Copa America 2024 Preview
A brief guide to how Chile are looking on the eve of the 2024 Copa America.
As Chile trudged off the pitch at the end of a goalless World Cup qualifier against Paraguay in Santiago in November, the mood around the national team was arguably the most pessimistic it had been since the dark days of the mid-2000s pre-Bielsa. Eduardo Berizzo resigned that same night, despite Chile playing Ecuador just days later in a match they would narrowly lose 1-0. Seven months and three friendly matches later, the mood has changed immeasurably. The reason? Ricardo Gareca.
Gareca has Chile playing with fearlessness and confidence again. La Roja swept aside Albania with ease in Italy in March with a 3-0 win before giving France a scare in Marseille a few days later in a 3-2 defeat. In their last warm-up game, they comfortably beat Paraguay 3-0 in the Estadio Nacional in Santiago. It was in stark contrast to that aforementioned World Cup qualifier a few kilometers down the road in Estadio Monumental.
What’s Changed?
As leading South American football writer Tim Vickery often noted about Chile’s golden generation, high intensity, high pressing in the opposition’s half is an excellent match for the type of player that Chile produces. Bielsa and Sampaoli imposed this style of play on Chile in their heyday, and Gareca has brought much of it back. The players look like they are enjoying their football again, something that has rarely been seen since the last Copa America in the USA in 2016 where following a slow start in the group stage, Chile exploded into life beating Mexico 7-0 and Colombia 2-0 in the space of a few days to set up another Copa America final against Argentina. After the peak of 2014 to 2016, Chile slowly regressed and became increasingly lethargic as the legs and lungs of the Golden Generation aged.
There’s a new energy about Chile now though. Marcelino Núñez and Rodrigo Echeverría have both given tireless displays in the midfield in recent games. Víctor Dávila is perhaps the player that has benefitted most from Gareca’s appointment. Three goals in four games for the CSKA Moscow forward, who previously hadn’t found the net for La Roja. Dávila can play a number of roles in the forward positions, and his two late-breaking headed goals against Paraguay last week appear to have sealed his place in the side in the 4-2-3-1 system.
Igor Lichnovsky has won his place in defence over Guillermo Maripán, and he’ll partner Paulo Díaz at the heart of the defence.
Against Peru in the opener, expect Chile to be attacking, often forming a line of 5 behind Vargas up top as the fullbacks will push up high. There will be plenty of intricate and fast football before the ball finds one of those fullbacks out wide to cross. Out of possession, Chile will look to press high especially early but then fall into a compact shape in their own half in two banks of four.
Is the Golden Generation Still Going?
Sort of. For the past couple of years, Claudio Bravo, Eduardo Vargas, and Mauricio Isla had all seemingly played their last game for Chile. They are all back in under Gareca and performing well. Arturo Vidal and Gary Medel, have not made the squad. They do not seem to be in the new manager’s plans at all; for many, this is a much-needed break from two big but controversial characters.
Chile’s greatest-ever player and leading goalscorer Alexis Sánchez is still a key man in this side. He’s tasked with playmaking duties behind Vargas through the middle. Sánchez has struggled for goals and assists for La Roja in the past couple of years, but early signs suggest he’s much more comfortable in the new system and style than he was under Gareca’s predecessors.
Ones to Watch
Chile heads into the competition with one of the oldest squads, but the youngster on everybody’s lips heading into this Copa America is Darío Osorio. Recently linked to Liverpool, the 20-year-old attacker has lit up the Danish Superliga this past season for champions FC Midtjylland. He may not start the first game, but his chance will come. A well-loved member of the dressing room already that Sánchez and Isla have taken under their wing, Osorio offers pace, dribbling, incisive passing, and a wicked shot. His best display to date in a Chile shirt came in that friendly defeat to France, and there’s a feeling he could light up this tournament for Chile if given the chance.
Marcelino Núñez is trying hard to win back the trust of the Chilean public after a petulant red card against Venezuela in a World Cup qualifier last year. His goal and performance against France is arguably the best version of Núñez we’ve seen for La Roja to date, and it was clear he had carried the confidence over from a successful spell in the Norwich side in The Championship. He did struggle in the warm-up friendly against Paraguay, however, and if he doesn’t get off to a good start in the USA, Echeverría is there to step into his place.
How Far Can Chile Get?
With Argentina heading up the group, it is difficult to see anything other than a fight for second place, which would mean a meeting with the winner of Group B. The last time Chile failed to get out of the group stage of a Copa America was in 2004, but Peru can boast an even longer run than that. Chile beat Peru last year in Santiago 2-0 and have improved since then, while Peru have yet to show any signs of recovery since Gareca’s resignation two years ago.
On recent evidence, I believe Chile can get second in the group and win their quarter-final too. However, they need to make sure they beat Peru in the opener and be careful not to underestimate Canada in that final group game where they are likely to need at least a point.
Chile have happy memories of the last time Conmebol took the Copa America to the USA, famously beating Argentina on penalties for the second consecutive year. A repeat of that is very unlikely, but there’s optimism in the national media and among the avid followers of Chilean football that La Roja have their swagger back and may spring a surprise or two.
Likely XI: Claudio Bravo; Mauricio Isla, Igor Lichnovsky, Paulo Díaz, Gabriel Suazo; Erick Pulgar, Marcelino Núñez; Víctor Dávila, Alexis Sánchez, Diego Valdés (or Dario Osorio); Eduardo Vargas.
Great article. Praying for Chile to get their swagger back and make a decent run this year.