Hat-trick hero Sergio Aguero leads Argentina rout of Bolivia

Sergio Aguero scored a hat-trick as Argentina warmed up for the Copa America with a morale-boosting 5-0 win over Bolivia in San Juan this morning.

Last summer's beaten World Cup finalists came into the contest with less of a stellar cast than usual due to last night's Champions League final.

Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano were unavailable, as was Juventus striker Carlos Tevez, but the hosts still boasted an array of attacking talent - and it showed.

It took 25 minutes for one of those big names to open the scoring as Angel Di Maria drilled a left-footed shot past Romel Quinonez.

It was one-way traffic from there as Aguero fired Gerardo Martino's side further ahead from the penalty spot within four minutes, before tapping home from point-blank range moments later.

The Bolivians almost scored with what was their first attempt at goal on 46 minutes when Nahuel Guzman kept out Damian Lizio.

Aguero latched onto Javier Pastore's cushioned header to drill home his third on 51 minutes, while Di Maria added a fifth from the penalty spot shortly after.

A spate of second-half substitutions appeared to stifle Argentina's fluency, and Gonzalo Higuain - who replaced Aguero - missed a fine chance for a sixth in the final quarter.

Argentina, who were paired with Uruguay, Jamaica and Paraguay in Group B, kick off their Copa America tournament against the latter in La Serena, Chile, next Saturday.