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Reigning champions Chile wary of Mexico in Copa quarterfinal

By on June 18, 2016

Usually, the reigning champions are among the favorites heading into any international tournament.  Yet the tables have turned on the 2015 Copa America champions Chile as they head into their quarterfinal meeting with Mexico in the anniversary edition of the competition.

The two sides drew 3-3 in the group stages in last year’s Copa, Chile’s only dropped points on their road to victory on home soil.  Jorge Sampaoli’s men defeated Argentina, Peru, Uruguay, Bolivia and Ecuador, nearly half of the twelve-team field, and although Mexico crashed out in the group stage, their meeting with Chile was the second highest scoring game of the tournament and by far the most entertaining.

Too much has changed to draw anything from that meeting, though, as both teams have new managers and contrasting fortunes over the past year.  While Mexico are undefeated in twenty-two matches — the longest unbeaten streak in their history – Chile have won just three of six games since last year’s Copa and suffered a rough transition into life under Juan Antonio Pizzi.

Now Mexico are the team to beat.

El Tri defeated Chile 1-0 in a friendly on June 1 in San Diego, with substitute Javier Hernandez firing the Mexicans to a late win that condemned Chile to their second straight defeat after losing to Jamaica 2-1.

Chile comfortably through Group D with narrow wins over Bolivia and Panama after losing 2-1 to Argentina in a repeat of last year’s final at Levi’s.  It was, however, the first time La Roja had allowed goals in three consecutive games in the Copa since 2004.  Although they were very impressive against Panama, repeating the feat against Mexico is another matter.

“When you make a mistake, Mexico lets you know, you are punished immediately,” Pizzi said at a press conference Friday, per Goal.com.

“We must be very focused in the game, and assume that they will try to cut our work in midfield. But I think we are better than them.”

Chile haven’t beaten Mexico in their last four attempts, losing twice and drawing twice.  This will be their seventh meeting in the Copa America and Mexico lead by three wins to one.

They will have the raucous backing of Levi’s Stadium and in a venue that has hosted the United States, Colombia, Argentina, and Uruguay in the group stages, no match has garnered so much anticipation and demand as Saturday night’s showdown.  The expected crowd of over 69,000 at Levi’s Stadium will be predominantly supporting El Tri and although the tournament is hosted Stateside, the home side advantage only ever goes to Juan Carlos Osorio’s men.

Pizzi, tough, is confident that Chile can rise to the challenge. “These players are under pressure the moment they wake up at seven in the morning,” he said. “It doesn’t affect us anymore, they’re confident and professional.  A lot is demanded of champions because everyone wants to usurp them.”

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.