The Menotti column: Chile one step behind Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay at Copa America

By César Luis Menotti Beautiful stadiums, great comfort and a new format: the Copa America Centenario emerges as an event with attractive headlines but with an aura of suspicion around players’ performance level. [caption id=“attachment_2813428” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Brazil national team in training ahead of Copa America. AFP[/caption] Players arrive at the tournament after a very busy season with too many matches, travels and compressed schedules, a scenario that is hardly conducive to putting on a good show. Further, there was already a Copa America last year, and repetition entails a risk that people will grow tired of it. And yet there is always the expectation of seeing good players who can keep up their level and be respectful with the demands of such an event. There will be new teams, like the United States and Costa Rica, who have grown and play very good football. I still think, in any case, that the candidates are the same as always: Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. Even after they won last year’s title, I think Chile are one step behind in principle and lead, along with Colombia, the pack of teams I usually refer to as protagonists. In that group we can also mention the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Paraguay. It is true that candidates have doubts on their horizon, however. For Argentina, Lionel Messi is not at his best. Brazil, without Neymar, will miss a player who could give them individual answers to collective problems. And Uruguay are waiting for Luis Suarez, although they have Edinson Cavani and other players to defend their prestige. [caption id=“attachment_2547814” align=“alignright” width=“380”] Argentina’s former head coach Cesar Luis Menotti in a file photo. AFP[/caption] Then there is Chile, who definitely command a different sort of respect. And I mean that beyond results, because Chile’s presence has long been overwhelming, full of character. Colombia are full of dreams and expectations based on their excellent players, although we will need to see whether they can deliver at a major event. And being protagonists is by now too little for Mexico: they have fielded very competitive teams in the past and they have an urge to be able to take another step forward. It will be interesting to see how people engage with this Copa in the United States, a country where I had the opportunity to play in New York. US fans expect more of a show, but football is growing there. Their goals have changed and they now have more football schools, with people who are better trained. And they have an excellent manager like Juergen Klinsmann, one of the men who brought about change within German football. At one point, US officials believed that they could create excitement by bringing in Pele, Franz Beckenbauer and other great players. However, I am not one of those who believe that football can grow from top to bottom. Only now they are starting to build up a training school so they can understand football as a game, as a form of expression. We will need to see whether that will be reflected in this Copa America.