Well, we’re going to wrap the blog up now. Congratulations to Chile; commiserations to Lionel Messi and Argentina. Thanks so much for reading. Have a good night.
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Here’s Eduardo Villanueva with the last word:
Down here we use “huevos” rather than cojones but the idea works. And a Panenka would a “cucharita” Spanish for the Italian word.
I love this:
1 - #CHI won their first Copa America after 173 games played in this competition. Congratulations.
— OptaJavier (@OptaJavier) July 4, 2015
Claudio Bravo celebrates with his Golden Glove trophy.
Claudio Bravo lifts the trophy for Chile, and Eduardo Vargas wins the prize for top scorer.
Ben Lyttleton is the ultimate authority on penalties, and he’s probably right about the “Panenka”: it wasn’t that well executed!
Re Alexis penalty: hardly a Panenka as it barely gets off the ground. CHI had 2 pens to win s-o, so less pressure on Alexis anyway
— Ben Lyttleton (@benlyt) July 4, 2015
That’s another final loss from Argentina. They’ll have to wait at least another year to end their trophy drought, when the centenary version of the Copa America takes place in the US.
Some post-match pictures from Santiago, where Chile have just won their first ever piece of silverware:
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It would take a heart of stone not to feel happy for Chile: they took Argentina all the way, and were, on balance, a deserving champion. It wasn’t a classic match, but it was extremely close fought, and Chile showed real desire, spirit and commitment. Argentina had two big chances through Lavezzi and Aguero, and Alexis might have scored twice for Chile, but Chile did the business in the shootout. Aranguiz’s penalty was unbelievable: he just whacked it. The cojones to do that in such a situation!
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Spectators are taking selfies on the pitch with Alexis. That final penalty from Sanchez was so cocky: a classic Panenka, or il cucchiaio, if you prefer the Italian. Claudio Bravo has a smile as big as Santiago. Well done to them: that was a nerveless penalty kick display.
Messi looks absolutely stunned. His penalty was great, but Higuain and Banega just didn’t do enough. All four of Chile’s penalties were magnificent, and they’re Copa America champions for the first time in their history.
Chile win the Copa America
What a penalty from Alexis! The stadium is going berserk. Congratulations!
Chile 4-1 Argentina: Alexis scores!
That’s it! Chile win the Copa America! With a Panenka! Champions Chile!!!
Chile 3-1 Argentina: Banega misses!
Bravo saves! Poor penalty, and Bravo comes up big!
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Chile 3-1 Argentina: Aranguiz scores
Wow. What a penalty: such power. He just pummelled it.
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Chile 2-1 Argentina: Higuain misses!
Over the bar! Miles over!
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Chile 2 -1 Argentina: Vidal scores
Just. Romero got a hand to it, but too powerful.
Chile 1-1 Argentina: Messi scores
Low and hard: excellent spot kick.
Chile 1-0 Argentina: Fernandez scores
Fernandez first – and that’s brilliant. No chance Romero.
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Mascherano has tears in his eyes. He’s been immense.
Chile in a huddle, and Argentina too. Is Bravo or Romero? the better spot-kick saver?
I can’t pick a winner. It’s been so close. Which team fancies it?
Full-time, extra time: Chile 0-0 Argentina
We’re in the last minute. Medel with a double clearance, but Banega looks for Lavezzi. Medel again! And that’s the whistle! We’re going to penalties!!
119 min: Biglia heads clear, and Higuain completes the clearance. Ninety seconds from penalties.
Messi is tripped. One last chance for Argentina!
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118 min: Corner for Chile. The hosts with a late surge!
117 min: Chance for Chile. Fernandez with the free kick, but Romero punches clear.
116 min: Chile had a three-on-four break there, but Fernandez just couldn’t find Alexis. Now he’s tripped, and it’s a free kick about 45 yards from goal. Silva on Lavezzi in the box just now? Not enough contact: correct call.
115 min: No foul on Lavezzi in the box! I didn’t see it: was he tripped?
113 min: Messi is rugby tackled by Fernandez, but Argentina can’t profit from the free kick. Chile are still trying to win this, and Vidal lays it back for Aranguiz … but it’s over the bar.
113 min: Medel nicks in front of Zabaleta after Chile had switched off from the throw-in. It’s anyone’s to win! Then Alexis is tripped by Otamendi … and no call! Otamendi was nowhere near the ball, but maybe Alexis went down too easily.
111 min: Everyone’s dead on their feet.
Morgan Sheppard asks:
If this game goes to penalties, who do you think will win?
Chile? Argentina? I’ve absolutely no idea! Too close to call.
110 min: Chile defend Messi well on the edge of the box, and streak clear with Henriquez, but the substitute just runs offside from Fernandez’s intelligent pass.
108 min: Isla’s pass to Aranguiz just wasn’t hit hard enough, but that’s a corner. Fernandez takes, headed clear, and Diaz spanks it goalwards. Argentina can’t clear, but Mascherano comes and takes charge.
107 min: Chile have one substitution left. Argentina look absolutely shattered … apart from Messi. Maybe he’s saving himself for one last go. Demichelis decks Alexis, but no call.
106 min: Everyone’s limping. Mascherano, Lavezzi … it’s all in the mind now! Isla goes down the right, but Otamendi does well. Goal kick.
Half-time, extra time: Chile 0-0 Argentina
Still no goals!
105 min: The indefatigable Medel wins another header, but it’s a corner. Claimed by Bravo. And now Alexis is clear! Mascherano missed it, and Alexis went clean through … he looked like he might have checked back inside, but he took the shot, and it was just over. Zabaleta did well to pressure the Chile man, but I think Alexis could have checked, then. Huge chance!
104 min: That’s a brainless foul by Isla on Lavezzi, and this is a dangerous area for Argentina to serve it into the box.
103 min: Lavezzi is down. Argentina, remember, have used all three substitutes.
102 min: This has been an excellent defensive performance by Chile, characterised by the chunky figure of Medel. So committed. Vidal seems to have pushed up here into attack, but he’s whistled for a foul on Otamendi.
100 min: Foul by Vidal on Mascherano, who’s been excellent. What a player.
Patrick Wills has a lovely considered view:
Que partido! Utterly tense and absorbing, both teams look capable of scoring every time they pour forward. Sounds strange considering he’s arguably the best player to have played the game but you’d have to have a heart of stone not to urge Messi on as a neutral. Not to mention the antics of Vidal, Jara et al.
I lived in Argentina last year and got first hand experience of the pressure and frustration that accompanies his every touch with the national team, particularly in Tevez’s absence. He’ll never be what Maradona was to the people but I think history will judge him as the superior player, he just gets better with age. A Copa America win under his belt and redemption at WC2018 as the elder statesman would be just reward for his immeasurable gifts.
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99 min: Messi’s ball in, and it just wouldn’t settle for Rojo.
97 min: Vidal’s cross is knocked away, and then Fernandez gives it away on the edge of the box. But Chile win it back, and Diaz strides forward from defence, and Henriquez gives a lovely reverse pass, but Diaz’s shot is well over the bar.
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95 min: Fernandez tries from way out, and it’s a waste. Now Messi releases Higuain, but he picks the wrong option and his pass for Lavezzi is too strong. He’s no playmaker, Higuain: he needs to be in the six-yard box.
93 min: If Argentina don’t score here, it’ll be four hours of football in two straight finals in which they’ve failed to score. Change for Chile: Henriquez in for Vargas.
92 min: Great cover from Mascherano as Mati came a-coming. Roy Hodgson would approve.
Extra-time begins
91 min: Here we go. And again Chile come out all guns blazing, but no one is there to head home Beausejour’s teasing cross. That’s been the story all night: Vargas and Alexis do so much good work out wide, they’re often missing when the ball comes. Yellow card for Isla on Messi.
So we go to extra time. Thirty minutes, and then penalties. It’s tense!
Admittedly, it was a tight angle, but Higuain knows: he should have clinched the cup!
Full-time: Chile 0-0 Argentina
90 min + 2: Chile break, and for a moment Alexis looks like he’s going to be in … but Argentina clear. And what a chance for Higuain! At the death! Brilliant counter-attack, and Lavezzi rolls it across the face of goal from Messi’s pass … but Higuain can’t finish from a tight angle! What a let-off for Chile!
90 min: Two minutes of stoppage time. Argentina have the ball; Chile look content to go to the extra 30.
89 min: Ooh, that was a heart-in-mouth moment for Chile from Messi’s free-kick. Martino has his head in his hands, but Bravo claims after everyone missed it.
88 min: He hasn’t got forward like Isla, but Beausejour has actually done very well defensively: Zabaleta hasn’t had much of a look in down that right flank. Brilliant turn from Messi; better tackle from Fernandez. But it’s whistled as a foul. Unlucky Chile.
86 min: Aranguiz booked for a clip on Banega. No sign of a second sub for Chile.
85 min: Wilmer Roldan has refereed this very well: it’s been testy, but hasn’t been allowed to get out of hand. And that’s a close offside call! Messi’s ball over the top, and Lavezzi was streaking through … but the official got it right. Excellent officiating.
83 min: Oh, so close! Alexis! Aranguiz’s ball from 35 yards, and Alexis peeled off beautifully, and took it first time on the volley … just wide! So unlucky. Think Dennis Bergkamp’s goal against England at Wembley in 1993. Chile’s best chance, and Romero didn’t look as though he was saving it.
81 min: Nerves! Nine minutes until extra time. Banega in for Pastore, who had been marshalled well by the Chilean defence.
Here’s Daniel Vergara:
In case you can’t read lips in Spanish, Valdivia insulted Sampaoli pretty harshly as he was being subbed. “La concha de tu madre, hijo de puta”, which is a comment on Sampaoli’s mother’s genitalia, and then a speculation that Sampaoli’s mother’s moral reputation may be less than unimpeachable.
80 min: Now Argentina respond, but Pastore can’t quite find Higuain. I fancy Higuain here: he’s such a predator in the penalty box.
79 min: Messi’s pass for Higuain is too strong. Chile has stopped, says Rafael Molina!
I can say this is probably the moment in Chilean history in which all the country is stopped. Nothing is working, public transport, businesses, shops, all stopped watching the game.
Incredible!
78 min: Isla is all on his own on this right flank: Rojo needs some help. Chile really pressing here! But again, it just wouldn’t fall for Vidal, who arrived late. The Chile fans are on their feet. Time for a late winner?
77 min: Isla again down this right side, but it just wouldn’t fall for Chile inside the box. And now Vidal tries to get on to Alexis’s cushioned header … and he goes down in the area! No penalty.
74 min: Vidal is hobbling off for the time being: he looks in pain. He was caught right on top of the knee. Great play from Chile! Beautiful crossfield pass by Alexis, and Isla got past Rojo and was into the box … he tried to pick out Vargas, but his shot was disappointing. Much better, though, and they really fancy this right-hand side.
Higuain in for Aguero, and Mati Fernandez replaces Valdivia for Chile. It hasn’t worked out for Valdivia today, and he looks thoroughly fed up as he exits.
71 min: Vidal is down, caught by Demichelis. He’s struggling. And now Higuain is going to come into the game.
69 min: You can feel the tension now – but Tata Martino looks relaxed. Just a shame we’ve had no goals, because it’s been an enjoyable game otherwise. Messi has been quiet in this second half, but you can’t take your eye off him.
67 min: Alexis again is clear down the right-hand side, but Chile had no one in the box! Where was Vargas? So he had to pull it back to Vidal on the edge, but the Juve star is crowded out by a posse of Argentina defenders. Alexis went past Otamendi so easily then: that’s a match-up Sampaoli will like.
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65 min: … into the wall from 25 yards. Corner, though, and Lavezzi with the inswinger, fisted away by Bravo under pressure, and that’s a foul on the goalkeeper. Never!
64 min: Now Messi is fouled as he looks to go past Vidal. A clear infraction, and this is a good chance for Argentina. Messi standing over it …
62 min: Lovely ball for Zabaleta, and he’s away to the byline, but his cross is behind. That’s disappointing. Argentina have rallied after a poor opening 10 minutes. Vargas, who’s scored four (is it?) goals this tournment, has been quiet.
61 min: Corner to Argentina, and another. Otamendi and Demichelis up from the back: Chile could do with Bravo coming to claim one of these.
60 min: Lavezzi has been prominent since coming on, and he’s close to finding Aguero alone in the box. Argentina coming back into it: it’s their best spell of this second half.
58 min: Chance for Argentina from the corner! Otamendi wins the header, but can’t direct it on goal. Chile do struggle at set plays, don’t they?
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57 min: So disappointing! Aranguiz can’t beat the first man, and Argentina belt it clear.
Here’s James Hopkins:
@timmyhilleh Here's what I want to know: what exactly does Biglia offer Argentina? I can't get my head around why he plays for them
— James Hopkins (@JamesCWH) July 4, 2015
Yeah, he doesn’t have the passing range of, say, Banega, does he? But I suppose he provides the screen with Mascherano so the fab four can roam and create.
56 min: Now a yellow for Mascherano for handball, and he gives the Colombian referee a butter-wouldn’t-melt look. Argentina getting a little ragged here, and this is a good chance from the set piece.
54 min: Otamendi does just enough to stop Valdivia’s ball reaching Alexis, and Rojo hammers it clear. Chile have made a very impressive start here, and that’s a yellow for Rojo on Isla. It was late.
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52 min: Alexis’s corner … and Valdivia is just wide. Rash clearance from Rojo, and Chile can come again.
51 min: Oh, that was almost beautiful from the V men: Valdivia and Vidal. Brought down out of the sky by Vidal, and Valdivia just couldn’t get his reverse pass through. Really bright start here by Chile. Corner kick.
49 min: This is a good start by Chile: they’ve gone down the right-hand side on three occasions now. Are they looking to get at Rojo? Foul by Aranguiz on Pastore, though.
Here’s Lilian Cooper:
I want so badly for Chile to win, yet I have a feeling that Argentina will just snatch it. What do you think?
I totally hear you. Argentina to win by a single goal?
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48 min: That’s a clumsy arm from Demichelis on Vargas, and now a quick free kick from Isla, and Alexis is almost away. Handball on Otamendi there? No whistle!
Maria is in Buenos Aires, and it’s nervy! She writes:
I am in Buenos Aires, but I get too nervous watching the game, so I am following your posts. The city is silent as an empty cathedral... hope it will explode in shouts with a Messi goal ;)
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Second half begins
46 min: We’re back out. No changes at the break, but three Chilean players are on yellow cards: Silva, Medel and Diaz. And here’s Alexis, free in acres of space on the right! His long cross is met by Vidal, but that’s straight at Romero. Shame, but a good start by the hosts.
An email! From Dale Marsden:
Just waiting for a flight that I booked weeks before thinking about the Copa. You’re my only window to the game so please keep it up! Although I’ll be at 30,000 feet when the game ends so my gratitude will be almost entirely retrospective.
Ruud Gullit is such an intelligent, articulate pundit, isn’t he? Just why are Dutch players so bloody smart?? He’s critical of Di Maria for aggravating his hamstring with a mazy run: “Don’t try to resolve the game by yourself. He’s running like a headless chicken!”
Anyone out there?
Chile looked as though they were breathing heavily as they came off just then. It’s so hard to keep that high press for 90 minutes.
Here’s that Di Maria injury: he wasn’t hit, I don’t think. Seemed like he just pulled up.
here's Di Maria's injury... I wonder if he'll be fit for the ManUtd preseason campaign https://t.co/JIq5xFuQEF
— Football Super Tips (@FootySuperTips) July 4, 2015
A really interesting first 45 in Santiago. Argentina have produced two clear chances – the flick header from Aguero that Bravo beat out, and that last one from Lavezzi, who should have done better. Chile came out strongly, and pressed and pressured and harried, but they’ve not really created any clear openings. Just flickers from Valdivia so far.
Well, that first half has flown by. It’s breathless!
Half-time: Chile 0-0 Argentina
45 min + 1: That’s the first space Pastore has found, and his pull-back for Lavezzi is beautiful … but the substitute hits it straight at Claudio Bravo! The best chance of the game: great vision from Pastore, and that’s a free shot for Lavezzi – he should have scored!
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45 min: Alexis tries to bend one after Vidal storms through the middle, but it’s straight at Sergio Romero.
44 min: To give them their due, Chile have defended with heart and desire, despite a clear height disadvantage at set pieces. Otamendi comes through Valdivia and the Chile playmaker has a look of part hurt, part bafflement, and part disgust at the lack of a caution.
43 min: Valdivia tripped again – he wants a yellow card shown. And now Diaz pulls back Messi – that’s a clear yellow, and the referee brandishes a card. Three cautions now for Chile.
Here’s Jerry Slaff:
Here in the U.S., the great Ray Hudson just said “This game is more tense than a hundred teepees.”
Yep! He’s a treasure, isn’t he? And speaks with such obvious love for good football.
Here’s a flavour:
41 min: Chile’s commitment to playing out from defence is admirable, but a number of times they’ve been boxed in after Argentina press high. But they’ve weathered that little Argentina surge, and now a chance to sling one into the box after Valdivia is tripped by Messi.
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40 min: Alexis was in there, but his touch was heavy! Zabaleta’s mistake, but Chile couldn’t profit.
39 min: Bad mistake by Silva, and that’s a needless corner given away. Argentina fancy these set plays, I reckon. Biglia’s ball in is cleared, but Chile can’t keep it, and Argentina squeeze them back in. Chile need to get on the ball here.
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37 min: Nope – it’s chipped in, and headed clear by Medel, all 5ft 7in of him. Corner to Argentina, and Chile were stretched: Aguero was unmarked at the back post, and his cutback was volleyed forward by Pastore. Blocked, and hacked clear. Argentina on top here.
36 min: Now Lavezzi picks up a loose ball and drives at the heart of Chile’s defence. It’s end to end! He’s tripped by Vidal, and it’s an Argentina free kick, 30 yards out and central. Messi to shoot?
34 min: Beausejour has found himself well placed two or three times, but his touch has left him down: he looks off the pace, to be honest. But ha! As soon as I write that, he produces a delicious curling ball that Vidal is this close from getting on the end of. Then Medel, square of head and thick of torso, nails Messi from behind. That’s pretty brutal, and it’s yellow. Keep calm, Gary.
32 min: That’s a fabulous dribble from Sanchez, bouncing off defenders and finding Beausejour. Valdivia’s ball in is cleared, and Chile have to go back to Bravo.
30 min: Late from Vargas on Otamendi, and Vargas caught one right in the face as Otamendi went over. That looked a sore one, but he’ll be OK.
29 min: Some of Chile’s give-and-go stuff is lovely to watch: Alexis and Isla almost combined to get in down the right. Change for Argentina: Lavezzi replaces Di Maria. Not sure what the problem is: we’ll try and find out.
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28 min: Argentina haven’t been intimidated by Chile’s high press and the partisan crowd: they’ve continued to pass the ball and do the right things. Di Maria is struggling: he won’t be able to continue, and Lavezzi is readying himself.
27 min: A break while Di Maria is tended to. Is it his hamstring?
In sartorial news, Sampaoli looks immaculate on the touchline.
26 min: Ball in from Aranguiz is confidently punched clear by Romero, and Argentina look to break. It comes to nothing. But Di Maria is down! This doesn’t look good. He’s just sitting on his backside, almost as if he felt something pop.
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24 min: Chile respond, and Vargas goes close! A long ball from out of defence, and Argentina were so high: Vargas got clear on the right, and surged past Rojo, but his shot was high. First card: Francisco Silva on Di Maria. That’s about the fourth time Di Maria has been clattered by Chile. Deserved yellow for Silva.
22 min: By far the clearest opening we’ve had, that header from Aguero, and it came from a delicious teasing cross from Messi. Little Lionel looks in the mood today.
21 min: Great save by Bravo! So close from Aguero: Messi’s ball was fizzed in with dip and swerve, and Aguero just got a little flick header at the near post. Bravo just reacted, and made himself big. Fine save.
20 min: Great play by Aguero to keep the ball alive as Medel looked to shepherd it out, and Beausejour trips Zabaleta right on the edge of the box on the right-hand side. This is dangerous.
18 min: Biglia trips Aranguiz. It’s just calmed down a little after a hectic start.
17 min: No foul called on Di Maria, and Chile look for Vargas over the top. Good defending from Demichelis, and Argentina can recycle.
16 min: Chile work so hard to win it back quickly when they lose the ball. Diaz has dropped back into that defensive position, as we suspected. What a team Chile are, and what a coach Sampaoli is: so wedded to his principles that he can start a Copa America final without a pure central defender. Three defensive midfielders in defensive positions instead!
14 min: Now here come La Albiceleste again with Messi, who’s started like a train. No time to breathe! Medel cuts it out and prevents the corner. Lovely mix of technique and tenacity so far.
13 min: Chile come again, and that’s great work from Alexis, forcing a corner. Nothing comes of it, and that’s a late one from Aranguiz on Di Maria as the Man Utd player looked to break. No yellow, and Aranguiz is lucky: that should have been a card, and the Argentina bench is pissed.
10 min: This has been an effervescent opening: both sides stepping up and pressing high, and looking to force the play. No reactive football here. Valdivia almost finds Vargas, and then Vargas has a go from range. It’s wide, but there’s a fizz and pop about the hosts.
8 min: Ooh, Di Maria was so close to being in there, but the linesman’s flag was up as he tried to get on to Messi’s raking pass. A hair’s breadth from being on.
7 min: First chance! And it’s Aguero. Pastore wins it twice, and Messi is away, running at the defence as Chile retreat … but his through ball is just too strong for Aguero, who can only poke it goalwards, and Bravo collects easily. Nice start, though.
6 min: Messi picks it up about 30 yards from goal after good work from Biglia, and finds Di Maria wide left. He looks to go at Isla, but his cross just flashes across goal. Bravo didn’t look worried, but should he have been?
4 min: Beautiful pass inside the full-back, and Isla is away again down the right. Rojo does well, but Chile have started brightly.
3 min: This time they go down the left: and Beausejour is almost in, but Demichelis comes across, and it’s a goal kick. Chile love to go wide and stretch the play.
2 min: Argentina pressing high early on. Messi dispossesses Beausejour and a chance for Argentina to build, but Chile win it back and attack down the right, but Isla’s ball is too high for Vargas.
And we're off!
1 min: Argentina in classic blue and white shirts, black shirts, and black socks; Chile in red shirts, blue shorts and white socks. Nice work from Diaz to go back to the keeper, and Chile possess the ball from deep.
Just finishing the formalities before the game. Here are the respective subs’ benches:
Chile substitutes: Mena, Albornoz, Fuenzalida, Pinilla, Garces, Rojas, Fernandez, Pizarro, Gutierrez, Henriquez, Herrera.
Argentina substitutes: Garay, Roncaglia, Gago, Pereyra, Higuain, Guzman, Casco, Tevez, Banega, Lamela, Lavezzi, Marchesin.
Expect Banega and Higuain to feature at some point.
The anthems are done. We’re moments away. Let’s play fútbol!
Here’s the main man:
Ruud Gullit: “Let’s get some goosebumps with the anthems, huh?”
Quite right!
The players are only just coming out: I don’t think we’ll be kicking off on time.
There are so many flags in the stadium: it looks a picture. It’s sunny, and reasonably warm, at about 68F. (It’s 5pm local time.) But the temperature will drop, and if we get extra time it’ll feel distinctly chilly.
An email from Johnny Peace:
Hi Tim, lots of talent on that field, but I for one am waiting to see who the Chileans will target to get riled up. Will we see a red card inside 30 minutes?
Yes! It’s been tetchy, this tournament, and that Chile-Uruguay quarter-final – the quarter-final of Gonzalo Jara’s finger up Edinson Cavani’s arse – descended into farce by stoppage time. Cool heads, please: let’s not have any red cards spoiling things.
If you’d like to keep in touch with the third-place playoff at the Women’s World Cup, join Alan Smith here:
Chile have never beaten Argentina in the Copa America, and they’ve only won six of 85 games in history. Why not tonight, though?
I’m really excited for this game: a packed stadium, two great teams, and a chance for some long overdue silverware. Let’s hope it lives up to expectations, eh?!
Here’s Daniel:
@timmyhilleh prediction: 1-1, chile on penalties
— Dr Daniel Chernilo (@danielchernilo) July 4, 2015
One thing worth bearing in mind: this match will go to extra time and then penalties if it’s level after 90; not straight to penalties, as happened in the quarter-finals and semis.
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Where are you watching the game in Santiago? Maybe one of these great bars:
Some pictures from Santiago, where the national stadium is absolutely packed:
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With the selection of Jean Beausejour for Chile, it looks as though Marcelo Diaz might drop in to make a three in defence, alongside Silva and Medel. Chile love to press, and dominate, and have possession of the ball, but they could find themselves short when Argentina counter-attack. Should be a nice contrast of styles – I think Argentina will be happy to concede the lion’s share of possession and look to break quickly and incisively.
Neither side have perfect records in this tournament, but both are unbeaten: Chile began with a 2-0 victory over Ecuador, drew with Mexico in a rumbustious 3-3, and hammered Bolivia 5-0 before two nervy wins over Uruguay and Peru.
Argentina started slowly with a dopey 2-2 draw against Paraguay, but beat Uruguay and Jamaica 1-0, defeated Colombia on penalties after a 0-0 draw, and then hammered Paraguay, and looked great doing so, in the semis.
Who’s gonna win? I’d love to hear from you: email or tweet me!
On beIN Sports, Andy Gray and Ruud Gullit are debating whether Messi is better than Maradona. Gullit says of Messi: “He’s the most complete player I’ve ever seen.”
There’s been so much to enjoy in this year’s Copa, but tonight we’re going to see two attacking talents who fly a little under the radar: Javier Pastore and Jorge Valdivia.
Tim Vickery over at ESPN descrives Palmeiras’s Valdivia as “the twinkle-toed playmaker is the enfant terrible of Chilean football, consistently promising more than he delivers – until now. At 31, Valdivia is aware that this is his moment. Fitter than ever before, he has lasted the pace of the games and has kept finding the solutions to unlock packed defences.” He’s been great in this tournament, and has linked up beautifully with Alexis and Eduardo Vargas. Can he conduct the Chilean orchestra in the final?
Pastore, of PSG, if red hot, and was scintillating in Argentina’s semi-final victory, scoring once and providing a beautiful through pass for Angel di Maria’s first goal. As former Aston Villa striker Juan Pablo Angel says: “He understands Messi the best, and he knows what Messi wants to do when he has the ball.”
Oh yeah! Messi. That guy. One hundred and two international caps, 46 goals. Time for a first international title?
Some team news: Argentina are unchanged, so Martin Demichelis takes his place at centre-back instead of Ezequiel Garay. For Chile, Francisco Silva comes in for his first start, and Jean Beausejour is in, too: I guess this means four at the back for the hosts?
¡Formaciones confirmadas para #Chile vs. #Argentina! http://t.co/9jVDytHIRo pic.twitter.com/xTclm1jR01
— Copa América 2015 (@CA2015) July 4, 2015
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Good evening!
Hello and welcome. For Chile and Argentina, tonight’s the night: can a golden generation do what golden generations repeatedly don’t, and march off with a trophy?
It’s been 22 years since Argentina last won a major international trophy, which, for a side of their calibre, is patently absurd. All that quality, and nothing to show! Since Gabriel Batistuta et al beat Mexico 2-1 in 1993, they’ve lunged, flailed, and mispunched in tournament play, but this evening they can end two decades of disappointment and actually win a cup. They’ve been slowly moving through the gears here in Chile, and they looked ominous in a 6-1 semi-final tonking of Paraguay on Wednesday. Chile beware.
Hosts Chile – and this is truly ridiculous – have never won anything. One hundred and five years, more than 750 games, and their trophy cabinet is empty, barren and sad. But this is a team that bristles with spunk and skill, and tonight, led by their hugely impressive coach Jorge Sampaoli, they have the chance to make history. Win, and Santiago is going to be a party. Lose, and those cases of Chilean Merlot may very well stay corked.
It’s the final of the 2015 Copa América, and it’s live from the national stadium in Santiago. Kick off is 4pm ET, 9pm BST, it should be a cracker – and I’d love you to join me.
Updated
Tim will be here shortly. Meanwhile, here’s Jonathan Wilson on how Lionel Messi stands in the way of Chile’s inspired realists:
“At last” is a relative term. Argentina may feel their 22-year drought keenly but Chile’s goes back to 1916. They were one of the four national teams who took part in the first Copa América but they have still never won anything. The pressure is intense, which perhaps explains the strange tetchiness of Jorge Sampaoli this week, complaining about the amount of praise the Chilean press gave Argentina after the semi-final.
“As a country and as a group, this is the moment when we must unite to achieve what we all desire,” said the centre-back José Rojas. “For 28 years we have not played in a final. As we Chileans unite as when there is a catastrophe, we must now do the same, because on Saturday we will need it.”
