A Name to Remember: Cristopher Toselli

When you watch international youth tournaments like the U-20 World Cup it is easy to get excited about goal scoring prodigies whose performances will leave the big clubs chasing after them like Britney Spears trying to bag a good man. Getting excited about goalkeepers on the other hand is a bit more of a challenge. They usually just exist as a bit character in the goal scoring highlights. Chile’s Cristopher Toselli is the exception to the rule.

The 19-year-old man with the mullet has been stellar in goal for Chile during the 2007 U-20 World Cup. Heading into Thursday’s semifinal against Argentina, Toselli has yet to yield a goal. That is five straight shutouts. That is 480 minutes without a giving up a goal, five short of the tournament record set by a guy named Claudio Taffarel back in 1985. That is impressive feat in a tournament that has not lacked for goals.

Toselli benefits from having a solid Chilean defense in front of him, but he has also shown that he is a skillful keeper. He plays his club football for the Chilean tam Universidad Catolica where he has yet to have much of an impact. That will surely change.

Toselli is still young, especially for a keeper, but his quick reflexes and advanced knowledge of the game make him A Name to Remember. Unfortunately there isn’t a video of him making spectacular saves set to butt rock music, but if you like adoring slide shows you are in luck. If you like quality football, you might want to watch the Chile-Argentina affair. There will be loads of talent on the pitch.

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Category: South America, World Football