SOCCER-COPA/CHILE-MEXICO PREVIEW Chile and Mexico prepare for Group A Copa America match

Record ID: 151139

  • Title: SOCCER-COPA/CHILE-MEXICO PREVIEW Chile and Mexico prepare for Group A Copa America match
  • Date: 15th June 2015
  • Summary: SANTIAGO, CHILE (JUNE 14, 2015) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** CHILEAN COACH JORGE SAMPAOLI AND CHILEAN PLAYER GONZALO JARA JOURNALISTS VARIOUS OF NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALIST TYPING ON COMPUTER (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) JORGE SAMPAOLI, CHILEAN COACH, SAYING: "I think that it's going to be very difficult for us, especially for each encounter. The one that's
  • Embargoed: 30th June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Chile
  • Country: Chile
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA18OD48K1IOQONJGX1MFP1O54
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Chile, the hosts of the Copa America, prepared over the weekend for their match against Mexico, one of the Copa America favourites. The teams are scheduled to face off on Monday (June 15) in Santiago's national stadium.
    Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli acknowledged that Mexico is fielding a strong team, despite the absence of central defender Rafael Marquez, who will miss Monday's match and Friday's match against Ecuador after suffering a thigh injury during Mexico's game last Friday against Bolivia.
    "I think that it's going to be very difficult for us, especially for each encounter. The one that's coming up is very complicated because of our adversary's (Mexico's) characteristics that we'll have to face. I think that the Cup and the teams will grow as the matches progress," Sampaoli said.
    Chile tops the group standings with three points after its 2-0 win over Ecuador in the tournament's opening match on Thursday.
    Mexico had a 0-0 draw with Bolivia on Friday for its Group A opener.
    Still, defender Gonzalo Jara predicted a complicated match.
    "Game by game, we'll be able to improve. We're going to play a very difficult team, the Mexican team has much rhythm and, obviously we know how they play," he said.
    Mexico, a guest team at the South American tournament, has sent a second string team without leading players Carlos Vela, Javier Hernandez and Giovani Dos Santos, who are being kept fresh for the CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States starting on July 7.
    Mexican coach Miguel Herrera said he was impressed with Chile's teamwork but expects his players to pull out a victory.
    "Today, Chile has a great team, it has great players, good management, it looks like the guys understand what their coach wants and have shown good presence, so of course, because of this, they are candidates to be one of the favourites to win the tournament. We know the game will be hard, but we also need to go out with the idea of what Mexico has done in mind, that today Mexico isn't seen as a team that can easily be beat anymore. We're going to work during the match for us to get the results we want and be able to add the three points that we wanted to get in the first match," he said.
    Mexican winger Jesus 'Tecatito' Corona, who plays with Dutch club Twente, defended the line-up.
    "It was a good point against Bolivia and, if we win another one, we can go on. The team is conscious of all that. We have top players. Yes, we can beat Chile," he said.
    Despite their victory, the Chileans were uninspiring in their Ecuador win and will need to improve if they are to realize their hope of a first Copa America title at the 37th attempt.
    The hosts are anxious to win at home after an embarrassing record spanning 99 years in which they have finished runners-up four times and in third place on a further five occasions.
    The current holders, Uruguay, beat Jamaica 1-0 in their Copa America opener.
    Heavyweights Argentina were held to a 2-2 draw by Paraguay while Brazil beat Peru 2-1.
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