Speed brings success
At length, speed brought first ever major international soccer title for Chile on Saturday shattering Argentina 4-1 in the Copa America Cup Football final. The victory in penalty shoot-out ended the country’s 99 years’ thirst for an international title. In 1962, Chile beat Yugoslavia in the World Cup football play off match for third spot, which was so long their best prize.
The Chile coach knowing it well that his players were inferior to the Argentines in skills advised them to use their rapidity and fair play to bemuse Lionel Messi and other Argentine players. The strategy became successful.
Chile outplayed Argentina both in ball possession and shooting the ball into the opponents’goal post. They never allowed time to Argentina to give passes to fellow players or to run with ball towards the goal post at ease. Chile rightly won the cup as a worthy team and this victory can never be classified as upset one. Argentina will, however, get a chance to annex the Copa America Cup within an year as the centenary competition is scheduled to be held in the USA in 1916. Eight South America teams and two guest teams including the hosts USA will take part. In the final match, there are lessons for both Brazil and Bangladesh. The two coaches should advise their players to practise 100 meter sprint and to shoot the ball into the goal posts again and again.
We congratulate Chile for their grand success.
Abdullah Akber
Dhaka
