We’re going to wrap this blog up now. Here’s a quick match report:
Thanks so much for reading. Goodnight.
He was so good tonight, though, Messi. He and Pastore really starred: they look like have a genuine understanding, and some of their one-touch stuff was fabulous.
Here’s Leo Messi:
Everything was very tight, but we knew once we scored one, many goals would come. We scored an early goal, found more spaces, and then it got better. We continued to play the same way, created many chances.
If I score a goal in the final, the important thing is we made it. We played the final of the World Cup, now of the Copa America – and we need to win it.
OK, he’s not Peter Ustinov, but I guess we should focus on his football, not his ability as a raconteur.
The funny thing is, Paraguay weren’t truly dire. They showed some spunk at 2-0, and got that goal through Barrios, and it looked as though the second half would be a real treat. But the third goal really killed them: at 3-1, they tried to have a go, and Argentina simply picked them off on the break.
Di Maria scored two and takes the credit, but Pastore and Messi were dazzling, and Higuain and Aguero are just ur-predators, aren’t they: they love to feast on goals. If you have a chance, check out Pastore’s goal and Di Maria’s first one: lovely, lovely team goals worth watching again and again. It’s been a hugely enjoyable game, and Chile face a job if Argentina play like that. I can’t wait!
What a display, particularly in the second half. That continues Argentina’s unbeaten record against Paraguay in the Copa America, and they’ll play Chile in what should be a tip-top final against the hosts Chile on Saturday. Look at Justo Villar’s face: it kind of says it all:
Full-time: Argentina 6-1 Paraguay
90 min: Oscar Romero, who replaced Valdez, hits it hard and low, but Romero fields it smartly. And that’s it! Six-one, and Argentina have served up a masterclass.
89 min: Chance for Paraguay to make the scoreline slightly less insulting – Aguilar is fouled, and it’s a free kick on the edge of the box.
88 min: I thought Argentina were satisfied with four – but now they look hungry for a seventh. Messi wants his goal! No yellow card for Bobadilla, who just decks Otamendi, WWE-style.
86 min: I love that: the notion that you can withdraw Aguero and Pastore bring on Banega and Higuain. What a fabulous array of attacking talent. And Messi hasn’t even scored! Unbelievable. Banega’s corner, but Otamendi’s header is high.
84 min: Higuain has been on the pitch about two minutes! Messi tried to play a one-two with Banega in the box, but it broke down, and Higuain just reacted quickest to flash a shot into the roof of the net. This is magical!
GOAL! Argentina 6-1 Paraguay (Higuain 83)
Poor old Paraguay: they haven’t been 5-1 worse, by any means, but Argentina have just been so clinical. And that’s six!
82 min: This move was started by two lovely crisp passes in midfield by Gago. He fed Messi, who found Di Maria wide on the left, and his cross was met confidently by Aguero, who got between two defenders to head past Villar. A peach of a cross, and a clinical header. Argentina’s attacking has been absolutely splendid.
GOAL! Argentina 5-1 Paraguay (Aguero 80)
Five for Argentina!
79 min: Well, that was strange defending from Zabaleta: Piris had the freedom of the pitch to measure his cross from the left, and Zabaleta just ignored him totally, as if he simply couldn’t be arsed. Paraguay can’t profit, however: Piris’s cross is long.
77 min: Final 15 minutes, and this game has petered out rather. But that’s nicely worked, and a lovely turn from the Augsburg man Bobadilla, sending Otamendi the other way. Decent effort, too, but just wide. A second change for Argentina: Mascherano is replaced by Fernando Gago
75 min: The wind has been taken out of Paraguay’s sails. Mascherano is pumped, however: what a competitive little grinder he is. Bobadilla goes down the right hand side, but he can’t keep it in.
73 min: Aguero is a hair’s breadth away from being clean through, but he’s been called offside. Change for Argentina: Ever Banega in for Pastore. Well played, Javier – you’ve been a pleasure to watch.
71 min: Caceres with a free kick chance for 4-2, right on the edge of the box – but it’s high and wide.
69 min: Brilliant save from Villar – but that would have been a magnificent goal from Messi. He started out on the right, attacked Da Silva, fed Pastore, and Pastore’s reverse pass was a thing of beauty – Messi just couldn’t get his shot away immediately, so Villar was in position to block. Great play, and a great link-up between this game’s two finest players.
66 min: Argentina content to keep the ball. The tempo has dropped somewhat.
Mike Mackenzie again:
Methinks Martino would be wise to take off Messi and Mascherano and maybe even Aguero at this point given their yellow card situations, no?
Quite: surely just a matter of time.
Updated
64 min: There’s that old quote from the legendary Inter coach Helenio Herrera: “If Pele was the first violinist, Alfredo di Stefano was the whole orchestra.” Well, Messi has done it all tonight, too: conducted the players, performed the odd majestic solo, and put all the chairs away at the end, too. What a player he is.
61 min: … it evades everybody, but Argentina recycle and regroup, and keep the ball to olés from the Argentina fans. Paraguay look downbeat.
60 min: It could be damage limitation for Paraguay here. Biglia’s free-kick from the right is just missed by Messi, but Ortiz scythes through Di Maria right on the corner of the box. Yellow for Ortiz, and a chance for Messi …
59 min: Aguero has been quiet, but it’s mattered not a jot: Messi, Pastore and Di Maria have been brilliant. And almost another for Pastore! Messi just ghosted past two defenders, and his cutback was just behind Pastore, whose effort from close range was blocked by Villar. Argentina look as though they’re really in the mood.
Updated
57 min: Paraguay have been so open in this second half! I know they were chasing a goal, but they’ve gone out too hard, too early, and have been punished on the break.
55 min: Di Maria has the goal, but it’s all down to Lionel Messi. He picked up the ball in the Paraguay half and set off on a trademark dribble, showing skill, and speed and strength, too: he shrugged off Aguilar, and Valdez completely missed it with a reckless two-footer, and Messi found Pastore, whose shot was well saved, but Di Maria didn’t err on the follow-up. This game is done, I’m afraid!
GOAL! Argentina 4-1 Paraguay (Di Maria 53)
Another for Di Maria, and this semi-final is over.
52 min: As intricate and delicate as a spider’s web, marvels Ray Hudson on commentary. But here come Paraguay, and that’s Caceres with a free header! Straight at Romero: it was possibly just a little too high.
50 min: A lovely goal, was that: I just hope it doesn’t kill this match as a contest. Paraguay are such a determined, spirited side, but to concede so early … Just looking back at that goal: that Pastore pass was actually with the outside of his right foot, and Di Maria didn’t even have to break stride. The finish was perfect. Great goal.
48 min: Another beautiful team goal: Paraguay just get picked apart. Mascherano quickly finds Pastore in that pocket of space between defence and attack, and Pastore’s pass is just magical: between two defenders, finding Di Maria free on the left, and his finish is low and true. Excellent, excellent play, and a gem of a pass by Pastore.
GOAL! Argentina 3-1 Paraguay (Di Maria 47)
What a start! Di Maria!
Updated
47 min: Ray Hudson on commentary makes a good point: Paraguay’s two substitutes have made a real impact. Barrios got the goal, but Bobadilla has impressed, too.
Second half begins
46 min: We’re back! Messi and Valdez share a joke: they’re relaxed. Messi looks crossfield for Di Maria, but Villar is out smartly.
Argentina having a powwow in the tunnel: they look annoyed with themselves. Surely they won’t let it slip again?
Daniel Tunnard will not be winning five pounds:
@timmyhilleh I'm watching the match in Concepción, but Concepción del Uruguay, which is in Argentina. Do I win 5 pounds?
— Daniel Tunnard (@Danieltunnard) July 1, 2015
It’s all happening in Montreal. Find out how USA and Germany are getting on here: there’s drama!
That Paraguay goal was a farce, from Argentina’s perspective: the two centre-backs were on opposing sides of their penalty box, and Biglia and Mascherano just didn’t sit in, so when Valdez won the header, Barrios was totally free. A minute before half-time, and they give up a goal like that: what’s the Spanish for boneheaded?
Half-time: Argentina 2-1 Paraguay
Well, Barrios has just made that really interesting. Argentina were cruising! They were in total control, but a moment of slack defending, and Barrios punished them. Nice one.
Updated
45 min: That was a great header by Bruno Valdez, and Barrios did really well to read it, but there was so much space: Demichelis and Otamendi were so far apart. Poor defending by Argentina.
Here’s Mekdela Thewodros:
Feel sorry for Paraguay. Injuries are robbing them of a fight back!
Not so fast! They’re in this, and Bobadilla is close again! Argentina rocking.
Updated
44 min: Well, that’s just brilliant – for Barrios, for Paraguay, and for the game. Argentina’s free-kick was headed back in by Paraguay, and Barrios just read it better than anyone else. Demichelis was 10 yards deeper than Biglia, and Barrios just found the space, and hit it left-footed! Romero couldn’t stop it. Game on!
Updated
GOAL! Argentina 2-1 Paraguay (Barrios 43)
Oh my word! Where did that come from?
Updated
42 min: Headed clear, but Bobadilla, on for Gonzalez, is making headway. And another corner! Aguilar is called for a foul, though, and Argentina can breathe.
Updated
41 min: Well played Benitez, showing some spunk down the right-hand side. Valdez with the long throw, and Caceres lifts it back in, but a push in the box against Benitez, and an Argentina free-kick. It’s given back to Paraguay, though, and Da Silva has a blast from distance. That’s a corner. Better from Paraguay.
Updated
40 min: Four-man wall for Paraguay, and Messi hits it with swerve and bend and dip, and no little power … but it’s wide.
39 min: Fine defending from Caceres, dropping back and hooking clear after Di Maria looked to get in down the left. But it keeps coming back, and now Pastore’s making mischief in the box. Paraguay ca’t cope, and that’s a foul on Messi by Ortiz, about 30 yards from goal. Chance here!
36 min: Argentina so look dangerous when they break, and here comes Messi again, linking up wonderfully with Pastore, but the PSG man’s attempted scoop pass was just slightly overhit, and Villar claims.
35 min: Argentina on top here. Those substitutions have had an effect on the tempo, but Paraguay need to find a response.
Vinny McGovern is a fan of Batistuta, and hair:
@timmyhilleh Batistuta was exceptional but his hair wasn't a patch on Caniggia's.
— Vincent McGovern (@VinnyMcGovern) June 30, 2015
Yep! And Ortega, and Sorin, and Pochettino, and Placente, and Almeyda … pretty much half that squad from the 2002 World Cup look like they’d got lost on their way to a Nickelback symposium.
32 min: Free kick from Messi … over the bar. Disappointing. But little Lionel has two credits in the assist column: he’s on the money tonight!
31 min: Another enforced change: Santa Cruz, their skipper, can’t continue – I think he pulled a hamstring, and Lucas Barrios is in. Yellow card for Da Silva for a crude foul on Aguero.
30 min: That was really lovely, and Pastore made it look so easy. Argentina have really found their rhythm here, and now Santa Cruz is limping. Are the wheels falling off for Paraguay?
28 min: This is a wonderful team goal! It started down the right, and Biglia (or was it Zabaleta?) found Messi, whose through ball to Pastore, running centrally, was inch-perfect. But Pastore took it so well, accepting the pass, taking a touch past the defender, and firing low and hard past Villar. Great goal!
Updated
GOAL! Argentina 2-0 Paraguay (Pastore 27)
He’s done it! Javier Pastore!
Updated
26 min: Ooh, Paraguay wanted a penalty, and it was close! Bruno Valdez attacked Rojo down the touchline, went into the box and took a tumble … Rojo definitely didn’t play the ball, but Valdez seemed to lose his feet. Fair enough, actually, that call. Change for Paraguay: Bobadilla in for Gonzalez.
24 min: Lovely flick from Santa Cruz, but Valdez just couldn’t collect. Derlis Gonzalez is down on the touchline – he looks in some trouble. Change imminent, I think.
23 min: … well defended by Paraguay. But that was lovely from Messi: slaloming at top speed, and a wonderfully weighted pass to his old mucker. Pastore might have done better.
Updated
22 min: That’s more like it from Messi! On the break, he drew a posse of defenders, checked back inside, and slipped in Pastore, but his left-foot blast was well saved by Villar. Corner for Argentina …
20 min: Ooh, Caceres might have just gotten lucky with an elbow! He’s already been booked, remember, and it looked like he led with his arm on Di Maria. No call, though: it’s 11 v 11 – for now.
18 min: I suppose this means Paraguay have to come out and play, which should “make it more entertaining for the neutral” (© all tabloid newspapers.) But they can’t realistically concede a second and expect to go through, so my hot tip: they’ll stay compact until the last 15 minutes. Analysis!
16 min: Well, all that talk about Paraguay being deadly from dead balls, but they were undone in the simplest fashion. They’ll be so pissed: a free-kick on the left, swung in by Messi, and no one dealt with it. It fell to Rojo, and maybe he got a lucky bobble, but he finished confidently, left-footed, from about 10 yards. Much too easy for Argentina.
Updated
GOAL! Argentina 1-0 Paraguay (Rojo 15)
Marcos Rojo!
14 min: And another yellow: this time for Biglia. And for Caceres too! Caceres for the foul, Biglia for giving his four penneth.
13 min: Crude tackle on halfway prevents a Paraguay breakaway, and Rojo is deservedly booked.
11 min: Quiet start by Messi, but that’s a lovely neat one-two with di Maria, and then the Man Utd man releases Zabaleta down that right side. He’s so high! Great ball back, and Pastore was unmarked, but he just couldn’t get the purchase on the ball, and it’s safely through to Villar. Good opportunity, and very nicely constructed.
10 min: Lucky for Biglia: he was dispossessed, but the ball bounced up on to Caceres’s hand – otherwise, Paraguay were away. Good start by Los Guaraníes.
9 min: Santa Cruz bared his teeth just then: he knows that was a very presentable opportunity. Paraguay have dropped right back into defence now: they’re so solid, aren’t they.
7 min: Biglia and Mascherano are sitting tres deep, allowing Zabaleta and Rojo to roam and raid and maraud, like the Vikings they aren’t. Chance there for Roque Santa Cruz! Lovely cushioned header back from Nelson Haedo Valdez, and Santa Cruz was free in the box, but he scuffed his shot wide. First chance, and it was a clear one!
Updated
5 min: Some decent early pressure from Paraguay, and they try to go down the right-hand side, but Victor Caceres’s ball is just too long.
3 min: Derlis Gonzalez tries to go at the Argentinian defence in the box, but Argentina break with Pastore: that’s a lovely raking ball to Aguero. Crisp passing early doors, but Zabaleta, overlapping, was offside.
Here’s William Marzouk:
“Deadball” pretty much sums up Paraguay’s interpretation of football. Roque Santa Cruz the head undertaker.
1 min: And we’re off! Paraguay look long, and then fall back into their defensive shape. They’ll sit deep and try to attack down the flanks.
Sandro Ricci is the Brazilian referee: he’s the official who failed to notice Gonzalo Jara’s spat with Edinson Cavani. Actually, maybe he did: he booked both players, but since Cavani had already been booked …
Ha! Here’s a killer stat: in 23 head-to-head meetings at the Copa America, Argentina have won 18, five have been drawn, and Paraguay have won a big fat zero. May as well get off the mark tonight, I suppose.
I’d love to hear from you! Email me, tweet me, send me a Telex: I’m ready and waiting. Let’s talk football!
They’re out in Concepción! And the players are wearing their tracksuit tops. It’s a cold one: 10C, 50F, and it’s only going to get colder.
I’m really looking forward to watching Javier Pastore tonight. I thought he was great last season for PSG, and is a lovely easy mover in the final third: threading passes, turning heads, sashaying past defenders. Some attackers in the modern game are biffers; he’s a caresser. Lots to enjoy, and Andy Gray in the beIN studio reckons he’ll start just behind Aguero and Messi, in that deep No 10 role.
Paraguay don’t have a playmaker of Pastore’s quality, but they are deadly from dead balls: six of their last eight goals at the Copa America have come from set pieces.
Kick off is about 15 minute away. Excited?
Another interesting little wrinkle is that tonight’s game will go to penalties if it’s all square after 90 minutes, not the usual 120. Will Paraguay aim to keep it scoreless and then take their chances from the spot? Don’t bet against it.
The coaches have spoken! Another interesting plotline: Tata Martino coached Paraguay for five years between 2006 and 2011, and of course took them to that final in 2011. (OK, OK, they lost 3-0, and didn’t win a match in the entire tournament, but we’re probably splitting hairs a little.
Ramon Diaz:
It’s not the first time people have underestimated us. We will keep our calm and our humility. But for us, it is already a victory to face the best teams. We know them, we know we will face a great team. At this stage, it’s hard for both teams. But I firmly believe in this team, and the desire we have for revenge.
Tata Martino:
I had several campaigns with Paraguay, and I know most of the players. They have grown as footballers and they made me grow as a coach. They were all a big part of us.
We are prepared to face Paraguay. We will try to impose our game to repeat what we did in that first half.
Argentina haven’t won the Copa America since 1993. Mad, isn’t it? All that talent – all that attacking talent – and no cups to show for it. Gabriel Batistuta got both goals in 2-1 victory over Mexico on that day in 93, and Diego Simeone and Fernando Redondo also played in that team. Batistuta: what a classic striker. Watch this: goals, goals, goals!
Updated
Forgive me for stating the bleedin’ obvious, but these two have already played each other in this tournament: a 2-2 draw in the pair’s first match. A funny game: Argentina were 2-0 up and cruising, but then Paraguay found something from somewhere, Nelson Valdez scored an absolute screamer, and Lucas Barrios drove it right at the death as the Argentinian defence stood and watched.
Gooooool, etc etc:
Paraguay had one of the goals of the day yesterday (via @ActualFutbol): http://t.co/ii5N8ZSfNi https://t.co/ZxvOr7g9sb
— SB Nation (@SBNation) June 14, 2015
Updated
Here’s Mike MacKenzie from London, Ontario:
Would love to see the Paraguayan underdogs win but I expect that Argentina will smoke them. Still given the way the refs have been so far in the Copa Americas, Paraguay might get a few favours ... especially as Chile would rather not meet Argentina in final.
Yep, the refereeing has been rather iffy: a surfeit of red cards, myriad suspensions, and at least one Chilean finger up at least one Uruguayan arse. Six players walk the yellow card tightrope tonight: Mascherano, Aguero and Messi would miss the final for Argentina if they are booked, and Aguilar, Martinez and Valdez have to take it easy for Paraguay.
So Argentina make one change: Garay misses out and Demichelis comes in at centre-back. They go 4-4-2, basically: Romero, Zabaleta, Rojo, Otamendi, Demichelis make up the back four; Biglia and Mascherano will screen, and the fab four of Pastore, Messi, Aguero and Di Maria will do their thing in attack.
For Paraguay, one change also: Ortiz comes in for Aranda in the midfield. It’s Villar, Valdez, Da Silva, Aguilar and Piris at the back, Caceres, Gonzalez, Ortiz and Benitez in midfield, and Roque Santa Cruz partners Nelson Haedo Valdez up front.
Lineups are in!
Lineups are out for #ARG v #PAR with kick-off to follow - catch the build-up LIVE! #Chile2015 http://t.co/wifX1OU35D pic.twitter.com/tt3JcSlBQu
— Copa América 2015 (@ca2015_en) June 30, 2015
Of course, there’s another huge semi-final happening tonight, 9,000km to the north: USA play Germany in Montreal in the last four of the Women’s World Cup. Top man Tom Lutz has it all live, and it’s here:
Hello and welcome
Good evening. We’ve got a real cracker here tonight in Concepción, Chile’s second city. It’s cold down there at the mouth of the Rio Biobio, but this should be a hot one: Argentina are going for their 15th Copa America title, and their 27th final; Paraguay want another final appearance after losing on penalties last time around. Lots of talking points, too, including Lionel Messi, who hasn’t scored for Argentina in open play for a year. But he’s Lionel Messi, and he’s amazing: expect him to have a big game tonight.
Kick off is 7.30om ET, 12.30am BST. We’d love you to join us.
Tim will be here shortly. In the meantime, read how Paraguay coach Ramon Diaz has revealed how he’ll reward his players if they reach the final here: by buying them a pickup truck.
