If there was ever a time to have to respond for performance, now is the time for the Venezuelan national team. Being on the job now seven years, coach Richard Páez was given every resource and every compliment by several media outlets domestically and throughout the region. Heralded as the coach that gave rise to Venezuela’s improvement. All this credit was given to Páez and his nucleus of players that turned the <span style="font-style:italic;">Vinotinto</span> from perennial doormats in CONMEBOL to dangerous spoilers. The proof is in the pudding and they showed everyone that in Venezuela football is quickly growing in popularity. They were able to improve in the last two qualifiers and reach the quarterfinals of this past Copa América for the first time in history.
If the team takes that next step, their legacy will grow that much more, but what if that is not the case? What if the team does not do what they are expected to do, will Richard Páez stay on as coach?
People in Venezuela expect the national team to fight for that playoff spot in which they will be facing off against the fourth place CONCACAF side. For many individuals this is the ultimate expectation for the Venezuelans. It is the culmination of years of preparation that this side has done since Omar Pastoriza stepped down as coach back in 2000.
The Beginning Or End Of A Cycle?
With mostly foreign players as well as the Caracas FC, Richard Páez will have potential on the attack. No longer will the game have to go solely through Mallorca’s Juan Arango in order to generate some attack. With players like Miku and Giancarlo Maldonado, the <span style="font-style:italic;">Vinotinto</span> have some firepower. Maldonado has torn it up in the Mexican league this season with Atlante. His 11 goals in ten matches made him an automatic choice for Páez and the most dangerous threat for the Venezuelans at this moment.
The middle of the formation has been the nucleus throughout this developmental process, still they have not been able to get through the proverbial hump that has held them back. There were signs of them doing some real damage in the last qualifiers with shocking away wins against Colombia and Uruguay in their respective backyards. Sandwiched in there was a win against Bolivia in San Cristobal, thus overtaking everyone and being within reach of a spot to Germany. Then they hit the skids.
They were only able to earn ten out a possible 39 points, thus sealing their fate, although this time it was the bitterest taste that Venezuelan football ever got. This is part of the motivation that they need to have especially at home where they know their World Cup pretensions will begin.
San Cristóbal Factor
If you look at the climate of the area, this would be a truly hostile environment for most teams in the region and in the world. The term "dog days of summer" applies to this city all year long. Hot and humid, it is something that the home side is used to and should take advatange of- and haven’t. Even though they earned the majority of their points at home, it was the points that they lost that could have made the difference. With only 11 out of possible 27 points earned at home (they ended up with 18 in the final standings), there was no way that they would be able to make a true run at qualifying. They will need to make that factor more prevalent against the Southern Cone teams as well as as the Andean sides that mostly use altitude as their "weapon of choice".
Still with a little bit of luck, a more mature side, and some brilliant individual and collective tactics they could be ready for that leap.
Goalkeepers:
Renny Vega (Busaspor-TUR)
Leonardo Morales (Deportivo Anzoátegui)
Defenders:
José Manuel Rey (AEK Larnaka-CYP)
Héctor González (AEK Larnaka-CYP)
Alejandro Cichero (Litex-BUL)
Luis Vallenilla (Nea Salamis-CYP)
Roberto Rosales (Gent-BEL)
Andrés Rouga (Alki Larnaka-CYP)
Jorge Rojas (América-COL).
Midfielders:
Edder Pérez (Marítimo-POR)
Ricardo David Páez (Veria FC-GRE)
Leonel Vielma (Caracas FC)
Alejandro Guerra (Caracas FC)
Luis Vera (Caracas FC)
Miguel Mea Vitali (Unión Maracaibo)
Luis Manuel Seijas (Deportivo Táchira).
Forwards:
Juan Arango (Real Mallorca-ESP)
Giancarlo Maldonado (Atlante-MEX)
Nicolás Fedor "Miku" (Gimnástic Tarragona-ESP)
Daniel Arismendi (Unión Maracaibo)
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