Football
ESPN staff 10y

Sampaoli: Chile are ready for anyone

#INSERT type:image caption:Jorge Sampaoli's side suffered their first defeat of the tournament against Netherlands. END#

Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli has declared his side are ready to take on any team in the knockout stages of the World Cup, despite suffering a 2-0 loss to Netherlands.

- Delaney: Netherlands march on with nothing to fear

With both Sampaoli's men and the Oranje already sure of a place in the round of 16, Monday's clash in Sao Paulo was a straight shootout for top spot in Group B.

Defeat for Chile means they may now face Brazil in the next round, should the Selecao top Group A as expected, but Sampaoli is not concerned who La Roja's opponents are.

"Any opponent we get in the next phase will be complicated. It compels us to be ready," he told a news conference.

"We will play against whoever comes. Beyond the lack of experience, now we have good players with hunger and humility that will give it our all. We will continue to do the same."

Goals from Leroy Fer and Memphis Depay secured Netherlands all three points, and Sampaoli concedes he was frustrated to see his side fail to get on the scoresheet.

"Our intention was to break down that hard wall of the Dutch defence. We couldn't work it out. They were very much intact and played an intensive match," he said.

"We did everything possible to win the group, but we will have to polish a few things. We have a clear conviction on the way we play."

Sampaoli added: "Chile is a team that came in with the idea of winning. We couldn't find the solution today."

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