Chile Will Never Have an Opportunity like This Again

Jun 12, 2015 - by Dani

Chile National Football Team is Ready for Copa America

Chile participated in the first edition of the Copa America 99 years ago in Buenos Aires, still they did not won a single tournament yet. Now they have an excellent squad featuring world class footballers and capable of playing the fastest and most intense pressing game around. Chile uses an approach that is arguably the most up-to-date in football, though they will be under exaggerated pressure playing in front of their home crowd. Chile came very close to eliminate Brazil in the World Cup last year, and though they were unlucky then, their time might have come to achieve something big.

The Guardian: Chile host Copa América with best chance to end 99-year wait for title

Chile participated in the very first edition of the Copa America in Buenos Aires in 1916 together with Brazil, Uruguay and the hosts, Argentina. Uruguay, being arguably the best national team in the world that time, won that tournament and added 14 more Copa titles later, while Argentina captured 14 titles and Brazil also managed to win 8 Copas to date.

And Chile did not win one. But now they have probably the best chance to alter this record. They have top quality players in Claudio Bravo, Arturo Vidal and Alexis Sanchez, with a compact team that can play in 3-4-1-2 and 4-3-3 as well, always pressing and dictating a very high tempo.

They almost eliminated Brazil last summer in the round 16 of the World Cup, but the crossbar and the penalty shootout favoured the hosts then. However, Chile’s time might have come finally, though the injuries of Mauricio Isla and Eduardo Vargas hurts their chances according to latest gambling news.

ESPNFC.com: The Copa America: A summer of vindication and redemption awaits

The current Chile national team is the most talented the country ever had, so, as they will be playing on home soil, they will have as good a chance to win the Copa America they will never have again. Not to mention the strength of their group which is the easiest in the tournament, also featuring Ecuador, Mexico and Bolivia.

Alexis Sanchez is optimistic (Source: Daily Star)

Alexis Sanchez is optimistic (Photo: Daily Star)

The prolific striker of Arsenal, Alexis Sanchez said that “The time has come to achieve big things.” However, this tournament will be also about the two South American giants. After Brazil were humiliated by Germany 7-1 in the semifinals, and Argentina were just beaten by Joachim Low’s side in the final, both teams have something to prove at the Copa.
The latter won its last trophy 22 years ago, and was struggling in the previous edition of the Copa at home. However they were able to find a way to bring out the most from Lionel Messi since, and the No. 10 is arguably in the best form of his career, which might be easily the best form in any football player’s career ever, according to many followers of sports scores.

WSC.co.uk: Pressure on Chile to end Copa América hoodoo

Though Chile has been present at the Copa America since it was first organized in 1916, they have never won the competition. Nations like Peru, Bolivia and Colombia were all had the opportunity to celebrate a Copa victory but this never happened with Chileans before. However, now they have a real chance to experience that feeling.

Jorge Sampaoli is aware of expectations (Photo: Elgrafico Chile)

Chile hosted six Copas before, but they only reached the final once. National team coach Jorge Sampaoli, realizing the level of expectations amongst the fans, planned to take the squad to Europe to prepare for the tournament properly. However they opted to stay at home instead, placing the team’s facilities and the roads nearby under heavy security surveillance.

A Chilean TV station tried to make pictures of the squad’s training by deploying a drone, however when the device flew over the training pitch, Sampaoli ordered his team to leave the field. All media workers were also banned from the training center immediately, gambling news report.

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