Chile’s golden generation, inspired by Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal, have a great opportunity to win the country’s first Copa America title in the tournament they are hosting.
On their day the team’s dynamic, high-pressure game is capable of beating the world’s best, but disappointing results in warm-up friendlies have left doubts hanging over “La Roja”.
A lack of goals and a missing sense of security from the defence are weaknesses that have turned praise for their Argentine manager Jorge Sampaoli’s tactics into criticism.
Photo gallery 12 players to watch at Copa America
At one point, this prompted Sampaoli to say he would gather his squad in Europe to prepare for the tournament away from pressure from media and the fans, although he has changed his mind.
He said he had worked to give better balance to a team who beat holders Spain and almost eliminated Brazil in the first knockout stage of last year’s World Cup when a late Mauricio Pinilla shot hit the bar before the hosts won on penalties.
“We’ve been able to work on our planned tasks, we have brought the players who have played less to the same physical and footballing level as those who saw more action in the season, it’s all been positive,” Sampaoli said.
He said that leading players, such as Gary Medel, Jorge Valdivia and Vidal are in top physical shape whereas they had arrived in Brazil last year with injury problems. “Today, from the physical point of view, there’s a backbone to the team that is in very good shape,” he said.
Best performance runners-up four times - 1955, 1956, 1979, 1987
Fifa ranking 19
Key player Alexis Sanchez
Chile are pinning their hopes of a first Copa America title mainly on brilliant forward Alexis Sanchez, who has had a fine first season in the Premier League with Arsenal capped by a stunning goal in their FA Cup final victory.
Sanchez is hard to pin down for rival defences with his speed of thought and skill on the ball. His role in the team is also free-roving as he operates as a striker, winger and attacking midfielder.
He needs the help of the midfield and notably Arturo Vidal of Juventus, who was not at his best at the World Cup having just recovered from knee surgery.
Chile are in better shape this time: Claudio Bravo in goal, Gary Medel at the back, and Vidal and Jorge Valdivia in midfield setting up the platform for Sanchez to deliver.
Coach Jorge Sampaoli
Argentine Sampaoli, 55, is described by those close to him as a workaholic who leaves no detail to chance and tries to get the utmost from his players.
“I see football as war. I spend all the time looking to see who’s going to find me out. That doesn’t happen to other coaches but it does to me and it keeps me on my toes,” he told Chilean daily La Tercera.
A disciple of fellow Argentine and former Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa, Sampaoli has repeatedly said his players deserve to win something and this tournament at home is their great chance with what many believe to be the country’s best generation of footballers.
In his two years in charge he has given his team an all-out attacking imprint and earned praise for the vertiginous style that took them to the 2014 World Cup last 16 where they lost to hosts Brazil on penalties. He has also received criticism for a sometimes unreliable defence.
Squad
Goalkeepers Claudio Bravo (Barcelona), Johnny Herrera (Universidad de Chile), Paulo Garces (Colo Colo)
Defenders Gary Medel (Inter Milan), Mauricio Isla (Queens Park Rangers), Eugenio Mena (Cruzeiro), Gonzalo Jara (Mainz), Jose Rojas (Universidad de Chile), Miiko Albornoz (Hannover 96)
Midfielders Arturo Vidal (Juventus), Marcelo Diaz (Hamburg SV), Charles Aranguiz (Internacional), David Pizarro, Matias Fernandez (Fiorentina), Jorge Valdivia (Palmeiras), Carlos Carmona (Atalanta), Jean Beausejour (Colo Colo), Felipe Gutierrez (Twente Enschede), Francisco Silva (Club Bruges)
Forwards Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal), Eduardo Vargas (Queens Park Rangers), Angelo Henriquez (Dinamo Zagreb), Mauricio Pinilla (Atalanta)
Follow us on Twitter at our new home at NatSportUAE
