Santiago: It took an Argentine, Jorge Sampaoli, to plot Chile’s triumph in the Copa America final against his own country.
Lionel Messi and Argentina’s other “Fantasticos” lost their nerve in Santiago’s Estadio Nacional as they sought their first major international title for 22 years.
Chile’s coach Sampaoli stayed true to his livewire reputation, jumping up and down on the touchline urging stars Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal to attack so they could win their first South American championship.
“We had to play a great game against one of the world’s best teams for the quality of players. We should have won in 90 minutes, but ended up getting justice in a shootout,” Sampaoli told a press conference after Saturday’s 4-1 penalty shootout win in Sangtiago.
Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez struck the winning spot-kick for Chile, as the hosts clinched victory when the game ended goalless after extra time.
Sanchez chipped the decisive penalty down the middle past Sergio Romero to spark wild celebrations in front of a 45,000 capacity crowd at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago.
Chile took control of the shoot-out when Gonzalo Higuain blazed his penalty over the bar before Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo saved Ever Banega’s spot-kick.
Argentina captain Messi, aiming to inspire the South American giants to a first international title in 22 years, could only look on distraught as Chile celebrated.
Chile’s win was their first ever victory over Argentina in the Copa America.
“It is a dream come true. We have worked so hard for this,” said Chile star Arturo Vidal.
The midfielder said Chile had been determined to win the Copa America after exiting the World Cup last year on penalties.
“We talked about it in Brazil that we were going to win the Copa America,” Sanchez said. “This is really a great generation we deserve this.”
Since taking over, Sampaoli, 55, has transformed Chile’s national side into true global competitors. As well as Saturday’s South American title, Chile also reached the last 16 at last year’s World Cup and were unlucky not to go further.
But when he arrived in December 2012, Chile had lost three World Cup qualifiers in a row and despite the presence of stars such as Sanchez seemed like a disorganized rabble.
“From the first game, Chile were playing to win the Copa America,” Sampaoili said.
“The team confronted and overcame rivals to win the Copa America through leadership, hard work and discipline. That is the merit of the players that I have fortune to train,” added the coach.
Sampaoli said that Chile are capable of even better. “People are now starting to dream. We have done something great today and qualifying for the (2018) World Cup will be Chile’s next target,” he said.
Sampaoli has an all-Argentine staff helping him with the Chilean players. But despite reports indicating he would like to take over his own country’s team, Sampaoli insists he will stay with Chile at least for the 2018 World Cup in Russia - as long as they qualify.
