Chile are looking to return to their Copa America winning ways this summer in the United States, but they were sorted into Group A along with the reigning champions, Argentina.
Chile might have won back-to-back Copa Americas in 2015 and 2016, but La Roja have struggled to find success in the tournament since their monumental victories against Argentina. With most of their legendary stalwarts playing in what is likely their last Copa America, Chile could get an ending fitting for a Hollywood script, only if they get past La Albiceleste.
Ricardo Gareca and his men will do their best to reach the final on July 14, but first, they must survive Group A.
Here’s 90min’s guide to Chile at Copa America 2024.
Claudio Bravo will play his last Copa America this summer. / Jonathan Moscrop/GettyImages
A lot of familiar faces headline Chile’s Copa America 2024 squad, including Alexis Sanchez and Claudio Bravo. Both Chilean legends will likely play their last ever Copa America this summer, and are looking to go out on a high.
Eduardo Vargas is also back, along with Erick Pulgar. Vargas will play in his fifth Copa America for his country while Pulgar suits up for his fourth.
Despite most of Chile’s iconic players making the roster, a couple were not included in the final selections. Arturo Vidal, a man with 135 international caps for his country, will watch the tournament from home for the first time in his senior career.
La Roja’s most experienced defender, Gary Medel, also did not make the cut at age 36.
Chile’s Copa America 2024 squad
Player
Position
Club
Squad number
Claudio Bravo
Goalkeeper
Real Betis
1
Brayan Cortes
Goalkeeper
Colo-Colo
23
Gabriel Arias
Goalkeeper
Racing Club
12
Matias Catalan
Defender
Talleres
21
Guillermo Maripan
Defender
AS Monaco
3
Paulo Diaz
Defender
River Plate
5
Igor Lichnovsky
Defender
Club America
16
Gabriel Suazo
Defender
Toulouse
2
Thomas Galdames
Defender
Godoy Cruz
8
Mauricio Isla
Defender
Independiente
4
Benjamin Kuscevic
Defender
Fortaleza
25
Nicolas Fernandez
Defender
Audax Italiano
17
Erick Pulgar
Midfielder
Flamengo
13
Marcelino Nunez
Midfielder
Norwich City
7
Rodrigo Echeverria
Midfielder
Huracan
18
Diego Valdes
Midfielder
Club America
15
Cesar Perez
Midfielder
Union La Calera
24
Esteban Pavez
Midfielder
Colo-Colo
6
Alexis Sanchez
Forward
Inter Milan
10
Dario Osorio
Forward
Midtjylland
26
Victor Davila
Forward
CSKA Moscow
9
Eduardo Vargas
Forward
Atletico Mineiro
11
Ben Brereton Diaz
Forward
Sheffield United
22
Marcos Bolados
Forward
Colo-Colo
19
Maximiliano Guerrero
Forward
Universidad de Chile
20
Cristian Zavala
Forward
Colo-Colo
14
Chile play their first Copa America 2024 match against Peru. / Xavier Laine/GettyImages
Chile’s first match of Copa America 2024 is against Peru, a team La Roja just beat 2-0 in October 2023. Expect Chile to walk away with all three points.
Lionel Messi and Argentina await Ricardo Gareca’s men on June 25. Chile’s biggest competition in Group A (and the tournament) are undoubtedly the reigning champions, and the outcome of the fixture will likely determine which team wins the group.
Chile will face Canada in their final Group Stage fixture. Although Canada are not expected to make it to the quarter-finals, the team is young, hungry, and led by one of the best fullbacks in the world, Alphonso Davies.
Chile’s Copa America 2024 group stage fixtures
Date/Kick-off Time (ET)
Fixture
Location
June 21 / 8:00 p.m.
Peru vs Chile
AT&T Stadium – Arlington, TX
June 25 / 9:00 p.m.
Chile vs Argentina
MetLife Stadium – East Rutherford, NJ
June 29 / 8:00 p.m.
Canada vs Chile
Inter&Co Stadium – Orlando, FL
Chile’s record vs Copa America 2024 group stage opponents
Nation
Games played
Won
Drawn
Lost
Peru
85
47
14
24
Argentina
95
8
25
62
Canada
9
3
5
1
Chile’s potential knockout opponents
Chile will likely come second in Group A, therefore they will play the winners of Group B in the quarter-finals of Copa America 2024. Group B consists of Mexico, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Jamaica, and El Tri are expected to finish atop the group.
Although Chile vs Mexico is the expected outcome, Chile would face the runners-up of Group B (presumably Ecuador or Venezuela) if they somehow manage to beat Argentina for first place in Group A.
Chile would not have to face the reigning champions again until a potential semifinal.
Eduardo Vargas is approaching a Copa America goalscoring record. / Nicolò Campo/GettyImages
Eduardo Vargas is one of Chile’s most important players at Copa America 2024. The Atletico Mineiro man already has 14 Copa America goals, making him the fifth all-time goalscorer in the competition’s 108-year history. If Vargas continues to find the back of the net this summer, he just might tie or surpass Norberto Martinez and Zizinho’s record of 17 goals.
Vargas and Chile are at their best when Victor Davila is joining in on the goalscoring action. The winger scored a brace in La Roja’s most recent international friendly against Paraguay, and as one of the youngest players in Chile’s attack (age 26), he will need to use his speed and stamina to keep the pressure on opposing sides.
Norwich City’s Marcelino Nunez is part of Chile’s next generation. The 24-year-old might not have a lot of experience representing his country, but he is making the most of his recent call-ups, starting in every match for La Roja in 2024 so far. He will continue to carve out his place in Chile’s midfield this summer.
Chile will advance beyond Group A at Copa America 2024. / RODRIGO ARANGUA/GettyImages
Chile might not be destined to win Copa America 2024, but they are predicted to make it out of Group A and advance to the quarter-finals. La Roja made a quarter-final exit in the competition back in 2021 when they faced Brazil, but their opponent this time around will likely be Mexico.
Chile’s experience on the pitch, especially in this tournament, might be enough to get past El Tri, but they will not defeat Argentina in the semifinals.
The ceiling for Chile at Copa America 2024 is a third place match, but they could just as easily lose in the quarter-finals to Mexico and leave the United States without any silverware.
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Publish date : 2024-06-20 12:00:03
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