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The 1989 Detroit Pistons played a gritty, unrelenting style of basketball that called for an overly physical defense and resorting to fouling whenever the other team got a clear lane to the hoop. Their offense was led by an exciting but inconsistent gunner and a point guard whose heart and brains brought the whole thing together. They bumped their way to a finals victory against a team that featured some of the finest offensive talent of the era.
Sound familiar?
It should, because Chile are the 1989 Detroit Pistons. Artiro Vidal is Isiah Thomas, Eduardo Vargas is Vinnie "The Microwave" Johnson, Gonzalo Jara is Bill Laimbeer, Alexis Sanchez is Joe Dumars and Claudio Bravo is Dennis Rodman (a less insane version, obviously).
The Detroit Pistons kicked the crap out of the Magic Johnson-led showtime Lakers and the Clyde Drexler-led Portland Trail Blazers in consecutive years. Chile did it to Argentina twice, but my point stands. Even though Chile were decidedly outgunned by the likes of Messi, Higuain and Di Maria, it didn't matter because they scrapped. They clawed. They fouled. A lot.
During the Copa America, Argentina's attacking players have burned teams by cheating forward when the other team is in possession and capitalizing on poor passes by intercepting them and going the other way before the other team can even react. A counterattack led by three or four of the best offensive players in the world is a nightmare for a defense caight on its heels, which they often were.
Chile reacted to this in two ways: by slowing the game down (not, like, Bayern Munich slow, but slow enough) in order to make as few dumb passes as possible, and by fouling Argentina's attackers before they could get a head of steam. This led to some bad things (Marcelo Diaz's first half sending-off), but mostly good things (Argentina didn't score and Chile won).
This strategy mirrors that of many 80s and 90s basketball teams that would foul players who tried to drive to the hoop. "No layups" served two functions: first, and most immediate, a layup was prevented and a less-efficiant scoring chance, free throws, was given. Second, and more important, it helped rattle the other team. It's hard to focus on basketball and focus on not being thrown to the ground at the same time. The same holds true for soccer.
Because of this, Chile were able to limit Argentina's easy chances, and Argentina choked away the chances they did get. They got some help from Claudio Bravo and the finishing non-abilities of International Final Gonzalo Higuain, but for the most part locked down probably the most potent offense of any international side in the world. They literally manhandled Argentina.
Contact The18 Staff Writer Sam Klomhaus at Klomhaus@The18.com or follow him on Twitter @SamKlomhaus
