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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| USA v Argentina: Copa América semi-final – live! | USA v Argentina: Copa América semi-final – live! |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 3.34am BST | |
| 03:34 | |
| 67 min: The US win their first corner of the match and on comes Lamela for the injured Lavezzi. Bradley’s corner goes directly into the keeper’s hands and he’d rid of it quickly and Argentina are on the counter! Messi’s shot is blocked but it’s out for a corner. | |
| 3.32am BST | |
| 03:32 | |
| 66 min: Messi is on the charge and tries to slip a through pass to Mascherano in the area, but he can’t run onto it in time. Meanwhile, Lavezzi is being wheeled to the locker room and they’ve yet to replace him. | |
| 3.31am BST | |
| 03:31 | |
| 63 min: Lavezzi leaps to head a ball near the touchline but falls over the electronic advertising board and, oh dear, it looks like he’s suffered a serious injury. He was unable to brace himself for the fall. The Argentina players and the medical staff all sprint over. And out comes a gurney. Fortunately, Lavezzi by now is on his feet and seems to be examining his wrist. | |
| 3.27am BST | |
| 03:27 | |
| 61 min: Rojo is down and the medical staff is out for treatment. While we wait for play to resume, a response from Paul Berry, via email. | |
| In response to Ricky Gill, how dare he insult MLS supporters by saying we rate Michael Bradley. | |
| Knives out. | |
| Updated | |
| at 3.28am BST | |
| 3.26am BST | |
| 03:26 | |
| 60 min: Two switches at the hour mark. For Argentina, Biglia replaces Fernandez. For the United States, Birnbaum comes on for Beckerman. | |
| 3.25am BST | |
| 03:25 | |
| 56 min: During a stoppage in play, it occurs to me the two best teams in Concacaf trail by a combined 10-0 scoreline against the two best teams from Conmebol over the last match and a half. | |
| 3.18am BST | |
| 03:18 | |
| 52 min: A note from Ricky Gill, via email. | |
| Michael Bradley has shown today why no one rates him outside of the MLS. Not to mention, the Americans have been far happier playing the man than the ball and are probably lucky to still have 11 on the field. That being said, I’m thoroughly looking forward to more of Messi at work in 2nd half. | |
| Can’t say I disagree on Bradley on tonight’s body of work. | |
| 3.17am BST | |
| 03:17 | |
| GOAL! USA 0-3 Argentina (Higuaín, 50 min) | |
| The ball is sent through to Higuaín alone in the area. Guzan makes a brilliant save off the initial effort, but the Napoli striker is there to pounce on the rebound and punch it into the goal. It’s Higuaín’s second goal in three games and surely the United States are finished now. | |
| Updated | |
| at 3.21am BST | |
| 3.12am BST | |
| 03:12 | |
| 46 min: And we’re off and running in the second half. The youngster Christian Pulisic replaces Chris Wondolowski for the United States. | |
| Wondo went as well as literally everyone expected. | |
| Updated | |
| at 3.13am BST | |
| 3.10am BST | |
| 03:10 | |
| Here are some of your thoughts from the first half. | |
| A note from Tony Bellew, hopefully that Tony Bellew, via email: | |
| That would have been a red card in rugby! An absolute coat hanger on Lavezzi. | |
| Here’s one from Michael Brenner, via email: | |
| No disgrace for TEAM USA ... | |
| Using a tennis analogy - when top seed and world’s best Novak Djokovic suits up against the 25th ranked player @ Wimbledon - it is just a question of how soon the 3 sets will be over. No difference here on the soccer field - TEAM USA play to their rankings and no surprise or disgrace for them not to triumph over the # 1 seed. | |
| Here’s Barrett Madden, via email: | |
| Gotta say I disagree on the Guzan/Lavezzi play. I thought Lavezzi deserved yellow for endangering our keeper by playing on after the whistle had long gone. | |
| And a dissenting view from Sam Abrahams, via email: | |
| “Looked a bit intentional”???? | |
| That’s a straight red. I mean, a bit of a straight red. | |
| Enjoy the trouncing :) | |
| 2.55am BST | 2.55am BST |
| 02:55 | 02:55 |
| Half-time: USA 0-2 Argentina | Half-time: USA 0-2 Argentina |
| It’s been all Argentina. Frankly, the 2-0 scoreline flatters the USA, who, yes, are undermanned, but who also failed to answer the bell. Only 45 minutes in and we’re already on to the Big Questions. | It’s been all Argentina. Frankly, the 2-0 scoreline flatters the USA, who, yes, are undermanned, but who also failed to answer the bell. Only 45 minutes in and we’re already on to the Big Questions. |
| Not by creating false expectations in the pregame show. We don't have one player that would make Argentina's roster. https://t.co/H5oO6CZsKj | Not by creating false expectations in the pregame show. We don't have one player that would make Argentina's roster. https://t.co/H5oO6CZsKj |
| 2.53am BST | 2.53am BST |
| 02:53 | 02:53 |
| 45 min+1: Lavezzi sent through and he’s wide open with only Guzan between him and the goal but the offside flag is up. Some contact between Guzan and Lavezzi and the Argentine forward goes down in a heap! Looked a bit intentional by the frustrated USA keeper but he gets off without a booking. | 45 min+1: Lavezzi sent through and he’s wide open with only Guzan between him and the goal but the offside flag is up. Some contact between Guzan and Lavezzi and the Argentine forward goes down in a heap! Looked a bit intentional by the frustrated USA keeper but he gets off without a booking. |
| 2.52am BST | 2.52am BST |
| 02:52 | 02:52 |
| 45 min: One minute of added time. | 45 min: One minute of added time. |
| 2.50am BST | 2.50am BST |
| 02:50 | 02:50 |
| 42 min: Moments after the Argentina corner is cleared, a long ball is sent to Yedlin and the USA are on a rare trip into the final third. It’s a short one. | 42 min: Moments after the Argentina corner is cleared, a long ball is sent to Yedlin and the USA are on a rare trip into the final third. It’s a short one. |
| 2.46am BST | 2.46am BST |
| 02:46 | 02:46 |
| 40 min: Lavezzi wins a corner off Yedlin and Argentina are pressuring again. | 40 min: Lavezzi wins a corner off Yedlin and Argentina are pressuring again. |
| 2.45am BST | 2.45am BST |
| 02:45 | 02:45 |
| 35 min: Chris from Cork dropping truth bombs, via email. | 35 min: Chris from Cork dropping truth bombs, via email. |
| Dempsey could quite easily have been given a red for that flailing elbow. Still, 2-0. Onwards and upwards. | Dempsey could quite easily have been given a red for that flailing elbow. Still, 2-0. Onwards and upwards. |
| You’re right, Chris. Here’s a look at the play. | You’re right, Chris. Here’s a look at the play. |
| #USAvARG: 27'. Falta de Dempsey sobre Mascherano que se salva de la amarilla pic.twitter.com/YtqSC1gNdi | #USAvARG: 27'. Falta de Dempsey sobre Mascherano que se salva de la amarilla pic.twitter.com/YtqSC1gNdi |
| 2.39am BST | 2.39am BST |
| 02:39 | 02:39 |
| GOAL! USA 0-2 Argentina (Messi, 32 min) | GOAL! USA 0-2 Argentina (Messi, 32 min) |
| Messi takes the kick and it soars directly into the top-right corner of the goal past the fully extended Guzan. Beautifully struck, a sensational goal. And with it, Messi eclipses Gabriel Batistuta as Argentina’s all-time leading goalscorer. | Messi takes the kick and it soars directly into the top-right corner of the goal past the fully extended Guzan. Beautifully struck, a sensational goal. And with it, Messi eclipses Gabriel Batistuta as Argentina’s all-time leading goalscorer. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.42am BST | at 2.42am BST |
| 2.37am BST | 2.37am BST |
| 02:37 | 02:37 |
| 31 min: Wondolowski gives it away far too easily. Messi charging toward the goal and Wondolowski bumps him to the grass with his hip. A yellow card but a necessary foul. Free kick to Argentina from about 24 yards out. Messi kneels to tie his shoes ... | 31 min: Wondolowski gives it away far too easily. Messi charging toward the goal and Wondolowski bumps him to the grass with his hip. A yellow card but a necessary foul. Free kick to Argentina from about 24 yards out. Messi kneels to tie his shoes ... |
| 2.35am BST | 2.35am BST |
| 02:35 | 02:35 |
| 27 min: Clint Dempsey, last seen on the side of a milk carton and without a touch so far tonight (as far as I can remember), drops Mascherano with a high elbow to the neck and he’s down near the halfway line. Paraguayan referee Enrique Caceres gives Dempsey a stern warning but doesn’t show a card. | 27 min: Clint Dempsey, last seen on the side of a milk carton and without a touch so far tonight (as far as I can remember), drops Mascherano with a high elbow to the neck and he’s down near the halfway line. Paraguayan referee Enrique Caceres gives Dempsey a stern warning but doesn’t show a card. |
| 2.31am BST | 2.31am BST |
| 02:31 | 02:31 |
| 24 min: Every cloud ... | 24 min: Every cloud ... |
| .@FabianJohnson23 having better passing accuracy than #Messi counts for something right? 23'#Copa100 #USAvARG pic.twitter.com/ItHGqmPvHu | .@FabianJohnson23 having better passing accuracy than #Messi counts for something right? 23'#Copa100 #USAvARG pic.twitter.com/ItHGqmPvHu |
| 2.30am BST | 2.30am BST |
| 02:30 | 02:30 |
| 21 min: A free kick for Argentina in a dangerous place as Lavezzi is hacked down. It’s taken quickly – Perhaps prematurely? Did that whistle come from the referee or the stands? – but after the goal attempt is cleared the US take over possession. | 21 min: A free kick for Argentina in a dangerous place as Lavezzi is hacked down. It’s taken quickly – Perhaps prematurely? Did that whistle come from the referee or the stands? – but after the goal attempt is cleared the US take over possession. |
| Other than the goal and the total Argentinian domination this has been very even. | Other than the goal and the total Argentinian domination this has been very even. |
| 2.24am BST | 2.24am BST |
| 02:24 | 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. | 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 | 2.22am BST |
| 02:22 | 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. | 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 | 2.19am BST |
| 02:19 | 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. | 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 | 2.14am BST |
| 02:14 | 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. | 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 | 2.13am BST |
| 02:13 | 02:13 |
| 7 min: USA win a free kick. Michael Bradley to take it. It’s short and easily cleared. | 7 min: USA win a free kick. Michael Bradley to take it. It’s short and easily cleared. |
| 2.12am BST | 2.12am BST |
| 02:12 | 02:12 |
| GOAL! USA 0-1 Argentina (Lavezzi, 3 min) | 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! | 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 | 2.07am BST |
| 02:07 | 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. | 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 | #USAvARG: Arranca la Semifinal Estados Unidos vs Argentina. Va por #UDN, @Univision y https://t.co/db5cBZ8345 pic.twitter.com/PY85NzpOOS |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.08am BST | at 2.08am BST |
| 2.05am BST | 2.05am BST |
| 02:05 | 02:05 |
| Some last-gasp predictions. At least three people believe in the United States’ chances. | 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 | FS1 Bullish On #USMNT Chances Against Argentina pic.twitter.com/B3zV1AvGfq |
| 2.03am BST | 2.03am BST |
| 02:03 | 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. | 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 | 1.59am BST |
| 01:59 | 01:59 |
| Our Tom Dart is on the ground in Houston. He’s sent along the following dispatch. | 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. | 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. | 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!” | 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. | 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.” | 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 | Updated |
| at 2.00am BST | at 2.00am BST |
| 1.54am BST | 1.54am BST |
| 01:54 | 01:54 |
| Now for a look into the crystal ball. And it’s not pretty. Here’s a note from Michael Philip, via email. | 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… | 6 or 7 Argentine goals, this is going to be cruel and the US can go back to games only they play… |
| 1.45am BST | 1.45am BST |
| 01:45 | 01:45 |
| 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 BST | 1.41am BST |
| 01:41 | 01:41 |
| 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 BST | 1.30am BST |
| 01:30 | 01:30 |
| The teams | The 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 States | United States |
| XI: Guzan; Yedlin, Cameron, Brooks, Johnson; Zusi, Beckerman, Bradley, Zardes; Dempsey, Wondolowski | XI: Guzan; Yedlin, Cameron, Brooks, Johnson; Zusi, Beckerman, Bradley, Zardes; Dempsey, Wondolowski |
| Substitutes: Besler, Birnbaum, Nagbe, Howard, Orozco, Kitchen, Pulisic, Castillo, Horvath | Substitutes: Besler, Birnbaum, Nagbe, Howard, Orozco, Kitchen, Pulisic, Castillo, Horvath |
| Argentina | Argentina |
| XI: Romero; Mercado, Otamendi, Funes Mori, Rojo; Augusto, Mascherano, Banega; Messi, Higuain, Lavezzi | XI: Romero; Mercado, Otamendi, Funes Mori, Rojo; Augusto, Mascherano, Banega; Messi, Higuain, Lavezzi |
| Substitutes: Roncaglia, Cuesta, Lamela, Kranevitter, Aguero, Biglia, Maidana, Guzman, Pastore, Andujar, Di Maria | Substitutes: Roncaglia, Cuesta, Lamela, Kranevitter, Aguero, Biglia, Maidana, Guzman, Pastore, Andujar, Di Maria |
| 1.25am BST | 1.25am BST |
| 01:25 | 01:25 |
| The teams | The 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 BST | 10.03pm BST |
| 22:03 | 22:03 |
| 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? |