Paraguay's Lucas Barrios (#8) scores against Argentina during their elimination round meeting. (Photo : Reuters)
Argentina meets surprise team Paraguay for the second time in the 2015 Copa America but this time the stakes are higher as the two teams clash on Tuesday for the right to enter the final against either host Chile or Peru on July 4.
The triumphant quarterfinalists will face each other in a knockout semifinal showdown at the Estadio Municipal de Concepción in Concepción, Chile.
Gerardo Martino's men dominated the first half the last time these two squads met at the Estadio La Portada in La Serena with stars Sergio Agüero and Lionel Messi getting their offensive juices flowing from the onset.
But the match ultimately ended in a draw as midfielder Nelson Haedo Valdez and forward Lucas Barrios managed to rally Ramón Díaz's wards back into the game with a goal each in the second half.
Messi was obviously disappointed with the outcome and vowed to play better if they would ever meet again. What the Argentine team captain did not foresee was that the teams would actually encounter each other again after 17 days.
Both teams made the semis through shootout victories as Argentina beat Colombia 0-0 (5-4), as reported by Yahoo Sports, while Paraguay stunned Brazil 1-1 (4-3), via ESPN.
This match is expected to be as close as the first one as both teams are starting to hit their peak forms in the competitions. Antony Silva is probably going to have his gloves full the entire match and Argentina's forwards will be a load to handle.
Prediction: Argentina wins 1-0 over Paraguay. La Albirroja had an impressive run, but it ends in the hands of Messi and La Albiceleste. Indeed, there is no shame in losing to the world's greatest footballer.
Argentina starting lineup (4-3-2-1 formation): Romero; Garay, Rojo, Zabaleta, Otamendi; Biglia, Banega, Pastore; Messi, Di María; Agüero
Paraguay starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Silva; Aguilar, Samudio, M. Cáceres, da Silva; Valdez, V. Cáceres, Ortiz, Ortigoza; Bobadilla, Santa Cruz
