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Lionel MESSI scores, Argentina earn 1-1 draw against Paraguay as Copa America dreams stay alive

Argentina were able to manage a 1-1 draw against Paraguay to keep their Copa America dreams alive.

In a match which saw the tactical book being thrown out the window by coach Lionel SCALONI, Argentina, with the help of VAR and the referee, were able to remain alive. Paraguay took a 1-0 lead going into the second half and Argentina did not look threatening.

SCALONI introduced Sergio AGÜERO at half time in place of Roberto PEREYRA. With the team going all out attack, Argentina were awarded a penalty after VAR deemed a Paraguayan hand in the penalty area.

Lionel MESSI, with all the pressure on his shoulders, was able to convert his penalty and draw Argentina level. Nicolas OTAMENDI was lucky not to see a red card minutes later as his harsh tackle meant that Paraguay were given a penaly kick.

Franco ARMANI saved the penalty, which went to his right and ensured that Argentina were still in the game. Angel DI MARIA was substituted for Lautaro MARTINEZ while Matias SUAREZ was brought in for Rodrigo DE PAUL.

Argentina eleven confirmed, Lautaro MARTINEZ for Sergio AGÜERO

Argentina’s starting eleven for their match against Paraguay has been confirmed.

Lautaro MARTINEZ will start in place of Sergio AGÜERO. Four changes are made in total from the team’s opening game at the Copa America. Here’s the starting eleven:

ARMANI; CASCO, PEZZELLA, OTAMENDI, TAGLIAFICO; PEREYRA, LO CELSO, PAREDES, DE PAUL; MESSI, Lautaro

Lautaro MARTINEZ to start, rumored Argentina eleven

Lautaro MARTINEZ is expected to start as the likely starting eleven has been released.

Three possible changes for Argentina from the team which started against Colombia to start the Copa America. Roberto PEREYRA for Guido RODRIGUEZ, Rodrigo DE PAUL for Angel DI MARIA and Lautaro MARTINEZ instead of Sergio AGÜERO in attack.

Here’s the rumored Argentina eleven:

ARMANI; SARAVIA, PEZZELLA, OTAMENDI, TAGLIAFICO; PEREYRA, LO CELSO, PAREDES, DE PAUL; MESSI, Lautaro MARTINEZ

There’s also a possibility that Milton CASCO could start instead of Renzo SARAVIA.

Hernan CRESPO on Argentina: “AGÜERO and MESSI don’t help out defensively”

Hernan CRESPO was interviewed by TyC Sports where he spoke about both Lionel MESSI and Sergio AGÜERO.

CRESPO, a current coach himself, knows a thing or two about the Argentina national team. Scoring in multiple different tournaments, CRESPO also played alongside different managers. And in his interview, he stated that both MESSI and AGÜERO do not help out the team. Here’s what he had to say:

“Argentina can’t manage to find a balance because you have two players who don’t help out defenaively like AGÜERO and MESSI. The last meters on the pitch, they can cause a disaster. But when it’s time to track back…

“They are important players but they always make you try and look for the defensive balance. There’s no defensive pressure from those two and it’s not easy to cover the pitch defensively when there’s no initial pressure.”

Argentina captain Lionel MESSI: “We have to lift our heads up”

Argentina captain Lionel MESSI spoke to the media following his team’s 2-0 loss to start their Copa America.

Speaking to the media following the defeat, MESSI mentioned that they have to take away some positives going into the Paraguay game. Here’s what he had to say:

“We have to take some positives, lift our heads up and continue. It just started and there’s a lot left.

“We didn’t want it to start this way but there’s a lot of chances. It will be difficult for us to accept this defeat but when we arrive to Belo Horizante, we have to think about what is coming.

“In the first half, even though they had a lot of the ball, they didn’t generate chances. In the second half it was us but they scored a great goal.”

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