In serious trouble in Group A due to the defeat against Argentina, Chile is playing for survival in the 2024 Copa América this Saturday against Canada in Orlando with the exclusive mission of winning, while the ‘Canucks’ can use a draw to advance to the quarterfinals.
La Roja was mortally wounded on Tuesday at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford (New Jersey) due to the 1-0 that the Albiceleste, world champion and defender of the continental title, applied to them on the second date, as well as the victory Canadian with the same score over Peru in Kansas City (Kansas).
Both results, plus the very poor 0-0 against the Incas in the debut in Arlington (Texas), have Chile on the brink of knockout, and they will only find oxygen by adding the three points at the Inter&Co Stadium, the charming home of Orlando City of the Major League Soccer (MLS).
But Chile will also have to listen to the fans in Miami, where Argentina and Peru will face each other on the same day at the same time (00:00 GMT on Sunday), because a possible victory for the team with the red stripe would leave the decision to qualify for the second round of the quarterfinals at the mercy of the tiebreaker criteria.
To further aggravate the woes of La Roja, Conmebol suspended coach Ricardo Gareca this Friday with a one-match suspension for the delay of a Chilean player in entering the field for the second half against Argentina.
A situation that also covers the Argentina coach, Lionel Scaloni, for the match against Peru.
– Trust –
Unable to take part in the press conference prior to the match against the Americans, Gareca’s first assistant, Uruguayan Sergio Santín, regretted the suspension of the ‘Tigre’ and assured that the sanction does not take La Roja out of focus.
“It is an inconvenience, we are going to solve it. Canada has its history and we do not put any team below, it is a fundamental match against a great team,” said ‘Bocha’ Santín.
“We are watching, we believe and we have faith in the other possibility, which is to win and qualify. We are certain about the performance, personality, and the day-to-day we have with everyone. We continue to believe in the possibility of going all the way,” he added.
Santín’s tone is the same as that expressed by Gareca after the defeat against the Albiceleste, when he said that “we both risked our lives” and that his team’s chances of advancing “remain intact.”
Midfielder Rodrigo Echeverría, who had a good performance against Argentina with two goal-scoring opportunities saved by goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, said that “the hope is intact” and the possibility of reaching the quarterfinals “is real.”
“We are going to fight until the end against Canada. We are going to go out and win in Orlando,” remarked the midfielder of the Argentine Huracán.
– Historic triumph –
In Canada happiness is no less. The victory against the Peruvians, the first in their historic debut in the Copa América, has them on the brink of the quarterfinals and just one point separates them from the ticket to the final phase.
“For us it will be a great challenge. We know that a victory is still the most important thing, and the three points give us a 100% pass,” said their coach, the American Jesse Marsch.
“When I took the job and saw the draw for the tournament, I knew we were in for three incredibly tough games. That’s what the first two have turned out to be, and if you look at Chile’s recent history and their performance in this tournament, they are one of the best teams in the last 15 to 20 years,” he said.
Canada is not expected to make any changes to the starting lineup that it sent against Peru, with the attack once again being led by Jonathan David (Lille), who scored the goal on Tuesday, and Cyle Larin (Mallorca).
Probable lineups:
Chile: Claudio Bravo – Mauricio Isla, Igor Lichnovsky, Paulo Diaz, Gabriel Suazo – Erick Pulgar or Rodrigo Echeverria – Dario Osorio or Cristian Zavala, Alexis Sanchez, Victor Davila – Eduardo Vargas or Maximiliano Guerrero. Coach: Sergio Santin.
Canada: Maxime Crepeau – Alistair Johnston, Moise Bombito Lumpungu, Derek Cornelius, Alphonso Davies – Richmond Laryea, Ismael Kone, Stephen Eustáquio, Liam Millar – Jonathan David, Cyle Larin. Coach: Jesse Marsch.
Referee: Wilmar Roldán (Colombia).
cl/ma
