Red Fury at the Copa America

La Selección Chilena

The Copa America is proving to be an exciting ride for la selección who face Venezuela on Sunday, which is no doubt going to see Santiago descend into heavy carrete if Chile win. They're the favourites and they're playing some great stuff, fast, offensive, open, but Venezuela look not too bad a team defensively (at least against Brazil they didn't but they let in three against Paraguay). There's already a heady sense of anticipation about Sunday's game, it's the opponent they wanted, it's the weekend, and a semi-final place is at stake.

I don't follow any Chilean club but I'm a big fan of la selección. As in the World Cup last year, they have been good entertainment and they rely on a rapid passing game that sees the attacking players constantly moving in order to find space. They deservedly won their group, being probably the best team of the initial stages of the tournament and setting off some pretty raucous festivities in streets. Like last year, thousands of fans went to Plaza Italia to get boisterously merry before los guanacos sent them on their way. Not a good time of year to be getting a soaking from water cannon, that's for sure.

Thousands of Chilean fans have made their way the short distance over the border into Mendoza in Argentina and have more or less colonised the city, where Chile played all their group games. The news has constantly shown traffic jams at the snowy border crossing in the mountains with the fans all dancing about for the cameras. The success of the national team never fails to bring out the flags and the celebrations, not to mention the pisco.

Sanchez celebrates his goal against Uruguay

I didn't get to watch all the games in their entirety because I was stuck at work in the evenings but as I work in the centre I was fully aware when Chile scored against both Uruguay and a few days later against Peru. From my vantage point on the sixth floor in Paseo Huerfanos, the goals set off a collective roar that echoed throughout the entire city. People run out onto their balconys to shout and the night descends into a cacophony of car horns and plastic bugles.

After the game against Peru a couple of days ago I headed home on my normal route through Plaza de Armas, where my street begins (although I live about a mile further down the road), and which is like little-Lima owing to all the Peruvians in this area. With the general antipathy that exists between these two countries, couple with the nature of Chile's last minute winner, I was expecting to witness some kind of feisty shenanigans but surprisingly it was as quiet as any other night. Slightly disappointed, I headed home guessing that Tuesdays are probably not the best nights for agro in these parts.

Anyway, here's hoping the boys can make it to the semis on Sunday even though I will be out of the country for those games and the final, and will be both delighted and furious if they make the final. The likes of Alexis Sanchez, Jorge Valdivia, Arturo Vidal and Waldo Ponce have had a strong tournament so far and they have to fancy their chances against Venezuela. Then it'll probably be Brazil in the semi who beat them 7-1 in the last Copa America. Ho Hum.

Vidal holds of ugly bald Uruguayan defender