The biggest question looming over Chile coming into this Copa America tournament was whether the pressure of playing at home would hinder the side as much as inspire them to higher success. But with Brazil in a transition phase and Argentina’s attackers coming off a grueling domestic season, 2015 represented as good a time as any for the Chilean squad to win their first international tournament in team history. 

It was appropriate then the manner in which Eduardo Vargas scored the game winning goal in the semifinals against Peru, leading Chile into the Copa America final. The goal was emblematic of larger national style dreamed up eight years earlier by national team manager Marcelo Bielsa - win the ball in the opponent’s half through an intense press and play as directly as possible. Four touches after winning back possession in Peru’s half, Chile were on their way. 

Chile were brought to soccer mainstream consciousness before the 2010 World Cup, their first in 12 years. This was a side which Michael Cox noted their biggest star was Bielsa himself, but with a young Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal, were the most tactically unique side in the tournament. Appropriate for his all or nothing style, Chile had alternated between extreme ups (beating Argentina for the first time in a competitive match) and extreme lows (losing to Brazil 3-0 at home) in the qualification stage. The team were too adventurous in a way that would delight neutral supporters, playing the right way but ultimately losing to a more efficient machine. Bielsa disciple Pep Guardiola himself remarked that Bielsa “doesn’t mind if he wins or loses”, and so they did in the round of 16, again 3-0 to Brazil - although Guardian’s recap did mention they were amongst the most eye-catching teams to watch in the tournament. 

But results are never the way to judge any Bielsa team. He left Chile two important long-term traits. First, he developed Sanchez and Vidal, the symbolic linchpins for this generation’s side. Then of course, there was his style built on three defenders, speed in transition, and intense pressing in the opponent’s half that was so effective against Peru.

After the World Cup defeat, the world’s attention turned to Universidad de Chile under fellow Argentine and Bielsa disciple Jorge Sampaoli the next season following a 35 match unbeaten streak. The side had the trademarks of a Bielsa team - three at the back, pressing, and quick attackers - but they also added an international trophy to their accomplishments. Indeed, a single word - pragmatism - is the biggest difference between Bielsa’s Chile and Chile 2.0 (Jonathan Wilson also discusses their move from romantics to pragmatists). Sampaoli was named national team manager in 2013, tasked with getting results out of Bielsa’s foundation. Two years later, Chile are in the finals of Copa America in front of their home crowd, with an opportunity to break a 100 year curse.   

It took Germany an entire generation of careful planning to reap the benefits of their own technical and philosophical growth. Bielsa and Sampaoli’s revolution occurred on the fly, molding the small, technical, quick attackers the country already produced into results. Getting the best from all-out action players the likes of Sanchez and Vidal was no accident. The Copa America side represents the middle ground where tactics and players meet to overcome the trivialities of never having won in 99 years. 

The expectations under Bielsa when he was fired hired were nothing less than a soccer revolution. He might be eccentric. He might also be right. 

Valdivia, the Creator, plus the Messi Riddle 

Vidal is the best box to box midfielder in the world, powering a Juventus side to the Champions League final last season. We’ve also written plenty about Alexis Sanchez transforming Arsenal. But it’s the vision and passing of playmaker Jorge Valdivia who drives the side forward. His link-up play bridging the gap between Vidal and Gary Medel’s ball winning and through passes to Sanchez and Vargas behind defenders has been essential, and is the biggest difference between last year’s World Cup team and this current Copa America side - and ultimately may be the biggest difference between runner’s up and champion. He and Messi have been the two best attackers this tournament (although Paolo Guerrero’s hold up play and goal scoring deserve mention).  

Chile play Argentina in the Copa America final, a fine contrast between where the two countries are headed. All four semifinal managers in the tournament are from Argentina (as is Bielsa), so it wouldn’t be a stretch calling the country the philosophical home of South American tactics. But whereas Chile look to choke off space with their high defensive line, Argentina’s combination of an aging or inexperienced backline played deep in their own half on their World Cup finals run last year. They may look disjointed at times, and with a problem only a country as talent rich as Argentina can have, might produce too many attacking midfielders instead of balance. But they have Messi, and Di Maria, and are thus liable to produce 6 goals any time the whistle blows.     

After getting knocked out of the 2010 World Cup by Brazil, Bielsa noted that how Chile were unable to slow down Brazil’s attack. Five years later, that description has shifted to the country where Bielsa and Sampaoli planted then developed their unique style. Winning the Copa America on Saturday would be a fitting and much deserved ending for a Chilean side that embodies the qualities of the contemporary game as wholeheartedly as any.