Highlights Copa America 2015 Final: Chile vs Argentina 4-1

Copa America Highlights: Chile 5 Bolivia 0 & Mexico 1 Ecuador 2

Chile triumph as 5-0 winners over Bolivia, with Aranguiz, Sanchez, Medel and an own goal helping La Roja to an important three points.

Ecuador kept their hopes alive in the Copa America after beating Mexico 2-1 in Rancagua on Friday night. Miller Bolanos and West Ham's Enner Valencia struck either side of half-time for Gustavo Quinteros' side, before Raul Jimenez cut the deficit from the spot.

Copa America Highlights: Chile 2 Ecuador 0

Highlights: Brazil 1 Chile 1 (3-2)

Brazil advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals after prevailing 3-2 on penalties against Chile following a 1-1 draw in Belo Horizonte.

Julio Cesar saved from both Mauricio Pinilla and Alexis Sanchez either side of a Willian miss to put Brazil in charge, but Claudio Bravo blocked Hulk's effort. However, after Neymar had converted, Gonzalo Jara hit the post with the final penalty to send the hosts through.

Brazil, who had won every one of their three previous World Cup meetings with Chile, carried the greater threat in the opening stages, and they had their lead on 19 minutes: David Luiz was credited with the goal after the ball was diverted into the net following Thiago Silva's flick-on from a Neymar corner.

However, their advantage did not last long. Hulk gave away possession following a defensive throw-in, allowing Eduardo Vargas to play in Alexis Sanchez, who was allowed time to pick his spot.

It proved a frantic first half with chances at both ends, and while Brazil, and Neymar in particular, had the lion's share, they were unable to find the killer touch required to restore their advantage. Fred passed up perhaps the best chance on 40 minutes, blazing over with the goal gaping after a loose ball had fallen into his path.

Brazil thought they were back ahead nine minutes into the second half when Hulk diverted the ball home, but referee Howard Webb -- who had earlier denied Hulk a penalty -- penalised the striker for handball.

The decision appeared to affect the Selecao for a spell, but as the game approached its conclusion they were able to reassert themselves, with Claudio Bravo making a string of saves.

The match went to extra time, but the pattern changed little, with Luiz Felipe Scolari's men on the front foot for the most part but struggling to carve out clear chances.

La Roja came close to snatching it in the dying seconds of extra time when Mauricio Pinilla crashed a shot against the crossbar, but the match was decided by a shootout and the hosts made it through for their seventh successive quarterfinal

Match Preview: Brazil vs Chile

Date 28-6-2014 

Time  9:30 pm Sri Lankan time

Stadium Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte 

Audience capacity 62,160 

First team Canarinho 

Second team La Roja 

Round Round of 16 [Pre-quarter final] 

Referee Howard Webb [England]

Brazil have never lost at home to Chile in 26 meetings spanning 95 years, but they are all too aware of how difficult it will be to extend that record.

Chile's aggressive pressing and fluid attacking style means that, at their best, they are irresistible to watch and near-impossible to contain. Just ask dethroned world champions Spain.

Chile lost 3-0 to Brazil at the same stage four years ago to the day of this game - their third World Cup defeat out of three meetings between the nations - but Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is not fooled.

Scolari has openly admitted he would have preferred not to face Chile, particularly with his side labouring for much of the group stage. The five-time champions are almost obligated to win a sixth title, such is the expectation of them among Brazil's public

Chile have not reached the quarter-finals since they hosted the tournament in 1962. However, the current side are not lacking in belief.

Chile certainly have the host nation worried. Coach Sampaoli suspended training on Thursday when a helicopter from Brazilian television station O Globo hovered over the pitch as he was working on tactics. The helicopter eventually took flight but Chile will be vying to ground Brazil on Saturday.

Head-to-head record:

Brazil: P16 W13 D2 L1 

Chile: P16 W1 D2 L13

Past three meetings: 

Brazil 2-1 Chile – International friendly – 20/11/2013 

Brazil 2-2 Chile – International friendly – 25/04/2013 

Brazil 3-0 Chile – South Africa World Cup round of 16 – 28/06/2010

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari should have a full-strength squad available, though we could still see changes with the Seleção having been pretty average throughout the World Cup so far. The most likely change is Fernandinho in for the unspectacular Paulinho in the midfield pivot, though striker Fred is another player whose performances have been poor so far. However, Scolari's a coach who doesn't particularly like to change his preferred lineup, so it's perfectly possible they'll stay unchanged.

Chile too could stay unchanged, though it's likely that coach Sampaoli will reintroduce Arturo Vidal to their midfield after he was left out of their lineup against the Netherlands while still not at full fitness. If he does drop to the bench, Felipe Gutiérrez is likely to take his place.

Preview & Predicted Lineups: Netherlands vs Chile

Group B: Holland v Chile

Venue: Arena Corinthians, Sao Paulo

Kick-off:  9.30 pm Sri Lankan time

Referee: Bakary Gassama, Gambia

The Netherlands and Chile are ready to settle Group B’s first place when they square off in the Sao Paulo Arena. Both of them come into the match with six points and decisive wins over World Cup holders Spain.

The Oranje will be more comfortable in this match as they know that a draw is enough to secure them the top spot since they have scored more goals. However, Louis Van Gaal will be missing the services of Manchester United hitman Robin van Persie who is suspended. Eindhoven’s Memphis Depay, who scored the winner last week against Australia, is expected to start up front.

Problems for the new Manchester United manager though do not stop there as Feyenord defender Bruno Martins Indi may not start due to a horrific concussion he suffered last week.

The South Americans need a win in this match and manager Jorge Sampaoli is expected to make a few adjustments to the starting line-up as last week’s scorer Charles Aranguiz has picked up a knee injury. Much will be expected by Barcelona’s Alexis Sanchez in a game that is expected to be highly competitive and eventful, with both sides eager to top the group and avoid what would be a likely meeting with hosts Brazil.

Opta stats

• This will be the second ever meeting between these sides. Netherlands won the last meeting by the drawing of lots after a 2-2 game during the 1928 Olympic tournament.
• The Netherlands have failed to win their two games against South American opposition when the World Cup has been held in South America (0-0 v Peru and 1-3 v Argentina in 1978).
• The Netherlands have lost only two of their 11 World Cup games against South American opposition: the 1978 final against Argentina (1-3 after extra-time) and the 1994 quarter-final against Brazil (2-3).
• The Dutch have won three of the last four World Cup games in which they’ve gone behind.
• Chile have won four of their last six World Cup games after failing to win any of their preceding 13.
• Chile have won only two of their last 11 World Cup clashes with European opposition.
• Netherlands are attempting to take nine points from the group stage for the second World Cup in a row.
• Netherlands have not lost a World Cup group game since 1994.
• Chile have never won three successive World Cup games within the same tournament.

Match Report & Highlights: Chile 2 Spain 0

Defending champions Spain have fallen at the first hurdle as a 2-0 defeat to Chile means they have no hope of progressing from Group B.

Vicente del Bosque had led Spain to glory at the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 but, following his side's 5-1 humbling against Netherlands on Friday, a reaction was required to avert a group-stage exit.

They had produced such a reaction four years ago when bouncing back from a defeat in their opener to Switzerland, but La Furia Roja appeared for the most part to be a pale imitation of their 2010 vintage.

On 20 minutes, Chile broke the deadlock, carving the Spain defence open as Arturo Vidal, Alexis Sanchez and Charles Aranguiz combined before setting up Eduardo Vargas to skip around Iker Casillas and finish.

Just before halftime, Spain's fate worsened as Casillas failed to deal with a Sanchez free kick, allowing Aranguiz to poke home a second.

Spain injected more urgency into their game at the start of the second half, and Sergio Busquets spurned a golden opportunity to bring his side back into the game, but they could never exercise the kind of control that had been the hallmark of their success in recent years and were unable to force a goal.

Spain and Australia have both failed to register a point from their opening two fixtures and have no chance of progressing to the round of 16. Chile and Netherlands will meet in Sao Paulo on Monday to determine who will advance as group winners.

Spain suffered the humiliation of being the first reigning champions to be knocked out of the World Cup after just two matches as Chile sent their tens of thousands of fans in the Maracana into rapture.

A tactical masterpiece from Chile's Argentine coach Jorge Sampaoli laid the foundation for the South Americans to humble their more-glamorous European opponents with goals from Eduardo Vargas and Charles Aranguiz securing a 2-0 win.

It is not the first time the reigning world champions have failed to make the knockout rounds -- among others, Italy suffered that indignity in 2010 and so did France in 2002 -- but never before has it happened after the first two games.

The 5-1 hiding handed out by Netherlands in the opening match was still reverberating for Spain, and the pattern of that nightmare second half of last Friday night continued in the same agonising vein.

Vincente del Bosque's side appeared frozen into inaction, and it did not help that they were playing a Chile side whose spirit was stoked by tens of thousands of fans bouncing off the walls of the Maracana -- in some cases literally as thousands without tickets remained outside the stadiums with around 200 bursting through a security cordon prior to kick-off.

From the start, Chile - who have looked hugely impressive in the last couple of years -- were fired up for this fray. They served noticed of their threat when Gonzalo Jara headed over from a good position.

Spain knew they had to win and Claudio Bravo in the Chile goal stood in Xabi Alonso's way when the Real Madrid midfielder pounced on Andres Iniesta's deflected pass with only the keeper to beat.

He looked certain to score but Bravo stopped it with one hand at close range, and Alonso's next involvement was to lose the ball in the move which saw Chile go ahead.

Alexis Sanchez snapped up possession and played in Charles Aranguiz, who picked out Vargas with a brilliant centre. The Valencia forward kept his head while Spain were losing theirs and neatly sidestepped Iker Casillas before sliding it home.

Alonso attempted to make amends but blasted high and wide from Diego Costa's lay-off, before the striker scuffed a shot into the turf and side-netting as Spain's frustrations increased.

Two minutes before halftime and Spain's looming crisis became a fully-fledged disaster.

Casillas, heavily criticised after the Netherlands debacle, did himself no favours with a poor double-handed fist at Sanchez's gentle free kick and the ball dropped to Aranguiz, who controlled it and then toe-poked back past the sorry keeper to make it 2-0.

Another bad miss from Costa, who was mercilessly taunted by the Chile fans, was followed by Jordi Alba spraying his shot wide as desperation set in for Spain in the second half.

Chile then turned rather wasteful, failing to kill off the game completely with Vargas shooting straight at Casillas, Mauricio Isla scooping over at full-stretch and Sanchez dallying too long when in space.

Del Bosque sent on Fernando Torres and Santi Cazorla to try a last-ditch rescue attempt and the Arsenal midfielder came close to scoring, denied by a sprawling save low to his right by Bravo with 10 minutes left.

Bravo was bravura to the last with more top-class saves, notably from Cazorla's free kick.

Spain looked like broken men. After the 2010 triumph sandwiched by two European Championship wins, their world has come crashing down.

Match Preview & Predicted Lineups: Spain vs Chile

Spain v Chile

Maracana, Rio De Janeiro

Kick-off: 3.30 am Sri Lankan Time

Referee: Mark Geiger (United States).

Tonight’s match will be taking place at the World Cup final venue but Spain failed to convince anyone that they will be there on July 13. The defending champions must hope their wounds after the 5-1 mauling by the Netherlands have healed enough because Chile pose a serious threat, as proven by their dominant 3-1 win against Australia.

Vicente del Bosque is expected to make changes after the 5-1 defeat by Holland.

One possible change could see Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta make way for Juanfran.

Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli is expected to keep faith with the side that beat Australia.

Spain have never lost to Chiles, in 10 meetings, with eight wins and two draws to boast about.

If they fail to make that 11 unbeaten and, more imprtantly, a ninth win, then the holders will be almost certainly out.

Hard to imagine, and there is still a chance thye could retain the World Cup.

But they must perform much better than they did against Holland, while Chile may need more than just the help of a referee to win this one.

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Spain 2 (Soldado, Navas) Chile 2 (Vargas 2), International Friendly, September 2013

Spain 3 (Iniesta, Fabregas 2) Chile 2 (Isla, Vargas), International Friendly, September 2011

Chile 1 (Millar) Spain 2 (Villa, Iniesta), World Cup, June 2010

The four-goal margin led to Spain setting the record of heaviest defeat by a defending World champion.

Last time Spain conceded more than five goals was against Brazil in 1950 where the Furia Roja lost 6-1.

Both sides have faced each other 10 times but Chile were never able to beat Spain. The defending champions have won eight of their last meetings.

After beating Australia last week, Chile have now won three of their last 18 matches in the World Cup finals since 1962.

Spain (Possible, 4-3-2-1): Casillas; Juanfran, Ramos, Martinez, Alba; Alonso, Busquets, Cazorla; Xavi, Iniesta; Fabregas.

Chile (Possible, 4-1-3-2): Bravo; Isla, Medel, Jara, Mena; Diaz; Aranguiz, Valdivia, Vidal; Sanchez, Vargas.

Highlights: Chile 3 Australia 1

Chile held off an Australia fightback to open their World Cup campaign with a 3-1 win over the battling Socceroos in Cuiaba.

The South Americans had threatened a rout after goals from Alexis Sanchez and Jorge Valdivia in a whirlwind opening 15 minutes at the Arena Pantanal.

But Australia, the Group B outsiders, showed fighting spirit to reply through inspirational veteran Tim Cahill and they went close to equalising before Jean Beausejour secured the points in stoppage time.

Spain's surprise hammering earlier in the day potentially opened up a route through the group for the highly rated Chileans, and they began as if it was all too easy.

Australia, by contrast, were ragged and cut open with regularity in the early stages. Their goal was breached for the first time in the 12th minute.

Challenges were few and far between as Sanchez found Charles Aranguiz and he was allowed to cross for Eduardo Vargas.

Vargas failed to make clean contact with his header but Australia failed to clear and Sanchez calmly picked his spot and lashed home from six yards.

Chile doubled their lead less than two minutes later as they powerfully swept forward once again.

Sanchez brilliantly turned Mile Jedinak and raced into space as Vargas drew the defence with a well-timed run.

He picked out Valdivia on the edge of the box and the finish, into the roof of the net, was clinical.

The game seemed beyond Australia at that early stage and Chile looked likely to increase their lead as they maintained their tempo for much of the opening half-hour.

But Australia gradually began to settle and Cahill dragged them back into the game with a trademark header.

Chile captain and goalkeeper Claudio Bravo invited pressure with a poor clearance. His defence did appear to repel any threat but Ivan Franjic won the ball back for Australia, exchanged passes with Mathew Leckie and whipped in a dangerous cross into the area.

Former Everton star Cahill timed his leap perfectly to plant a firm header past Bravo.

The game then opened up considerably.

Mauricio Isla was released by a fine pass from Vidal but was denied by a superb challenge from Jason Davidson.

Early in the second half Cahill headed past Bravo once again, from a Leckie, cross only to be frustrated by an offside flag.

Bravo produced a brilliant save to keep out a powerful first-time shot from Mark Bresciano from a Davidson cross.

Play switched quickly to the other end where Alex Wilkinson cleared off the line after Vargas dinked the ball over Maty Ryan from another defence-splitting Sanchez pass.

Bresciano continued to get forward from midfield in search of an equaliser and fired wide. Cahill's presence in advanced positions also gave Chile continuing problems.

Cahill appealed for a penalty after going down in a challenge from Gonzalo Jara with two minutes remaining but nothing was given.

The task proved beyond the Socceroos and substitute Beausejour, of Wigan, wrapped up the scoring after Ryan saved from Mauricio Pinilla.