Chile has competed in nine FIFA World Cup tournaments, including hosting the 1962 FIFA World Cup, where they finished third, the highest place the country has ever reached in the competition. La Roja is the nickname for the team (The Red One). At the 2015 Copa América, Chile defeated Argentina in the final to win their first Copa América championship on home soil. In 2016, they successfully defended their championship at the Copa América Centenario in the United States. Chile had previously finished second in the competition four times. They qualified for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup after winning the 2015 Copa América, where they finished second, behind Germany, in their first appearance.
La Roja will fight for continental supremacy once more. Chile has won Copa America twice in the last decade, and they will attempt to do it once more in Copa America 2021. Coach Martin Lasarte has already put together a team to pursue that goal. Chile will compete in Group A, which includes Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay, but they should have no trouble qualifying for the knockout stages.
Chile Copa America 2021 Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Claudio Bravo (Betis), Gabriel Arias (Racing), Gabriel Castellón (Huachipato FC).
Defenders: Daniel González (Santiago Wanderers), Mauricio Isla (Flamengo), Guillermo Maripán (Monaco), Gary Medel (Bologna), Eugenio Mena (Racing), Enzo Roco (Fatih Karagümrük), Francisco Sierralta (Watford), Sebastián Vegas (Monterrey).
Midfielders: Tomás Alarcón (O’Higgins), Charles Aránguiz (Bayer Leverkusen), Pablo Aránguiz (Universidad de Chile) Claudio Baeza (Toluca), Pablo Galdames (Vélez Sarsfield), Marcelino Núñez (Universidad Católica), Carlos Palacios (Internacional), César Pinares (Grêmio), Erick Pulgar (Fiorentina), Arturo Vidal (Internazionale).
Forwards: Luciano Arriagada (Colo Colo), Ben Brereton (Blackburn), Clemente Montes (Universidad Católica), Jean Meneses (León), Felipe Mora (Portland Timbers), Alexis Sánchez (Internazionale), Eduardo Vargas (Atlético Mineiro).
Key Player: Claudio Bravo
Bravo is Chile's third-most-capped player, behind Alexis Sánchez and Gary Medel, with 128 appearances. He played in two World Cups, a FIFA Confederations Cup, and five Copa América tournaments for his country. In the 2015 and 2016 editions of the latter competition, he led his team to victory. Bravo is known for his leadership, agility, composure, and shot-blocking ability, as well as his reflexes and concentration; he is also praised for his ball-handling, distribution, and skill with the ball at his feet. He's been dubbed a sweeper-keeper because of his quickness when rushing off his line to anticipate opponents who have beaten the offside trap.
His 2020/21 season was marred with injuries and he wasn’t able to play for Betis. But he has ensured that he is fully fit for national duty ahead of Copa America. In the two World Cup qualifiers, Bravo was in red-hot form and was even the MOTM against Argentina as he denied Messi several times.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Arturo Vidal, Alexis Sánchez, Charles Aránguiz, and Guillermo Maripán were among the 28 players called up. Chile finished fourth in the previous edition after losing to Argentina in the third-place game, and they'll look to go even further in this year's competition. Martin Lasarte took over as coach of La Roja in a tense situation after Reinaldo Rueda left the team in a difficult position in the World Cup Qualifiers, but they still have a long way to go. His team hasn't been able to get back on track, which is why Copa America 2021 could be crucial in turning things around.
The most likely tactical formation to be used, based on what Lasarte tried in the qualifiers, is a 4-4-2 or a similar 3-4-3. When attacking, Chile has been a team that has exploited the wings, with the wing-back usually in a very offensive position when attacking through their side. Aside from Vidal, the team lacks strong aerial capabilities, so goal chances should be created through quick passing and movements. Sánchez should play a key role in this game, as his ability and change of pace should dictate the pace of Chile's attacks.
Check out here the Uruguay Copa America 2021 Squad , Brazil Copa America 2021 Squad and Argentina Copa America 2021 Squad
