"Copa America" championships ended with the long-awaited triumph of Chile and amazement - how long will Argentina's drought of titles last? It was a sad finish for Lionel Messi and his teammates, who have not won titles for 22 years, and also a historic victory for a nation that has been plagued by various disasters in recent years.
When the series of droughts in the south, floods in the north, earthquakes, and two volcanic eruptions this year came to an end, Chile, with a population of 17 million, has something to celebrate.
In front of their fans, Chilean footballers defeated Argentina 4-1 in a penalty shootout in the South American Championship final and finally won the title they have been seeking for decades.
"Tragedies have always haunted us," said Chile's defender Jorge Rojas. "We deserve this victory."
The entire nation supported "La Roja" - the Chile national team playing at home. From President Michelle Bachelet in the stands to ordinary miners - everyone wanted a victory that would distract from natural disasters.
Among them were the earthquake and tsunami of 2010, which claimed the lives of more than 500 people and destroyed about 220,000 homes along the Pacific coast of Chile.
"In the locker room, we always thought about our families, our sons, the people who suffered so much in Chile because of the earthquake and other disasters," said Chile's defender Mauricio Isla. "That's why we played with heart."
Thousands of fans took to the streets of Santiago to celebrate. Soon after the final match, the players were invited to the Presidential Palace, where they took photos with the country's leader and the sparkling trophy.
"This country deserves it because it has been through so much," emphasized Chile's national team coach, Argentinian Jorge Sampaoli.
Even before the South American Championship, Chile was considered one of the favorites, as they were playing at home and currently have the most talented generation of players in the country's history.
Chile had lost in four South American Championship finals before. Last year, they reached the World Cup quarterfinals, where they were eliminated in a penalty shootout by Brazil.
In 2014, Argentina lost to Germany in the World Cup final in Brazil, so the South American Championship was an opportunity to end the title drought.
Since their last trophy in 1993, the "Copa America" won has been 22 years. But L. Messi once again failed to summon success, which accompanies the Argentine star at Barcelona."
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