Chile wants to exorcise their ghosts against Uruguay tonight in Santiago. In the same way that Spain’s win over Italy in Euro 2008, laid ghosts to rest and started a great run for ‘La Roja’, the Chilean’s are hoping for something similar against Uruguay at the Estadio Nacional.
The Uruguayan’s are the current holders of the competition and have yet to play well at the Copa and have the distraction of the accident that Edinson Cavani’s father was involved in. They are a side who grow as a tournament progresses and are experts in the knock-out phase unlike their rivals tonight. Since 1999, when they overcame Colombia in the quarter finals, the national Chilean team have yet to win any knock-out game in the Copa America.
Uruguay are aware of the added pressure that Chile face as being host nation and will look to capitalize on that. The knocked out 2011 host nation Argentina on penalties at the last tournament after their game ended 1-1.
“Apart from the fact that there are no favorites in this game, the responsibility and pressure lies with Chile as the home team”, pointed out Atlético Madrid defender, Diego Godín.
Chile won’t modify their game-plan for tonight’s match and Juan Pinto Durán announced that the game will be a contrast of styles. Head coach of the Chilean team, Sampaoli also stated that they won’t take the game to the visitors. “We need to play a game that suits our style of play”. Midfielder, Marcelo Díaz added: “We need to work hard at making the least amount of errors possible. We’re looking at the whole game, not isolated incidents” he concluded.
Follow the Copa América timetable here.
And the day-to-day fixtures here.