Saturday, September 13, 2014

World Cup '74 Portrait #153 (Carlos Caszely: Chile)




graphite & putty eraser, with watercolour pencil/30x21cm

Today we represent the generously-moustachioed Carlos Caszély, a photo sticker of whom was featured in both the FKS & Panini World Cup 1974 collectors’ albums (the former providing the original source image for our subsequent ‘re-mediation’ in this instance) & who was selected as a member of the Chile squad for the tournament, at which he played twice, in the first match against the hosts West Germany, during which he was sent off (becoming the first player to be physically shown a red card in the process), & what proved to be the Chileans’ last, the goalless draw with Australia that resulted in both teams being eliminated at the conclusion of the First Round.

Research reveals that Caszély had further interesting history with the World Cup, featuring when Chile qualified for the Finals again in 1982 in Spain, missing a crucial penalty in a 0 – 1 defeat to Austria, again being absent from the Chileans’ second match (coincidentally against his earlier nemesis West Germany) & then being substituted whilst Chile were 0 – 3 in arrears to Algeria in their final fixture with his replacement scoring the second of Chile's comeback goals in an eventual 2 – 3 defeat.

At the time of the ’74 World Cup, & although he played the majority of his career for Colo Colo, in two spells, in Chile, Caszely had spent the preceding season in Spain, playing for Levante, going on afterwards to Espanyol for a further four years, & tonight our thoughts turn to Spain & indisputably the most delightful result of the weekend (even considering Wrexham’s late comeback triumph over Welling), Atlético’s wonderful 2- 1 victory in the Madrid derby – happy days indeed.

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