When Lautaro Millan paused to speak with FIFA in the corridors of the National Stadium in Santiago, his emotions were mostly in check, just moments after an explosion of euphoria.
He was one of the young players who bolted off the Chilean bench in a frenzy after central defender Ian Garguez scored in the seventh minute of stoppage time in the second half to secure Chile’s victory over New Zealand on the opening night of the FIFA U-20 World Cup™.
Having just turned 20, Millan remained surprisingly calm as he reflected on the scene he had witnessed just 15 minutes earlier. Yet, over 1,500 kilometres away, with the vast Andes Mountains separating them, there was someone whom the young attacking midfielder suspected would be overwhelmed with emotion.
“He’s probably crying at home, so I’m really happy for him too, because this is his country,” said the midfielder about his father. “And it’s thanks to my parents that I’m here too.”
Pascual Bautista Millan was born in Concepcion, in the Bio-Bio region of Chile. Now, he splits his time between Bahia Blanca and Avellaneda in Argentina, to support his son who plays for Independiente. There, he works loading and unloading trucks.
For Lautaro, there is one piece of advice from his father that guides him through his playing career: “Effort is always the most important thing; fighting for your dreams is what lets you achieve them.”
His father is not the only link with Chile. While the midfielder’s mother is from Argentina, his maternal grandmother was also born in Chile. Choosing to represent the country after previously wearing Argentina’s jersey, the young player knew the huge challenge that he and his team would face in the U-20 World Cup. But he believed it was a challenge to embrace without fear.
“We’ve been working hard for this World Cup for a long time, and well, today we saw something beautiful in the stadium,” said Millan. “I hope we can repeat that on Tuesday and that the fans will come out in force.”
Now, La Rojita faces Japan in the second group game in Santiago with the winner being in strong position to secure a spot in the round of 16.
Named Visa Player of the Match in the opener, Millan scored the first goal in the 54th minute after some brilliant play by Agustin Arce, who intercepted the ball in the attacking third and then played him in with a sugar-coated pass. Before that, the midfielder had been the fulcrum of Chile’s attack. “I’m really happy to score my first goal for this team,” he said. “I hope there are many more are to come.”
His team-mates could not agree more. “We’re very happy with Lautaro’s decision, and what he did today on the field is a reflection of who he is,” said captain Juan Francisco Rossel to FIFA. “He’s an incredible player, an incredible person, and he helped us a lot. I hope he continues helping us in this World Cup.”
Always carrying his father’s words with him, Millan promises nothing but full commitment. “The packed stadium was amazing, and it motivates us,” he said. “We’ve managed to get off to a good start, but the truth is we’re a team that knows no limits.”
