In a peculiar start to their bid to reach Brazil 2014, Chile found themselves top of the pile after six matches in South America's gruelling CONMEBOL qualification marathon, despite being on the brutal receiving end of two clinical forward performances.
Gonzalo Higuain fired a hat-trick as Chile lost their opening away game 4-1 in Argentina and matters did not improve next time out away from home as Luis Suarez went one better and notched all four of Uruguay's unanswered goals.
There was better news in between those reverses in Santiago when Peru were dispatched 4-2. This performance was replicated in the form of three consecutive 2-0 wins over Paraguay, Bolivia and Venezuela, but suspicions that Chile were not completely comfortable with the style implemented by coach Claudio Borghi were then realised.
Predecessor Marcelo Bielsa imposed his high-intensity pressing game based around pace, width and an unswerving attacking outlook on the team that reached the last 16 of the 2010 World Cup.
Although Borghi retained the core of this group, his decision to drop the defensive line deeper exposed Chile's frailties at that end of the field – first against Argentina and Uruguay before the former rounded off a third defeat in as many matches after losses to Colombia and Ecuador halted the early momentum.
Lionel Messi displayed his trademark silky footwork to open the scoring before Chile's Buenos Aires tormentor Higuain doubled the advantage with a solo effort as the eventual group winners claimed a 2-1 win.
The match proved to be Borghi's last competitive outing at the helm as he was sacked in the immediate aftermath of a 3-1 friendly loss to Serbia.
Argentinian Jorge Sampaoli followed in the footsteps of his countrymen Bielsa and Borghi by taking the job on the back of a decorated stint in charge of Universidad de Chile.
A self-confessed disciple of Bielsa, Chile's free-flowing style returned and, despite a 1-0 loss to Peru in his first qualifier in charge, the impact was stunning.
Revenge was enjoyed over qualification rivals Uruguay in March - Esteban Paredes breaking the deadlock from close range as the visiting defence was rushed en masse and Eduardo Vargas added a second after Chile rode their luck.
In-form forward Vargas then opened the scoring in the next three matches as Paraguay, Bolivia and Venezuela were beaten.
Qualification looked assured as a brace from Barcelona attacker Alexis Sanchez helped Chile race into a 3-0 lead in Colombia, but they collapsed to a 3-3 draw after Carlos Carmona's second yellow card.
Ecuador striker Felipe Caicedo sparked fears of a repeat in the final qualifying match when he halved a two-goal advantage gained by Sanchez and Gary Medel, but Sampaoli's men held on.
With the likes of Sanchez, Medel, Isla and Juventus star Arturo Vidal reaching their peak and complimented by mercurial playmaker Jorge Valdivia, Chile are well placed to make an impression in
Brazil and statistics of 29 goals for and 25 against in qualification suggest it will be an entertaining one.
However, last-16 losses in 1998 and 2010, along with two more in qualification for the latter tournament to the same opponents means they will be keen to avoid the hosts.