KEIR RADNEDGE in ST PETERSBURG: Chile go into the Confederations Cup final against Germany here with a two-fold ambition – to carry off the World Cup warm-up trophy and then return next year and win the real thing.

Arturo Vidal, the Bayern Munich playmaker who has been outstanding throughout the Chileans’ progress to the final, was thinking only positive thoughts ahead of a repeat of the Group B match which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Arturo Vidal . . . in it to win it for Chile

Vidal said: “We’ve worked hard and been here in Russia a long time, with a lot of travelling, but we’re satisfied with the work we’ve done so far and tomorrow, hopefully, we’ll win.

“I think we all expected to play Germany again in the final. Everyone said this was their second team but they have players in outstanding physical condition and they’re used to playing under pressure.

Winning hunger

“But we are a team who have worked together for many years and played two winning finals already [in the Copa America and Copa Centenario] and we are hungry to continue winning. Now we can’t wait for the match to start.”

Vidal is a member, along with team-mates such as Alexis Sanchez, of a ‘golden generation’ of Chilean players who are finally fulfilling all the potential Chile has demonstrated in fits and starts down the years.

He added: “If we win this Confederations Cup then it will send out a clear message to everyone that we will be coming back here next year to win the World Cup itself.”

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