

Venezuela is the play with the best we have. Names stand out as juveniles Rafael Romo, Udinese goalkeeper, defender Pablo Camacho (Espanyol), or the shuttle Tomas Rincon (Hamburg), part of the new blood of burgundy. And of course, are the most devoted, as the striker Giancarlo Maldonado, recently signed by the Xerez, and the creative medium Juan Arango (Borussia M'gladbach), the flagship of the selection. Venezuela is an historic playoff, because in South America no hay quinto malo.

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