Chile needs a dramatic change to compete in Copa America, and beyond

Just 12 months ago, Chile won the Copa América for the first time in its 100-year history. They relentlessly pressed Argentina -- and above all Lionel Messi -- who was locked out of the game by the midfield pair of Marcelo Díaz and Charles Aránguiz. Chile’s golden generation were the best in South America, led by their stars Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal, and coach Jorge Sampaoli was hailed as a master tactician.

On Monday, his successor Juan Antonio Pizzi saw his Chile side slump to a soft 2-1 defeat by Argentina in their opening game of the Copa Centenario, despite Messi being rested. Sanchez huffed and puffed to no effect; Vidal was conspicuous only for arguing with the referee. The two players most at fault for Argentina´s goals? Last year's heroes, Díaz and Aránguiz.

The pair were repeatedly bullied off the ball by the Argentine midfielders, exposing the space behind the advancing right-back Mauricio Isla. Every time Angel Di Maria was there to exploit the gap, streaking down the left side of the pitch against Chile’s exposed center backs. He had two chances in the first half before he was set clear to score early in the second half after Aránguiz gave the ball away. The second goal from Éver Banega was almost identical.

Since Pizzi took charge, La Roja has won once and lost four times. If his team doesn't defeat Bolivia on Friday night, then go on to defeat Panama, as well, his job will be at risk.

Chile appear to have lost the focus that characterized the side ever since Marcelo Bielsa instilled his hyper-aggressive pressing in Chile’s young players in 2007, continued under his disciple Sampaoli. But the odd thing is that the side Pizzi played on Monday was almost entirely in the image of his predecessors.

After unsuccessful experiments in friendlies with playing long balls to target man Mauricio Pinilla, he was dropped. Eduardo Vargas, a prolific goalscorer under Sampaoli but no other manager in his career, returned. The fullbacks hurtling up the pitch to stretch the opposition while Díaz and Aránguiz spread the play was classic Bielsa/Sampaoli soccer. It was just undone by sloppiness in possession.

Now Pizzi is posed with a dilemma. Playing as they are now, Chile probably still have enough quality to come through their group in second, but will likely come up against a buoyant Mexico in the quarterfinals. Crash out with a similarly flat display and they will face a crucial run of World Cup qualifiers for 2018 totally directionless.

Pizzi can press on with the same style and hope these players find the energy that made them one of the most exciting teams in two World Cups and won the country's first ever continental trophy. In full flow it is an onslaught of red shirts that overwhelms their opponents. But played at anything less than 100 percent it leaves the side exposed to counter attacks -- the triumphant night in Santiago itself was almost ruined in the dying minutes of the game when a swift Argentinian counter down the left against tired Chilean legs saw Gonzalo Higuaín slide the ball inches wide.

Or he could decide that an aging team must be renewed. Beloved playmaker Jorge Valdivia was dropped because he can rarely play 90 minutes, and at 32, has gone to play in the United Arab Emirates. He would likely play no part in the 2018 World Cup. There are others the wrong side of 30 in the team who have returned to Chile to wind down their careers, such as Jean Beausejour and Gonzalo Jara.

Young players who were never trained by Bielsa and couldn't break into Sampaoli´s side are waiting in the wings and could be the key to a change of direction. Players such as the central defender Enzo Roco or Felipe Gutierréz, who played for Pizzi during his time at Universidad Católica, may more readily adapt to his preferred style of play.

Either way, Pizzi must decide quickly. In Vidal and Sanchez, Chile have talents that can shine in any system but the 2018 World Cup will realistically be their last shot at glory. The competition is fierce for a ticket to Russia. Change might be painful, but not changing could mean the current Copa América champions never regain the same heights.