Does Chile have the tools to retain their title at Copa America Centenario?
Before Chile defeated Spain, 2-0 at the Maracanã to effectively eliminate the defending champions from the last World Cup, Vicente del Bosque characterized Chile as "a team of 11 kamikazes."
Then-manager Jorge Sampaoli had pieced together a band of players who, over time, transformed into the neutral's favorites by virtue of a daring and overpowering style of play, one that demanded the utmost commitment on both ends of the ball and an unmatched relentlessness. The bottom line: Sampaoli opened the world's eyes to a unique philosophy, and it was refreshing.
A second-place group stage finish gave way to a Round of 16 exit at the hands of Brazil in the 2014 World Cup. It was the stepping stone to a memorable 2015 Copa América run in which La Roja scored 13 goals and conceded just four times in six games behind the unwavering spine of Claudio Bravo, Gary Medel, Charles Aránguiz, Arturo Vidal and Alexis Sánchez.
A year on from winning their first-ever Copa America title on home soil -- and five months subsequent to Sampaoli's rancorous resignation -- Chile enter this summer's Copa América Centenario under new leadership in Juan Antonio Pizzi, who will be charged with nourishing the tenets instilled by the previous regime with an increasingly aging squad.
Argentine-born Juan Antonio Pizzi has a tough task to follow in the footsteps of Jorge Sampaoli.
While the likes of Brazil, Colombia and to a degree, Argentina, have struggled to sustain a certain level of continuity in their team selection from year to year (and elected to send their stars to the Olympics instead), Pizzi has, to his credit, taken heed of the players at his disposal and managed to keep the squad largely intact.
When La Roja begin the defense of their crown in the Group D opener against Argentina on June 6, a repeat of last summer's Copa América final, Bravo, Medel, Aránguiz, Vidal and Sánchez -- five of 17 holdovers from their breakout performance in the World Cup -- all figure to be at the heart of another deep tournament run. Aranguiz in particular.
Having spent much of the 2015/16 Bundesliga season sidelined through an Achilles injury with Bayer Leverkusen, Aránguiz's return to full fitness is arguably the most significant boost for Pizzi and his side. The 27-year-old played all but six minutes in last year's tournament, and with his prodigious lung power and unheralded flexibility, remains the key cog and motor in the midfield.
Yet, in the wake of another grueling club season, the biggest test for Pizzi & Co. will revolve around keeping an ageing group of players fit to go the distance -- in the short and long term. After the World Cup in 2014, Copa América in 2015 and of course, this summer's centennial edition, Chile's participation in the 2017 Confederations Cup is guaranteed. And, if all goes according to plan, they'll have another World Cup in 2018, which would make it five straight years with a summer tournament.
With a full-strength side and ample time to enforce his own methods, Pizzi will welcome Copa América Centenario as an opportunity to fathom the resources available to him. The tools are there. Whether or not they can see it through and add another trophy to the cabinet is up in the air for now.
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