Chile have already begun their Copa America 2021 campaign hoping to lift the continental trophy for the third time in history. La Roja got off to a good start, claiming their first win under Martín Lasarte in a hard-fought game against Bolivia, and without superstar Alexis Sánchez.
Just a few days before their debut against Argentina, the two-time Copa America champions suffered a huge blow with the Inter Milan forward being suddenly ruled out indefinitely. Even though they overcame his absence so far, Lasarte’s boys will probably need him back as soon as possible.
Chile shouldn’t have a problem in progressing to the next round, with four out of five securing a place in the quarterfinals. However, they know that to pursue a deep run in the tournament, they’ll need to have a key player such as Alexis on board.
Why is Alexis Sánchez missing the Copa America 2021?
Prior to their Copa America 2021 debut, Chile announced some heartbreaking news for their fans. Alexis Sánchez suffered a muscle injury on training that ruled him out for the clash with Argentina.
Even though they didn’t confirm how long he would be sidelined, La Roja knewfor sure Alexis wouldn’t be eligible for the group stage affairs. Therefore, he stayed in Chilewith the national team’s medical staff to advance in his recovery.
Despite there’s nodate of return confirmed yet, Alexis could be back for the quarterfinals, should Chile advance. It’s not the way anyonewould have liked to begin Copa America 2021, yet there’s still a lot to be played and Alexis could return in a crucialmoment.