beIN SPORTS

By Nick Dorrington (@chewingthecoca)

The 2015 Copa América has now come to a close, with the host nation Chile crowned champions for the first time in their history. Here are the players, coaches, matches and goals that stood out the most during the tournament.

Player of the Tournament: Gary Medel

Chile had plenty of players who impressed during their successful campaign, with Charles Aránguiz and Jorge Valdivia coming particularly close to taking this award. But no player was as consistently excellent or enjoyed as strong a rapport with the Chilean public as Gary Medel. He would be far from the best choice at centre-back for most sides, but he was the perfect fit in that position for Chile’s intense and high-lined style of defending.

The Pitbull lived up to his nickname by harassing opponents, biting into challenges and never giving an inch. But it was his leadership skills that shone through strongest. The way in which he held together the Chilean defence, consistently barking out orders and encouragement to his team-mates, was highly impressive. He marshalled a back-line featuring himself and two other midfielders to a clean sheet against Argentina in the final.

The primeval roar he let out at the end of his pre-shootout speech simply sealed his status as a national hero.

Best XI: Claudio Bravo, Luis Advincula, Gary Medel, Diego Godín, Juan Vargas; Charles Aránguiz, Javier Mascherano, Jorge Valdivia; Lionel Messi, Paulo Guerrero, Eduardo Vargas

Coach of the Tournament: Jorge Sampaoli

The achievements of Ramón Díaz and especially Ricardo Gareca in leading Paraguay and Peru to the final four are worthy of high acclaim, particularly considering that both took charge just a few months before the tournament. It is, however, impossible to overlook the work done by Jorge Sampaoli in leading Chile to their first ever major international trophy.

Sampaoli faced a degree of criticism prior to the tournament and again following what some considered to be a below-par performance in Chile’s opening day victory over Ecuador. But those voices were quickly quietened as his side progressed through the tournament and began to more regularly display the swashbuckling football of rapid interchanges and perpetual movement that has become their trademark.

And he got his tactics spot on in the final, effectively nullifying both Lionel Messi and the Argentinian attack at large, while still providing his own side with a platform to attack.

Honourable Mentions: Ramón Díaz (Paraguay), Ricardo Gareca (Peru)

Match of the Tournament: Chile 3-3 Mexico

It is difficult to look beyond this pulsating group-stage encounter as the match of the tournament. Two teams with similar styles went toe-to-toe in an intense, visceral and highly entertaining match that yielded six goals - including three superb headers - and plenty of further incident. Mexico led twice but were twice pegged back by Chile, who then took the lead themselves before Mexico fought back to level the scores once more.

Honourable Mentions: Argentina 2-2 Paraguay, Bolivia 3-2 Ecuador, Chile 0-0 Argentina

Goal of the Tournament: Eduardo Vargas - Chile vs. Peru

Not only the most spectacular goal that Chile scored during the tournament but perhaps the most important also, coming as it did just four minutes after Peru had pulled them back to 1-1 during a nervy semi-final encounter. Vargas received the ball 30 yards out, stepped forward and unleashed a crisp, arrowing strike into the far corner. He admitted afterwards that he had spent the previous days practicing and perfecting his technique.

Honourable Mentions: Miller Bolaños (Ecuador vs. Bolivia), Nelson Haedo Valdez (Paraguay vs. Argentina), Sergio Aguero (Argentina vs. Uruguay)