Chile have won a major tournament for the first time in the 99-year history of their national team.
Champions of South America, a 10-nation continent.
In truth, Saturday night’s Copa America Final was a frantic, frenzied battle for space, a punishing and brutal series of kicks, collisions and obstructions, a supercharged war of attrition where flowing football was impossible, even for 20 seconds.
There was no music from these warriors, only a visible noise that got louder and louder and louder until it hurt my eyes.
Is this what the once-beautiful game has come to? If so, why?
Pride, of course.
The main component of the Latin personality is pride, I always think.
Both teams were coached by Argentinians, with Gerardo Martino still helming the World Cup Finalists, while Jorge Sampaoli was in charge of Chile.
Sampaoli’s masterplan was based on snuffing out Messi and closing down every space near Messi, and going the distance, however long the distance turned out to be.
No goals by half-time, then more of the same: so predictable. Second half, almost nothing worth describing or remembering.
Just after QPR’s Vargas scuffed a chance for Chile, Martino brought on Higuain for Aguero in 74 minutes.
Banega replaced Pastore soon after that, much too late.
In 82, Alexis Sanchez spurted into a half-chance position and hook-volleyed his shot wide of the far post.
Extra time, still no goals.
The Copa America Final goes to a penalty shoot-out:
Fernandez scores, Messi equalises for 1-1, Vidal makes it 2-1, Higuain shoots over the bar, Aranguiz smashes in for 3-1, Bravo saves from Banega so it is still 3-1…………… and so it falls to a supreme samurai to end the battle with what could be the last kick of the Copa America.
Sanchez shuffled, waited for keeper Romero to move, then rolled his shot the other way.
A forgettable war without guns was over but at least a class footballer wrote himself into South American history.
Chile’s 99-year journey through 173 games had ended, appropriately, in Santiago, with joyful scenes.
Fantastic footballer, Sanchez.
If I was the manager of a big club, I’d build a great team round him, make sure he was happy, make sure he was loved.
Alexis Sanchez would be my highest-paid player, always.