The final four of the Copa America is upon us and two semi-final ties that promise to serve up no shortage of excitement, goals and fine football are on the bill. Hosts USA, the only team left in the competition who have yet to win it, are joined by holders Chile, Argentina – beaten finalists at the most recent edition, as well as at the last FIFA World Cup™ and Brazil 2014 quarter-finalists Colombia, who are bidding for their second continental title 15 years after their maiden crown.
USA-Argentina (Tuesday 21, Houston, 8pm)
At the Copa America Centenario tournament taking place in USA, Argentina have been in superb form, winning their first four matches and scoring 14 goals along the way while only conceding twice. On Tuesday, captain Lionel Messi and Co will meet the tournament hosts in Houston with a spot in the final up for grabs. And although the Stars and Stripes have every reason to be wary of the Argentinian threat they are set to face, Jurgen Klinsmann’s side is buoyed by a recent surge of confidence, stemming from their own spell of success in the competition following their opening 2-0 defeat to Colombia. "We are not scared of them at all," Klinsmann said in the build-up to the semi-final. It may not be on the forefront of the USA coach or players’ minds, but the Americans have had success against La Albiceleste in this tournament before, which will give the Stars and Stripes’ supporters an added boost of confidence going into Tuesday’s tussle.
USA’s 3-0 victory over Argentina at the 1995 Copa America in Uruguay, which spurred Steve Sampson’s side to a semi-final run in the tournament, still stands out as one of the nation's most memorable moments in their footballing history. Frank Klopas opened the scoring for the Americans, and by half-time USA led 2-0 courtesy of Alexi Lalas’ charging run through the centre of the Argentinian defence to redirect Cobi Jones’ cross.
Instead of coming out for the final 45 minutes content to hang on to their lead, the United States continued to control the tempo of the match as Joe-Max Moore set-up Eric Wynalda for a tap-in to round up the scoring just before the hour mark. The win clinched Group C for the Americans, which forced Argentina, two-time defending Copa America champions, to face Brazil in the quarter-finals.
A Seleção subsequently dispatched La Albiceleste on penalties after a 2-2 draw in Rivera, while USA stayed in Paysandu to play Mexico. The Americans beat their CONCACAF rivals on penalties following a goalless draw, to send the Stars and Stripes into the Copa America semi-finals for the first time.
The result was considered a disgrace for Argentina for a number of reasons. Having won their first two games in the group, Daniel Passarella’s men believed victory over the Americans was a foregone conclusion. As a result, Passarella made nine changes to his squad, including the relocation of playmaking threat Marcelo Espina. “(I felt) embarrassed,” Espina said when asked for his thoughts about the heavy defeat to the Americans. “I played as a left midfielder. Daniel (Passarella) decided to change almost all the starters, because we were already qualified for the quarter-finals. He played Marcelo Gallardo as a playmaker, so he played me on the left in the midfield, and I spent all the game watching the back of Cobi Jones. Well, not all the match because I was replaced at half-time. We were ashamed, that is the truth. We had a very bad game both collectively and individually, and the result reflected that. It was a big frustration…this was a chance we did not take advantage of. The worst part of that loss is that we had to face Brazil."
USA will be banking on this previous success as an inspiration against a similarly in form Argentine side like that of the 95 edition when they take to the field in the first semi final of this year's edition.
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