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Version 1 Version 2
USA v Argentina: Copa América semi-final – live! USA v Argentina: Copa América semi-final – live!
(35 minutes later)
2.24am BST
02:24
18 min: Argentina win a free kick. It’s taken quickly by Mascherano, but intercepted by a USA player. Argentina pressing very high and so far it’s worked, keeping the hosts on the back foot and generally unable to sustain anything resembling an attack.
2.22am BST
02:22
15 min: The USA string together six short passes in an attempt to work it up the left flank but are quickly dispossessed and all of a sudden it’s Messi running full speed with the ball toward Guzan. He uncorks a left-footed shot with pace from just outside the area but the American keeper makes the save.
2.19am BST
02:19
12 min: Argentina really turning the screws over the past few minutes, keeping possession and making the US players chase. A through ball to Messi but Zardes makes a last-gasp slide to deflect it away.
2.14am BST
02:14
8 min: Messi pulling the strings from the top of the area, the USA back four in disarray. A series of short passes and the ball is returned to Messi as he slashes toward the near post, but his left-footed shot is sent wide of the target. Goal kick.
2.13am BST
02:13
7 min: USA win a free kick. Michael Bradley to take it. It’s short and easily cleared.
2.12am BST
02:12
GOAL! USA 0-1 Argentina (Lavezzi, 3 min)
Argentina have kept possession nearly from kickoff. Messi receives it in acres of space and chips it forward to Lavezzi, but it’s cleared past the goal line for a corner. The corner is taken short and another chipped through ball is deflected, but it falls to Lavezzi and he heads it beautifully into the back of the goal. A nightmare start for the United States!
2.07am BST
02:07
1 min: And they’re off! The United States in white shirts with blue trim and white shorts attacking from left to right, Argentina in all-navy strips.
#USAvARG: Arranca la Semifinal Estados Unidos vs Argentina. Va por #UDN, @Univision y https://t.co/db5cBZ8345 pic.twitter.com/PY85NzpOOS
Updated
at 2.08am BST
2.05am BST
02:05
Some last-gasp predictions. At least three people believe in the United States’ chances.
FS1 Bullish On #USMNT Chances Against Argentina pic.twitter.com/B3zV1AvGfq
2.03am BST
02:03
Anthem time in Houston. First it’s Himno Nacional Argentino, then a deafening rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner as tens of thousands of voices ring out throughout the stadium. Not much longer now.
1.59am BST
01:59
Our Tom Dart is on the ground in Houston. He’s sent along the following dispatch.
It’s the sort of hot and humid, stepping-into-a-shower summer’s day that Houston specialises in, with the threat of showers to boot. Not that it matters to either team, because NRG Stadium’s roof is closed and its air conditioning is well-equipped to handle the Texas climate.
The quality of the playing surface is more open to question: it’s grass laid out on pallets over the artificial surface used by the Houston Texans NFL team. While temporary grass fields have caused problems in the US in the past, they haven’t been much of an issue so far in this tournament here, though this will be the third game and there were a couple of signs in last week’s Mexico vs Venezuela group match that the ball wasn’t rolling quite the way that some players were expecting.
As for NFL games, fans began tailgating in the prairie-sized parking lots hours before kickoff. There was a good-natured incursion by a few dozen Argentina fans - some waving blue-and-white umbrellas - into an area populated by the American Outlaws supporters group, leading to duelling chants of “Olé! Olé! Olé!” and “U-S-A, U-S-A!”
Josue Sanchez, who made the 200-mile drive from San Antonio, stood on the fringes of the rally with Clint Dempsey. Or at least, a larger-than-life “Deuce-face” cut-out of the US’s star forward and son of Nacogdoches, TX.
Dempsey has three goals so far in the tournament. How many more tonight? “Realistically, hopefully two,” Sanchez said. “He’s back in his home state of Texas, so I think he’s going to put on a show for Texas.”
Updated
at 2.00am BST
1.54am BST
01:54
Now for a look into the crystal ball. And it’s not pretty. Here’s a note from Michael Philip, via email.
6 or 7 Argentine goals, this is going to be cruel and the US can go back to games only they play…
1.45am BST1.45am BST
01:4501:45
And now for a minor programming note. Guardian US is also liveblogging tonight’s match in Spanish for the polyglots out there. Feel free to join our Luis Miguel Echegaray over there!And now for a minor programming note. Guardian US is also liveblogging tonight’s match in Spanish for the polyglots out there. Feel free to join our Luis Miguel Echegaray over there!
Related: USA v Argentina - ¡en vivo y en español!Related: USA v Argentina - ¡en vivo y en español!
1.41am BST1.41am BST
01:4101:41
Tonight’s lineups are already generating discussion. Here’s a note from Daniel Stauss, via email.Tonight’s lineups are already generating discussion. Here’s a note from Daniel Stauss, via email.
Messi, Higuain, Lavezzi, Dempsey, Wondolowski. one of these names is not like the others, one of these manners just doesn’t belong. At least Clint won’t be totally stranded up top, maybe Wondo can stumble around in front of Otamendi and distract him a little.Messi, Higuain, Lavezzi, Dempsey, Wondolowski. one of these names is not like the others, one of these manners just doesn’t belong. At least Clint won’t be totally stranded up top, maybe Wondo can stumble around in front of Otamendi and distract him a little.
1.30am BST1.30am BST
01:3001:30
The teamsThe teams
Here’s a look at tonight’s teams. USA players Bobby Wood and Alejandro Bedoya are suspended for yellow-card accumulation in addition to Jermaine Jones, who picked up a straight red in the quarter-final against Ecuador.Here’s a look at tonight’s teams. USA players Bobby Wood and Alejandro Bedoya are suspended for yellow-card accumulation in addition to Jermaine Jones, who picked up a straight red in the quarter-final against Ecuador.
United StatesUnited States
XI: Guzan; Yedlin, Cameron, Brooks, Johnson; Zusi, Beckerman, Bradley, Zardes; Dempsey, WondolowskiXI: Guzan; Yedlin, Cameron, Brooks, Johnson; Zusi, Beckerman, Bradley, Zardes; Dempsey, Wondolowski
Substitutes: Besler, Birnbaum, Nagbe, Howard, Orozco, Kitchen, Pulisic, Castillo, HorvathSubstitutes: Besler, Birnbaum, Nagbe, Howard, Orozco, Kitchen, Pulisic, Castillo, Horvath
ArgentinaArgentina
XI: Romero; Mercado, Otamendi, Funes Mori, Rojo; Augusto, Mascherano, Banega; Messi, Higuain, LavezziXI: Romero; Mercado, Otamendi, Funes Mori, Rojo; Augusto, Mascherano, Banega; Messi, Higuain, Lavezzi
Substitutes: Roncaglia, Cuesta, Lamela, Kranevitter, Aguero, Biglia, Maidana, Guzman, Pastore, Andujar, Di MariaSubstitutes: Roncaglia, Cuesta, Lamela, Kranevitter, Aguero, Biglia, Maidana, Guzman, Pastore, Andujar, Di Maria
1.25am BST1.25am BST
01:2501:25
The teamsThe teams
Hello and welcome to tonight’s Copa América semi-final between the United States and Argentina. Kickoff is roughly 40 minutes away at Houston’s NRG Stadium and the sides have just taken the pitch for pre-match warmups. Argentina are clear favorites, but Jürgen Klinsmann’s men will no doubt be looking to stir up the echoes of 1995.Hello and welcome to tonight’s Copa América semi-final between the United States and Argentina. Kickoff is roughly 40 minutes away at Houston’s NRG Stadium and the sides have just taken the pitch for pre-match warmups. Argentina are clear favorites, but Jürgen Klinsmann’s men will no doubt be looking to stir up the echoes of 1995.
Plenty more to come ahead of tonight’s match starting with the team information. Stand by.Plenty more to come ahead of tonight’s match starting with the team information. Stand by.
10.03pm BST10.03pm BST
22:0322:03
Bryan will be here shortly, in the meantime here’s Graham Parker on tonight’s game:Bryan will be here shortly, in the meantime here’s Graham Parker on tonight’s game:
After USA beat Ecuador and Argentina swept past Venezuela, the two teams will meet in the Copa America semi-finals on Tuesday night, with Argentina firm favorites to advance to the final (and indeed win the whole tournament.) But what can Jürgen Klinsmann do to stop them? And just as importantly can they do anything to cause Argentina problems? Here are a few tactics that could lead to an upset over Lionel Messi and Co:After USA beat Ecuador and Argentina swept past Venezuela, the two teams will meet in the Copa America semi-finals on Tuesday night, with Argentina firm favorites to advance to the final (and indeed win the whole tournament.) But what can Jürgen Klinsmann do to stop them? And just as importantly can they do anything to cause Argentina problems? Here are a few tactics that could lead to an upset over Lionel Messi and Co:
Related: How exactly do USA beat Argentina in the Copa América semi-final?Related: How exactly do USA beat Argentina in the Copa América semi-final?