Group A

Schedule:  Argentina (June 6th- Levis Stadium Santa Clara, CA), Bolivia ( June 10th- Gillette Stadium Foxbrough, MA) and Panama (June 14th- Lincoln Financial Field Philadelphia, PA)

Head Coach: Juan Antonio Pizzi

Best previous finish in Copa America: Champions in 2015

Players to keep an eye on: GK Claudio Bravo (FC Barcelona), DEF Gary Medell (Inter Milan), MID Arturo Vidal (Bayern Munich), and FWD Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)

Outlook:

Chile’s final 23-man roster for the Copa America Centenario includes Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez, Barcelona’s Claudio Bravo and Bayern Munich’s Arturo Vidal. These two superstars will lead the lines for Chile.

Last summer Chile took home their first ever Copa America, South America’s most prestigious international trophy after triumphing over Argentina in a penalty shootout. The coach at that time, Jorge Sampaoli, has since stepped down from the head coach position, which he had occupied since 2012. His successor, Juan Antonio Pizzi will be in charge for his first tournament this summer in the United States. Pizzi has decided to leave much of last year’s squad intact, with the exception being Jorge Valdivia and Hanover defender Miiko Albornoz.

Chile played a 4-3-3 in their first warm-up game, and may return to that formation, however they have seen success playing a 3-5-2 in the past. Medel and Jara will be likely starters at center back, with Mena rotating in or as a 3^rd center back. Veteran Jean Beausejour is currently the favorite left wing-back, with Mauricio Isla a favorite on the right side, thanks to his non-stop motor.

Meanwhile in the middle of the park Arturo Vidal is the obvious choice. Look to see him play alongside Charles Aranguiz and Marcelo Diaz or Franciso Silva. Vidal and Aranguiz will be the engine that runs this Chile team. Along with the wingbacks, Aranguiz and Vidal will be given the job of getting services into Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas up top. Once the ball is played into these tricky players, defenders will have a hard time tracking them.

A lot of weight will be put on Sanchez’s shoulders to deliver this summer. Without him Chile will have to look to secondary players to create goals. Chile is not the tallest of teams, and will likely struggle to score off of set pieces, which means they will have to create in the run of play. Should

Chile struggle to create, they do have options from the bench, with big forward Mauricio Pinilla, and the Celta Vigo duo of Pablo Hernandez and Fabian Orellana. Not to mention Fiorentina’s Mati Fernandes, who has been consistent for so long before this year for La Viola. Since Fernandes didn’t perform up to expectations this year, he may take a backseat to Diaz, Orellana, and Hernandez, all of whom came off of a terrific season at Celta Vigo, where they exceeded all expectations and finished sixth and gained a Europa league spot.

Goalkeepers: Claudio Bravo (Barcelona), Johnny Herrera (Universidad de Chile), Cristopher Toselli (Universidad Catolica)

Defenders: Mauricio Isla (Marseille), Jose Pedro Fuenzalida (Universidad Catolica), Gonzalo Jara (Universidad de Chile), Enzo Roco (Espanyol), Gary Medel (Inter), Eugenio Mena (Sao Paulo)

Midfielders: Jean Beausejour (Colo Colo), Marcelo Diaz (Celta Vigo), Francisco Silva (Chiapas), Erick Pulgar (Bologna), Arturo Vidal (Bayern Munich), Matias Fernandez (Fiorentina), Charles Aranguiz (Bayer Leverkusen), Pablo Hernandez (Celta Vigo), Edson Puch (LDU Quito).

Forwards: Nicolas Castillo (Universidad Catolica), Fabian Orellana (Celta Vigo), Mauricio Pinilla (Atalanta), Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal), Eduardo Vargas (Hoffenheim).