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Argentina national football team
Copa America | Semi-Finals
Jul 1, 2015 at 12.30am UK
 
Paraguay national football team

6-1

Rojo (15'), Pastore (27'), di Maria (47', 53'), Aguero (80'), Higuain (83')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Barrios (43')

Preview: Argentina vs. Paraguay

Sports Mole looks ahead to the second Copa America semi-final between pre-tournament favourites Argentina and Paraguay.

Having both come through penalty shootouts in their respective quarter-final ties, Argentina and Paraguay will battle it out in the last four of the Copa America tomorrow night.

The match is a repeat of the Group B opener, which ended up being one of the tournament's most entertaining clashes to date.


Argentina

Head coach FC Barcelona Gerardo Martino reacts during the UEFA Champions League Group H match between AC Milan and Barcelona at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on October 22, 2013© Getty Images

They may not yet have played with the swagger often associated with pre-tournament favourites, but Gerardo Martino and his men and have still successfully negotiated their way through to the semi-finals.

La Albiceleste may have collected seven points from a possible nine in the group stages, but it was the opening clash against the Paraguayans that saw them receive plenty of criticism.

Leading 2-0 at the break thanks to goals from Sergio Aguero and Lionel Messi, they ended up being pegged back by their opponents, who earned themselves a share of the spoils.

That goal from Messi remains the only one that the Barcelona talisman has scored at the tournament, but Aguero has recently backed his close friend and teammate to come good in time for this encounter.

He certainly has a positive record against the Paraguayans, with four of his 46 international goals having been scored against them.

As a team, the Argentines are gunning for a record-equalling 15th Copa America title, yet it will be their first triumph since they successfully defended the title back in 1993.

Recent form: WWDWWD


Paraguay

Paraguay's forward Lucas Barrios celebrates after scoring against Uruguay during their 2015 Copa America football championship match, in La Serena, on June 20, 2015© Getty Images

Not even the most ardent of Paraguayan supporters would have expected their nation to have reached this stage of the tournament.

They were drawn in a group alongside defending champions Uruguay and favourites Argentina and then having advanced through that, they found themselves up against five-time world champions Brazil. Yet, Ramon Diaz's men have passed each of those tests with flying colours.

In truth, not much was expected of Diaz's charges prior to this tournament getting underway.

They may have reached the final of the Copa America four years ago under Martino's stewardship, but since his departure, there has been much uncertainty until Diaz's arrival earlier this year.

While making the semi-finals should be regarded a success, having got so close last time, there is bound to be much determination among the Paraguayan squad to have another crack at a title that has eluded them since the country's triumph of 1979.

Recent form: WDDWDD


Team News

Lionel Messi celebrates with Argentina teammates Angel Di Maria and Marcos Rojo after opening the scoring against Nigeria in their World Cup Group F match on June 25, 2014© Getty Images

Martino may have an embarrassment of riches within his squad, but his team selection has been fairly consistent and that is unlikely to change this time around.

Carlos Tevez may have scored the winning penalty against Colombia in the quarter-finals, but he is expected to find himself back on the bench alongside the likes of Gonzalo Higuain and Ever Banega.

Meanwhile, Diaz recalled a number of players for the clash with the Brazilians and it seems that most will keep their places.

In the build up to that game, there had been a suggestion that veteran striker Roque Santa Cruz would be dropped, but he did well against Brazil and should feature once again.

Argentina possible starting lineup:
Romero; Zabaleta, Garay, Otamendi, Rojo; Pastore, Mascherano, Biglia; Messi, Aguero, Di Maria

Paraguay possible starting lineup:
Villar; Piris, Aguilar, Da Silva, B Valdez; Gonzalez, Benitez, Caceres, Aranda; Santa Cruz, N Valdez


Head To Head

They may be full of confidence right now, but Paraguay have a rotten record from their clashes with Argentina.

There have been just 15 wins for the men in red and white stripes, the last of which came back in 2009 when Nelson Valdez scored the only goal of the game.

As for Argentina, they can boast a healthy 58 wins over the Paraguayans, with 31 draws also having been played out.


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Argentina 1-1 Paraguay

Argentina have not performed well so far and up against a stubborn Paraguay side, they may find it tough once again. There was not much to separate these teams in the group stages and it's likely to be that way again, with a second penalty shootout in as many matches a likely outcome.



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Written by
Liam Apicella
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Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero embrace during an Argentina training session on September 06, 2013.
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Argentina Argentina33009
Q Canada Canada31114
3 Chile Chile30212
4 Peru flag Peru30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Venezuela Venezuela33009
Q Ecuador flag Ecuador31114
3 Mexico Mexico31114
4 Jamaica Jamaica30030

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Uruguay flag Uruguay33009
Q Panama flag Panama32016
3 United States USA31023
4 Bolivia flag Bolivia30030

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Colombia Colombia32107
Q Brazil Brazil31205
3 Costa Rica flag Costa Rica31114
4 Paraguay flag Paraguay30030


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