Jorge Sampaoli: 'Chile's Copa America success fully deserved'

Chile boss Jorge Sampaoli has insisted that his side were worthy winners in Saturday night's Copa America final against Argentina.

The host nation made history by winning on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes to lift a major international trophy for the first time in their history.

Alexis Sanchez struck the winning penalty kick to spark scenes of joy across the South American country, with Sampoli declaring that justice was done in the end.

"We had to play a great game against one of the world's best teams for the quality of players," Sky Sports News quotes the 55-year-old as saying. "We should have won in 90 minutes, but ended up getting justice in a shootout.

"From the first game, Chile were playing to win the Copa America. The team confronted and overcame rivals to win the Copa America through leadership, hard work and discipline.

"That is the merit of the players that I have fortune to train, People are now starting to dream. We have done something great today and qualifying for the [2018] World Cup will be Chile's next target."

Sampaoli took over La Roja in 2012, guiding them to the knockout stages of the World Cup last year prior to this summer's Copa America success.