Foreign News

‘We left our life on the field,’ Chile player says as they beat Argentina to win Copa America

Published

10 years ago

July 5, 2015

Alexis Sanchez scored the winning kick

Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez slotted in the winning spot-kick after Argentina’s Gonzalo Higuain fired over and Ever Banega was denied by Claudio Bravo.

Higuain had earlier missed from close range after 90 minutes of few chances.

Sanchez came closest in extra time for Chile, who scored all four of their penalties in the shootout.

Where Chile held their nerve, Argentina wilted in the shootout at the end of a performance that fell well short of the heights they reached in their 6-1 semi-final win over Paraguay.

Le Albiceleste are without a major trophy in the last 22 years since winning the 1993 Copa America in Ecuador.

Chile celebrate win

BBC World Service’s Richard Padula in Santiago:

“It was a game in which the destroyers kicked, grappled and smothered the playmakers. Messi wasn’t given a yard of space as Chile stifled Argentina’s attack. In that regard Jorge Sampaoli’s game-plan worked perfectly. Apparently he’d studied hours of tapes of Barcelona in action to discover the key to stopping Messi.

“But throughout the tournament the Chileans have shown a strong will-to-win, which at times could even be described as dirty. Jara’s finger the perfect case in point. They out-fought Uruguay and stamped out Argentina’s goal menace.

Chile have never won the Copa America in the competition’s 99-year history, but with such a strong team there was clearly a feeling inside the country of ‘now or never’.

“And so it went to penalties. Maybe it was just the smoggy air but it seemed almost impossible to breathe inside the stadium.”

chille

Chile’s victory brought an end to almost a century of competing in the Copa America without claiming a title.

They were one of four teams who played in the very first tournament in 1916 in Argentina but the best they had done until this year was runner-up, which they have achieved on four occasions (1955, 1956, 1979 and 1987).

Chile end a century of hurt

Chile won their first Copa America after 173 games played in this competition, dating back to the first tournament in 1916.

The Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos was a cauldron of noise on Saturday, full of flag-waving red-clad home supporters, some of whom had reportedly paid up to $25,000 for tickets.

They were not treated to a dazzling attacking display from their side but rather one of drive, discipline and, ultimately, composure, epitomised by the industrious and energetic Sanchez and Charles Aranguiz.

Missing Messi

Following Argentina’s World Cup final defeat to Germany last summer, four-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi once again missed out on his first major international medal.

He put in a supreme showing in the Copa America semi-final demolition of Paraguay, playing a part in all six of his nation’s goals, but on Saturday he was largely on the periphery throughout, with his most significant contribution being a trademark run towards the Chile box to set up a wasted chance for Higuain in the final minute.