Chile at 2024 Copa America: La Roja hopeful of making it out of group of death

Chile will seek their third Copa America title when they begin their 2024 tournament. In the previous 47 editions of this Copa America tournament, the Red One successfully won this continental trophy in 2015 and 2016. However, the highest stage they have made it to since those title wins were the semifinals. Let's look at this team and focus on what we could expect from them. 

Goalkeepers: Claudio Bravo (Real Betis), Brayan Cortes (Colo-Colo), Gabriel Arias (Racing) Defenders: Mauricio Isla (Independiente), Guillermo Maripan (Monaco), Paulo Diaz (River Plate), Gabriel Suazo (Toulouse), Igor Lichnovsky (Club America), Benjamin Kuscevic (Fortaleza), Matias Catalan (Talleres), Nicolas Fernandez (Audax Italiano), Thomas Galdames (Godoy Cruz) 

Midfielders: Erick Pulgar (Flamengo), Diego Valdes (Club America), Marcelino Nunez (Norwich City), Esteban Pavez (Colo-Colo), Rodrigo Echeverria (Huracan), Cesar Perez (Union La Calera) 

Forwards: Alexis Sanchez (Inter Milan), Eduardo Vargas (Atletico Mineiro), Ben Brereton Diaz (Sheffield United), Victor Davila (CSKA Moscow), Dario Osorio (Midtjylland), Marcos Bolados (Colo-Colo), Cristian Zavala (Colo-Colo), Maximiliano Guerrero (Universidad de Chile

Chile is in Group A of the Copa America table, and it faces a tough test considering the sides it will face in the preliminary stage. In their opener, this team will take on a Peru side that has not lost one of their last five games at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. 

However, they face their most formidable opponent in round 2 as they will take on World Champions Argentina at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. However, they will be underdogs in this game as they must play a Lionel Messi-led unbeaten side. 

With their final group stage game being against Canada, this team will take an unfamiliar side in this tournament. However, during its first meeting, Chile will need to be confident in maximizing its chances at Inter&Co Stadium in Florida. 

Eduardo Vargas and Alexis Sanchez will need the credit if there are players to credit for Chile's consecutive Copa America wins. In the 2015 edition of this tournament, Eduardo Vargas scored two crucial goals in the semifinals against Peru. In fact, Eduardo Vargas scored two goals and provided one assist in the 2016 title win, writing his name in the history book. However, in both trophy wins, Alexis Sanchez was the orchestrator of the team, being the most crucial and star player of this team. In the 2015 final against Argentina, Alexis Sanchez scored the final goal from the spot while netting twice in the 2016 win. However, years have passed, and the level of play of these players has dropped, with age having a crucial effect on them. Still, while Alexis Sanchez was part of the squad that won the Serie A for Inter Milan the previous season, we can expect him to be at his best to give his all for the Red One in this year's tournament. 

We have seen the best version of Chile with Arturo Vidal, Claudio Bravo, Alexis Sanchez, Gonzalo Jara and co at their peak. However, we can still write this squad off regardless, looking at the number of players this team has in Europe. However, looking at how tight their fixtures and squad will be, Chile should be able to make it out of the group stage and reach a second-place finish. Also, while this team should expect group-stage elimination, I am confident that they do not have what it takes to make it to the semis, looking at other nations in this tournament and the players they possess.