“Alexis and the Copa América, Alexis … It hit him!”: The unforgettable story of Claudio Palma de Chile Champion of America in 2015

This Sunday Channel 13 broadcast the last of the matches corresponding to the 2015 Copa América, the consecration of the Golden Generation at the National Stadium when they beat Argentina on penalties to lift the first continental title.

A day full of glory and that had all the condiments: Gary Medel leaving Lionel Messi, the Higuaín prison that ended in the clouds, but above all Alexis Sánchez’s masterful closing to a magical night in Ñuñoa.

And there is no doubt that the story that is most remembered from that day is that of Claudio Palma. Also a panelist for Futuro FC, Radio Futuro, was part of that night thanks to Channel 13, and the person in charge of singing the emotions of the National Stadium.

After 120 minutes of heart attack would come the dreaded penalty shootout, started by Matías Fernández, Lionel Messi and Arturo Vidal. Things were going 2-1 when Gonzalo Higuaín sent his shot to the clouds and all of Chile throbbed at the Copa América. Charles Aránguiz left the score 3-1 and it would be Éver Banega’s turn. Claudio Bravo’s cover was the last step to the top.

“I don’t deny it … I don’t vibrate with opera. I don’t deny it … I don’t vibrate with painting or classical music. I vibrate like you, with football! I vibrate with this Red that led us to two world championships, I vibrate with Chile, I vibrate with this afternoon that I dreamed so many times “, Claudio Palma.

And finally, glory would come from the hand of Alexis Sánchez. The last shot that would put La Roja at the top of the continent, with their first Copa América. “Here is Alexis, Alexis and the Copa América! Alexis … he hit you! Champion Chile! Champion Chile! Champion Chile! Chile Champion of Copa América!“Palma begins to add emotion that is remembered until today.

“In a dramatic match, in a suffering afternoon … It couldn’t be any other way! We left behind 100 years of tears, left behind 100 of defeats, left behind 100 years of arbitrary theft. We leave behind the years of losers to consecrate ourselves in Ñuñoa. To dance a frantic dance, to celebrate from Arica to Punta Arenas. I don’t deny it … I don’t vibrate with the opera. I don’t deny it … I don’t vibrate with painting or classical music. I vibrate like you, with soccer! I vibrate with this Red that took us to two world championships, I vibrate with Chile, I vibrate with this afternoon that I dreamed so many times. Ladies and gentlemen, game over! Chile, yes … Chile, after so many years of suffering, is the Champion of America! On a heart attack afternoon, here in Ñuñoa “, closes the story by Claudio Palma and in which “¡Bien, CTM!” Aldo Schiappacasse also resounded in the cabin.

In 2017, Palma himself revealed in the “Vertigo” program that a year earlier, he had recorded a series of penalties for a series that gave Chile the world title against Argentina. “I had a already seen with what I lived in the cabin. A year after obtaining the America’s Cup some young actors called me and said “I have a project, it tells me it’s called ‘Ceacheí'”, but precarious“he counted.”It was developed in a pizzeria, and we were world champions by penalties beating Argentina. But I I recorded without seeing anything, I asked the actors “what do you want me to do”, (they tell me) Argentina is coming, Chile is coming to the field, champion Chile. I recorded everything, I invented, I wrote a couple of things “said the also panelist for Radio Futuro.

Then, he relates that what he lived that night in 2015 was a dream come true. “So when I do the Copa América final things happen to me. My grace, beyond telling good or bad, is flooding me with emotions. Being there in a cabin with 50 points of rating, being doing what I always dreamed of, the love of the people and seeing your teamWhen we were very little crying out of the stadiums, we were eliminated, and the Sydney team were on the road, “Palma told Diana Bolocco and Martín Cárcamo in the star of the former Angelito channel.