Argentina (National Football)

Argentina forward Lionel Messi scored the 55th international goal of his career during Tuesday's 4-0 win over the United States in the Copa America semi-final, breaking a tie with Gabriel Batistuta as the all-time leading goalscorer in Argentina history, per ESPN Stats & Info.

But first, La Albiceleste took a 1-0 lead in the third minute when Messi sent a perfect aerial through ball to forward Ezequiel Lavezzi, who knocked it home with his head for the early advantage.

Argentina continued to dominate possession throughout the first half, eventually earning a free-kick from 30 yards out in the 32nd minute.

In typical fashion, Messi sent a perfect shot into the top-right corner past U.S. goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who had a night that he'd probably like to forget.

Not quite done making an impact, the 28-year-old FC Barcelona superstar set up forward Gonzalo Higuain in the 86th minute for the fourth and final goal of the contest, unselfishly passing the ball to his teammate after stealing it deep in the United States' half.

Now his country's all-time leading scorer, Messi is followed on the list by Batistuta (54 goals), Hernan Crespo (35) and Sergio Aguero (34)—the last of whom still has time to add to his total.

Argentina will face either Chile or Colombia in the Copa America final.

An Argentina supporter who ran onto the pitch to meet Lionel Messi during the team's 4-0 win over the United States outlined his plan on Twitter beforehand and got a friend to Periscope the event from his account.

Here is the moment in question from the Copa America semi-final on Tuesday at NRG Stadium in Houston, per the Catalan Giant:

Leo Messi with Pitch invader.pic.twitter.com/lw8p7uqO4k

— The Catalan Giant (@TheCataIanGiant) June 22, 2016

As Dermot Corrigan of ESPN FC reported, the pitch invader was Michael Soto, who asked the Barcelona star to sign a shirt for him, hugged him a couple of times and bowed at the great man's feet. Messi even had the courtesy to hand the pen back to the supporter before he was escorted off the pitch by security.

Soto posted the following bulletins ahead of the meeting with his idol:

https://twitter.com/sotom096/status/745374701006950400

https://twitter.com/sotom096/status/745398374145241088

https://twitter.com/sotom096/status/745410308148076546

And as we can see here courtesy of Corrigan, somebody captured the pitch invasion live through Soto's Periscope account:

Not sure this kind of thing should be condoned... but Messi pitch invader last night periscoped from own account: https://t.co/wIXMzX6kSe

— Dermot Corrigan (@dermotmcorrigan) June 22, 2016

The incident occurred just before the second half of the Copa America semi-final kicked off; Messi had scored a stunning free-kick to make the score 2-0 before the interval, a goal that took him ahead of Gabriel Batistuta to become the country's all-time top goalscorer.

When asked whether he was concerned about a potential confrontation for his star, Argentina manager Tata Martino was as relaxed as the Barcelona man. "I was not scared about it," the coach said, per Corrigan. "I was impressed with how Leo took a minute, grabbed a marker and signed an autograph for the kid."

Argentina are looking to win their first Copa America since 1993 and will play either Chile or Colombia in Sunday's final. Messi has started only two games but has five goals to show for his efforts already.

Argentina's Ezequiel Lavezzi will miss the 2016 Copa America final after fracturing his arm in a nasty touchline fall during the Albiceleste's 4-0 dismantling of hosts USA in Tuesday's first semi-final, per ESPN FC.

Continue for updates.

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Lavezzi Absence Tempered by Squad Depth

Wednesday, June 22

The former Paris Saint-Germain forward scored the third-minute opener for Argentina in Houston before taking a tumble over advertising hoardings in the second half, per Complex Sports: 

This Lavezzi fall 😳😳😳 pic.twitter.com/KFNk62ysJZ

— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) June 22, 2016

Argentina will now be without Lavezzi, who currently plays for Chinese club Hebei China Fortune, when they face either Chile or Colombia in the Copa final.

Per AS, Lavezzi, 31, "will undergo surgery on his arm in the next few days." ESPN FC's report said there is no specific timetable yet for his return to action.

He will be a big miss for Argentina in the final, as he proved against the USA just how effective he can be working with Gonzalo Higuain and Lionel Messi in attack.

Lavezzi's two appearances at the 2016 Copa have returned two goals—the first coming against Bolivia in the group stage—and he would undoubtedly have been in the running for a starting spot in the final.

However, Argentina boss Gerardo Martino has plenty of other options to call upon, given the immense depth of his side's attacking unit.

Sergio Aguero, Erik Lamela or Javier Pastore could all come in to play alongside Messi and Higuain in the front three for the final, while Angel Di Maria is the most likely option, assuming he is fully fit again after picking up an injury earlier in the tournament.

Just when you think Lionel Messi cannot possibly get any better, he goes straight out and proves otherwise. The Argentina star put in yet another display of the highest quality to down the United States 4-0 and send the Albiceleste strolling into the Copa America Centenario final. 

The hundredth edition of the world's longest-running international competition lends itself to a history lesson or two. And few players have made as much history in recent years as the Barcelona superstar, for whom the entire sport of football seems to be an exercise in breaking down the realms of possibility. 

Argentina started with a throwback to the 1994 World Cup—the last major tournament disputed in the U.S. Just seven minutes in, Messi's perfectly weighted pass found Ezequiel Lavezzi alone and the forward— drafted in as a replacement for the suspended Nicolas Gaitan—nodded in to break home resistance at the first attempt. 

Lavezzi chose to pay homage to one Diego Maradona, who, 22 years ago to the day, netted his 32nd and last goal for the country against Greece. Pocho's imitation of the great's wild-eyed gesticulation to the cameras summed up this team—immensely powerful, but at the same time blessed with the pure enjoyment of playing the game. 

Wednesday, meanwhile marks the 30th anniversary of the game that made Diego an idol: the Hand of God, the Goal of the Century and the joy of a nation as England went down on the way to the 1986 World Cup. The Argentina team that went out against the U.S. seemed modelled on that side Carlos Bilardo built, subconsciously or not. 

Taking a page out of his predecessor's playbook, Gerardo Martino employed a flexible 4-3-3 formation that during the first half especially resembled Bilardo's 3-5-2. Javier Mascherano settled in between centre-backs Nicolas Otamendi and Ramiro Funes Mori, allowing the wide men to push forward into midfield.

Messi, meanwhile, was left in Maradona's free role, and it proved a devastating change of pace for the U.S., who were never better than a distant second in Houston. La Pulga pulled the strings along with Ever Banega in the middle of the pitch, and the Albiceleste took a dominant 67.8 percent of possession in a complete display. 

Most damning for Jurgen Klinsmann's men was the fact that over the entire 90 minutes they did not muster a single shot; and while part of that was by virtue of a sterling performance across the pitch from their opponents, they must do better with an eye to a respectable showing in Russia two years from now. 

0 - Today #Argentina became the first team with no shots faced in one game of the last three #CopaAmerica. Blinding

— OptaJavier (@OptaJavier) June 22, 2016

6 - Argentina scored 8 goals between quarter-finals and semi-finals of this #Copa100, and #Messi had a hand in 6 (2 goals, 4 assists). Pulga

— OptaJavier (@OptaJavier) June 22, 2016

The next figure from Argentina's history to make an appearance was Gabriel Batistuta, who after 12 years finally saw his goalscoring record with the Seleccion pass into new hands. Of course, Messi being Messi, it would not just be enough to set a new milestone like other mere mortals.

An absolutely astounding free-kick, unstoppable for any keeper in the world, marked goal No. 55 in international colours, and Bati's assertions to Ole that his compatriot was "from another planet" (h/t Goal) received further confirmation. 

Perhaps the greatest compliment one could pay this Argentina team, though, is that Messi's brilliance finally has the collective backdrop that was so dearly lacking in 2014 and last year. The team has taken time to jell in the U.S., with the first games against Chile and Panama lacking in that respect. But they have gone from strength to strength, with a flawless 90 minutes the best yet of the Copa. 

Lavezzi turned provider after half-time with another fantastic Argentinian assist, with Gonzalo Higuain the happy recipient on the second try. Higuain then extended his tally thanks to a dreadful mix-up at the back from the USMNT. 

Giving the ball gift-wrapped to Messi on the edge of the area is never going to be a good idea, and the Argentina captain sold his dummy to perfection before squaring for Higuain. Guzan had already committed himself and had no chance to keep out Pipita's second of the evening. 

Shades of 1994, shades of 1986, Batistuta's record shattered; and now an even longer-standing mark. With three goals or more in their last four Copa outings, Argentina are on their best run since way back in 1957, when the Angels with Dirty Faces, Oreste Corbatta, Humberto Maschio, Omar Sivori and Antonio Angelillo, romped to victory in the then-South American Championship. 

4 - #Argentina have scored at least three goals in four games of the same #CopaAmerica for the first time since 1957. Party

— OptaJavier (@OptaJavier) June 22, 2016

With 18 goals in their first five games, the 2016 Albiceleste are unlikely to match those idols and their 25 strikes from 59 years past unless something truly special happens in the final. But the mere sight of an Argentina team approaching a major final with verve, adventure and unlimited attacking spirit is a vindication of the ideals Martino has espoused throughout his time as coach, while often struggling to see them reflected on the pitch. 

The only concerns remaining in the Albiceleste camp at this point come from the medical room. Both Augusto Fernandez and Marcos Rojo were withdrawn early due to injury complaints, although at first glance the pair seem likely to resume normal activities promptly. 

The same cannot be said for Lavezzi, who hurt his arm in bizarre circumstances falling over an advertising hoarding on the side of the pitch. A dislocated elbow will keep Pocho out of the final—a sad end for a player who did everything asked of him in the games he played. 

Chile and Colombia now clash in the second semi, but either of those sides will have been watching with trepidation on Tuesday. Argentina gave a footballing masterclass in Houston, and with Messi at the helm, they must make the third time lucky this time round.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The Copa America Centenario has been filled with highs and lows, but one of its biggest selling points is that it boasts the world's best player in Lionel Messi.

The European Championship is underway right now in France, but the current Ballon d’Or holder is across the Atlantic, in the United States, and inspired his team to a 4-1 quarter-final victory over Venezuela as they bid to end a 23-year major trophy drought. 

Until Saturday night at Gillette Stadium, he hadn't started a game but had already scored three goals. He bagged a 19-minute hat-trick against Panama in a substitute appearance before entertaining a Seattle crowd in another cameo against Bolivia.

Finally fit after suffering a back injury against Honduras in a friendly at the start of the tournament—a curious team to pick to play before an event like this, considering their physicality—Messi was ready to go from the off against Venezuela. And that he did.

After just eight minutes, he made a crucial impact. Playing on the right, in the position he occupies for Barcelona, Messi curled a perfectly weighted, flighted and positioned ball over two Venezuela midfielders and into the path of Gonzalo Higuain.

The Napoli striker was ghosting in between the centre-backs and finished superbly, but the strike was only possible because of an almost impossible through ball by Messi.

The Foxborough crowd of almost 60,000 liked what they saw. Many had bought tickets for this game because they wanted to see Messi in the flesh. Some fans anticipated Argentina would make it to this game by winning Group D, others purchased tickets following their success in group stage.

One source told Bleacher Report that several thousand tickets had been sold after it was confirmed Argentina would be visiting the Boston-area venue.

At Argentina’s other games so far, the constant Messi chants have been a little irritating. Most knew he would not be coming on against Chile, but they called for him still. In the other games, it has sometimes seemed more about Messi than Argentina.

In a way, it is, because of the sheer numbers here for him. On the back of every other Argentina shirt in the crowd seemed to be the No. 10 with his name above it. There were plenty of Barcelona jerseys in the crowd too.

This time they were justified, a salute to the finest exponent the beautiful game could wish for. A large group of Argentina fans gathered in one concourse after the game, waving a giant flag and yelling Messi’s name repeatedly.

Messi scored the third Argentina goal himself, after Higuain netted a second time following a dreadful pass-back, playing a one-two with Nicolas Gaitan and finishing with ease.

He created the fourth goal too, teeing up Erik Lamela to fire home as Argentina knocked out a spirited Venezuela side in the quarter-finals.

Messi's was his 54th strike in an Albiceleste shirt, and it saw him level all-time great Gabriel Batistuta’s record as his country’s top goalscorer.

“It’s important for what it means to be the top scorer, because it’s Batigol's [record], but what makes me happier is the team, the result, because we made it to the semi-finals,” he said after the game, in typically humble fashion.

His coach Gerardo Martino is hoping that Messi takes over from Batistuta as the outright top scorer at this tournament.

“He has already matched the record, but I'd like to see Messi surpass it at this Copa America,” explained Tata at his post-match press conference.

“We are very happy with how he has recovered, this recovery has re-energised the team and we are very happy because of that. We are happy to have him in shape for the semi-finals.”

Messi should also have had a penalty in the first half, when Arquimedes Figuera took him down in the penalty area, but he was not given a spot-kick.

"The only thing that left me a bit unhappy was the penalty that they didn’t give," added Martino.

"Messi knows that these things happen, he knows he’s a game-changer and he knows that everybody is going to try to cancel him out.”

It would have been easy for the No. 10 to turn up to this tournament and not be in the mood to star.

That injury, his appearances in court as part of a tax case against him and his father, and Barcelona’s Champions League elimination in the quarter-finals all put a slight damper on an otherwise strong season.

Messi is still looking for his first major international trophy with Argentina, and this tournament is his best chance to achieve that.

The forward is often compared to historic greats like Diego Maradona and Pele, but many rank him on a lower tier than such stars because he has not tasted national glory.

While that is not necessarily a good argument, it is one that's frequently leaned on, so lifting the Copa America Centenario would go some way to quieting that criticism.

Messi’s return means Argentina will be firm favourites going into the semi-finals, and Martino will already be plotting how to get his team past the U.S. in their last-four clash in Houston on Tuesday night.

His country’s talisman will be a massive problem for Jurgen Klinsmann and his team, with the Argentinian star liable to settle the semi-final clash in a matter of seconds.

Martino praised his team for reaching the final four, just like they did in the previous Copa America and World Cup campaigns, finishing second both times.

"Fundamentally, I feel proud because I am in charge of this team, and these players in the last three years have played three of the most important tournaments. And now we can say regardless of what happens now, they will have played 19 games [across the Copa Centenario, Copa 2015 and World Cup 2014]," said Martino.

"In most of those, they played really well. But unfortunately, they did not do well in two of those," he added, referring to the World Cup and Copa America finals.

There are no teams left in the tournament that Argentina will fear—even though Chile beat them in 2015’s final—because they saw off La Roja both in World Cup qualifying and in the group stage of the Copa America.

Furthermore, a team including Messi creates fear itself, with opposition players scrambling to remember how they should try and cope with a forward like that.

On a couple of occasions against Venezuela, players were drawn to Messi, who then switched the play to where the space was. The Vintotinto midfield was unable to get particularly close to him, and the defenders sucked into different positions.

With two goals and one assist, he ran the show at Gillette Stadium, even though the stadium announcer erroneously awarded the man of the match prize to Higuain, before retracting it shortly afterwards.

If Messi keeps playing like this, he'll deserve the same accolade but for the tournament as a whole. And yet, what he did against Venezuela was so routine, so standard for a man of his impressive quality. He will dazzle again in the U.S., and brighter still.

Quotes and information taken firsthand unless specified.

With four wins out of four, Argentina are in imperious form going into the decisive stages of the Copa America Centenario. And the United States men's national team should pay close attention, as the Albiceleste and their talisman, Lionel Messi, keep getting better.

Venezuela were the latest victims for Gerardo Martino's men. The Vinotinto put up a spirited fight and even bested their illustrious rivals in certain passages of the game.

But the side could not live with Argentina when they put their foot on the accelerator. Messi, of course, drove his team, and he sent out an ominous message with a fine goal and two assists in Saturday's 4-1 drubbing in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Those local fans in the crowd may have enjoyed the master class, but a repeat for Tuesday's semi at NRG Stadium in Houston could prove irresistible for the USMNT.

The Massachusetts city has a prior connection to the South American side, albeit during one of the saddest chapters in the nation's football history. It was there in 1994 where nurse Sue Carpenter led away a lean, revitalised Diego Maradona to take the sport's most infamous doping test.

That game against Nigeria was Diego's last for the Seleccion—a national tragedy and the precursor to a World Cup campaign that ended in defeat to Romania in the last 16. Luckily for Argentina, the substance that drives on the great's successor and heir at No. 10 cannot be detected in any test.

It was his first full game for Argentina at this Copa America, not that you would have guessed from his astounding display. Messi was at the heart of everything good about Martino's team and showed his intent from the first minute as he danced around five Venezuelan markers before sending his cross into Daniel Hernandez's grateful arms.

His goal, product of a neat one-two with Nicolas Gaitan and a perfect finish past the despairing Hernandez, was his 54th for the Seleccion. It also brought him level with the legendary Gabriel Batistuta in the nation's all-time record books. But La Pulga has never been solely about goals.

Two assists to down Venezuela brought his total number in international colours to 37. The first was an inch-perfect pass to Gonzalo Higuain. Erik Lamela also benefitted from Messi's tremendous eye for the pass to mark the fourth Argentine goal and put the result beyond doubt.

Did the Vinotinto's defensive weaknesses contribute? Perhaps. But as Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo demonstrated in two ineffective performances against teams arguably more limited than Venezuela, reputation alone is no guarantee for success. Messi has played every minute of his stunted Copa so far like a man possessed, determined to drag Argentina to victory, and it shows.

The bearded genius is by no means alone on the field. His play has been enriched by the inclusion of a midfielder with real vision and creativity in Ever Banega, who has enjoyed a terrific Copa America. Higuain's return to goalscoring form is another welcome boost for the Albiceleste.

After failing to impress during the group stage, the Napoli star showed the anticipation that makes him such a potent threat in front of goal to first meet Messi's incredible pass and then latch on to a short ball from Venezuela's Arquimedes Figuera to score his second. Sergio Romero also showed his worth with a handful of fine saves when Venezuela threatened on a night that included a gift-wrapped penalty stop from Luis Seijas.

But the match belonged to Messi, and he will be the man the United States must strive to stop when the two sides meet in Houston on Tuesday. Coach Jurgen Klinsmann knows something about keeping Argentine superstars quiet. The German was part of the World Cup-winning side that bludgeoned Maradona into submission in the 1990 final, depriving him of a second medal.

The omens, however, do not look to be in the USMNT boss' favour.

Venezuela surrounded the Argentina captain on Saturday. They tried to push him back and isolate him. In a tactic Maradona was more than familiar with, they even tried to kick him off the field—fouling Messi six times over the 90 minutes—more than any other player by a comfortable margin. But nothing seemed to work.

Batistuta, a veteran of the game in Foxborough 22 years ago and for at least three more days Argentina's top hitman, couldn't hide his admiration for the man gunning to break his landmark earlier this year. "Messi will beat me, that's a fact, and I'm surprised that it's not been done already," the retired striker admitted in an interview with TyC Sports' Libero (per Daniel Panero and Luke Salvin-Hughes of Marca).

"The consolation is that I'm losing this record to a player from another level, and I've already beaten one player, Diego Maradona, who was from another planet. ... I played with monsters like Claudio Caniggia, Oscar Ruggeri, Sergio Goycochea, 'El Burrito' [Ariel Ortega], 'El Cholo' [Diego Simeone].

"But Messi and Maradona come from another planet."

The next stop for Argentina's extraterrestrial is fittingly the Texan city synonymous with the space program. Klinsmann's side are on the up after a shaky start to the Copa and proved their mettle with a fine win over Ecuador to reach the semis for the second time in the nation's history.

If they cannot handle the star from another planet, however, the USMNT may have a serious problem indeed.

Follow Daniel on Twitter at @DanEdwardsGoal

Even in their wildest dreams, Argentina could not have imagined their path to the Copa America would be cleared so obligingly by their rivals. Three of the South American continent's top outfits have fallen by the wayside after the first round, and anything but victory in 2016 would be a massive underachievement. 

It began with Uruguay. The 2011 winners were tipped to turn a few heads in the United States, and it was not hard to see why. The nucleus of the team that had led the Celeste to great success in recent years was still there, as was veteran tactician Oscar Tabarez. 

However, their lack of strength in depth betrayed them. The absence of Luis Suarez was an insurmountable obstacle, and Uruguay bombed out of the Copa with two defeats and just one solitary goal—from defender Diego Godin, moreover—before even taking the field for their final game. They would soon be joined by neighbours Paraguay. 

Ramon Diaz's charges were another side that on paper at least looked set to push all the way. But the Argentinian coach was never able to marry the creative young talents of Oscar Romero, Miguel Almiron and Derlis Gonzalez (to name just three) with the more rustic performers Paraguay were forced to field further down the pitch. 

The team did not work as a unit, and just one point from an admittedly tough group containing Colombia, Ecuador and the hosts United States was a similarly poor showing. Diaz resigned immediately after elimination, leaving the Guarani in a quandary ahead of the resumption of 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers later this year. 

However, no quarter-final absence will please Argentina more than Brazil's. The Selecao of 2016 is barely a team to set hearts pulsing and opponents fleeing in fear, even if captain Neymar had been present on the pitch rather than a privileged spectator. But the sides that Dunga put out in 2004 and 2007 were similarly underwhelming, and that proved no impediment to victory. 

In those two editions, a highly rated Argentina dazzled on the way to the final only to have their hearts broken by Dunga's pitiless warriors. But the Albiceleste's tormentor-in-chief is gone, sacked after a miserable Copa, and Brazil's early exit is a massive boost for a team desperate to win for the first time since 1993. 

Little-fancied Venezuela now lie in wait in Saturday's last-eight clash, instead of a nervous clash with Uruguay or Mexico the formbook would have suggested pre-tournament. In the semis, meanwhile, the improving hosts United States will be the next side to face the Argentinian juggernaut.

Only in a prospective final could the Albiceleste clash with one of the remaining heavyweights: resurgent Colombia, champions Chile and a vibrant Mexico side playing an essentially home tournament thanks to the impressive Latino support across the United States. The cards have all come out in the Albiceleste's favour in 2016, although nobody in the side will be taking victory for granted. 

"We have been a solid team. We had a good first half, where we made the difference... The team felt good and finished off a great first round, but it means nothing if we do not follow up in the coming match," coach Gerardo Martino told reporters on Tuesday following the 3-0 win over Bolivia. 

The trainer added that Lionel Messi, restricted as of yet to two appearances off the bench, would almost certainly start against Venezuela. Even without their captain and star, the Albiceleste took a perfect nine points out of nine in the group stage—and adding La Pulga to that potent mix make the team a fearsome prospect. 

Nothing is guaranteed in football. Argentina will still need to win their last three games to take the title, and there are still issues to be ironed out within the squad. 

Messi's fitness has held up well so far in the minutes he has played, but he will have to be watched carefully to make it through the knockout stages as his time on the field is gradually increased. Angel Di Maria is also likely to miss the clash against Venezuela, and having impressed so much in the second half of the Copa opener, his presence would give the nation a big boost. 

Neither Sergio Aguero nor Gonzalo Higuain, moreover, has given the type of performance that would solve Martino's doubts over the centre-forward position. These questions, and others, will still need to be answered if Argentina hope to find their best form before the end of the tournament. 

But the team's cautious optimism is warranted. The exit of three big rivals leaves the path open to break the 23-year title drought at senior level, and nothing other than victory will be expected from this point onwards. The Copa America Centenario is Argentina's to lose—but now the hard work begins for the hot favourites. 

More fearsome opponents than Bolivia will undoubtedly come in Matias Kranevitter's budding career, but in an imperious performance on Tuesday the 23-year-old showed just why he is considered as the natural successor to Javier Mascherano in the Argentina engine room. 

It is rare at international level—with all its variables and potential for unpredictability—to see a team dominate quite so thoroughly as Argentina did in Seattle. Bolivia simply had no answer for the Albiceleste's passing game as they folded 3-0 in a game that was over by half-time.

Lionel Messi was brought on for a second-half subplot, almost in an effort to create some sort of suspense in the final Copa America Centenario group-stage game. A goal for the captain would have taken him level with Gabriel Batistuta as Argentina's top scorer of all time, but it was not to be—not that it seemed to upset him too much. 

The Barcelona star almost drove the CenturyLink Field crowd wild with a spectacular free-kick that somehow whistled wide, and he generally enjoyed himself against painfully inferior opposition. A cheeky nutmeg after being pulled back for an offside let slip the relaxed mood La Pulga is in stateside, which can only be a good thing for Albiceleste fans. 

The big action took place before the break. Erik Lamela gave a taste of what was to come with a deflected free-kick that fooled Carlos Lampe between the posts. Ezequiel Lavezzi, one of Argentina's best performers on the night, doubled the advantage with a smart rebound finish to end the game as a contest barely 15 minutes in. 

The former Paris Saint-Germain forward then turned provider to give Independiente defender Victor Cuesta a dream debut goal. From that point on, the last game of the Copa America group stage was little more than an exhibition match, with Gerardo Martino's men stroking the ball around the pitch at will. 

But no game, however ultimately one-sided, is a foregone conclusion. And Argentina's dominance owed a great deal to the midfield control exerted by the flawless Ever Banega and his new partner-in-crime, Kranevitter—the Atletico Madrid youngster with the brightest of futures. 

With Javier Mascherano, Marcos Rojo, Augusto Fernandez and Gabriel Mercado rested from the team that sealed qualification with wins over Chile and Panama, the chance was there for the second-string players to shine. Lamela and Lavezzi took their opportunity, as did Kranevitter with Banega's steadying influence key.

The pair marshalled the pitch to perfection in the opening 45 minutes, combining dogged marking with an outstanding accuracy in the pass. This enabled Argentina to come and go as they please, patiently building up and finding the spaces despite the 11 bodies behind the ball. 

297 - In the first half, #Argentina (333) completed 297 more than #Bolivia (36). Overwhelming pic.twitter.com/IV4zZB7Oee

— OptaJavier (@OptaJavier) June 15, 2016

36-17 - In the first half, Ever #Banega completed more passes in the opposition half (36) than all #Bolivia players together (17). Organiser

— OptaJavier (@OptaJavier) June 15, 2016

Kranevitter completed an astonishing 100 per cent of his passes before the break, a metronomic precision that is not diminished by the opponent's stature. 

He eventually finished the game with 104 successful passes out of 110, according to Opta's statistics, a Copa America high so far and numbers only the likes of Xavi regularly posted. With 118 touches of the ball, he also led his team, a remarkable responsibility for someone making just his sixth senior appearance. 

For a player who has not had the luxury of too many full matches over the past six months, it was a sign that he is ready to move on and become an integral part of his team both at club and international level. 

The native of Yerba Buena, Tucuman, has had to bide his time during his debut season in Europe. After the elation of a Copa Libertadores win and a trip to Japan to dispute the Club World Cup final with River Plate, the tenacious midfielder has settled into a regular position on the Atletico bench, showing only glimpses of his best form. 

In Argentina, however, he has long been tipped as Mascherano's long-term replacement in the national team. While not showing the same aggression as the former Albiceleste captain, his vision is impeccable, and he rarely errs in the pass; a Sergio Busquets figure in front of the back four, solid and continually recycling possession. 

"My idol is Mascherano, I would love to play like him," Kranevitter told a River fans radio station in 2013, as he was just starting to make a name for himself at the Monumental, per Infobae (in Spanish).

Since then, he has had the chance to meet his hero several times on the pitch, together in international colours and on opposite sides against Barcelona. 

Mascherano is in no doubt about the talents of his prospective heir. "He is a brilliant player, for his age he is showing great maturity," he told Clarin prior to the Club World Cup last year. 

"He has a huge future not just in Europe, but in the national team as well. Matias will make his own way, and he might have a career much better than my own." 

The Barcelona stalwart will be 34 when the 2018 World Cup kicks off, and that tournament could prove to be the swansong for a memorable international career. Kranevitter, meanwhile, will be 25, and admirably placed to take on the role at the base of midfield on a full-time basis after two more years of hard learning at the hands of the best teacher around. 

Argentina's midfield king can rest easy. The succession in the Albiceleste ranks is already in motion, and on the evidence he continues to give us, Kranevitter would be a worthy heir to perhaps the best competitor the nation has had in the last decade.

Follow Daniel on Twitter

Lionel Messi = ruthless. 😳 #ARGvBOL #CopaAmerica https://t.co/6E5fY82kUH

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 15, 2016

Lionel Messi was ruled offside, but it won't spare the blushes of Bolivia goalkeeper Carlos Lampe. 

Messi was sent clear on goal from an offside position, but before anyone knew play was stopped, the Argentinian had the audacity to nutmeg Lampe en route to a sure goal. 

Somewhere, in the back rooms of FIFA, someone is organising a support group for all the players that Messi has humiliated. #CopaAmerica

— Kris Heneage (@KHeneage) June 15, 2016

Of course, it wouldn't have counted, but it was still a surreal scene to see Messi pull off such an audacious move against a goalkeeper. 

Messi nutmegging the goalkeeper pic.twitter.com/Ze20Gfwp48

— Leo Messi (@messi10stats) June 15, 2016

Leave it to Lionel Messi to casually nutmeg the goalkeeper. 🐐#CopaAmerica pic.twitter.com/uzQXrTlUnh

— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 15, 2016

Just when you thought you'd seen him do it all... 

[Twitter] 

Argentina will be looking to follow up on their easy 5-0 victory over Panama when they hit the pitch for their final group-stage contest against Bolivia on Tuesday as massive -750 betting favorites at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark.

Already eliminated from contention at this year's tournament, Bolivia will be playing for pride as they take on Argentina as heavy underdogs on the Copa America Centenario.

Match Odds: Argentina -750, Bolivia +1800, Draw +700

After eking out a 2-1 victory in a thrilling opening match with defending champions Chile, Argentina found a high gear in their next contest. Argentina handed Panama a crushing 5-0 defeat to cement their position as favorites to claim their first Copa America title since 1993.

Lionel Messi came off the bench to score three times in the space of just 19 minutes to shut the door on Panama, and clinch a berth for the Argentinians in the tournament quarterfinal.

Messi's status had been in doubt after the five-time Ballon d'Or winner missed Argentina's win over Chile, sidelined by a back injury in a pre-tournament victory over Honduras. With the club's spot in the knockout stage secured, Messi might once again be on the bench for the start of Tuesday's contest.

Perched at No. 1 on the FIFA World Rankings, Argentina have now won six straight games, giving up just two total goals during that stretch, both to Chile. Argentina are likely to finish atop the Group D table even if they lose to Bolivia on the strength of their table-leading goal differential of six.

Conversely, Bolivia is a squad headed in the opposite direction, riding a six-match losing streak into Tuesday's matchup.

The Green were dominated in their two previous group-stage contests, but they came within mere minutes of securing draws with both Panama and Chile before late goals in each of those matches resulted in 2-1 losses.

Bolivia have now lost 11 of their past 12 overall, getting outscored by a whopping 36-10 margin during that dismal stretch including a crushing 7-0 loss to Argentina in a friendly last September.

Argentina added a 2-0 victory in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier in March, and they have now outscored the Bolivians by a 14-0 margin in three straight victories. That leaves them undefeated in their past six meetings since taking a surprising 6-1 beating from their northern neighbour during World Cup 2010 qualifying.

Argentina vs. Bolivia Prediction: 3-0 Argentina

All betting lines data courtesy of Odds Shark. Check out the latest Copa America news.