At the 1998 World Cup, Marcelo Salas and Ivan Zamorano were backed up by an outstanding playmaker in Jose Luis Sierra. Between the three players, Chile boasted enough individual talent to overcome a lack of collective identity and reach the knockout stage.
Times have changed. Due to the work of his predecessors, Juan Antonio Pizzi inherited a national team possessing individual talent as well as a collective identity. It’s a blend that resulted in Chile winning the 2015 Copa America and defending its crown at the Copa America Centenario. Meanwhile, Argentina is in the midst of a trophy drought that stands at 24 years and counting, unable to get the most out of Lionel Messi, who is scapegoated rather than applauded in many instances.
But, in Zamorano’s opinion, the perception of Messi would be very different had he been born in Chile.
“If Messi was Chilean, he would have monuments all over the country and he would tire of receiving tributes,” Zamorano declared on Super Deportivo Radio, according to Marca. “In Chile it’s valued.
“The Argentinians take into account the differences between Messi of Barcelona and Messi of the national team. In Spain he looks …read more