The United States and Argentina will face off Tuesday night in Houston in arguably the biggest non-World Cup match in U.S. soccer history. The winner, to be decided on penalties if a tie exists after regulation, will advance to the final of the Copa America Centenario.
Argentina carries a Who’s Who of Europe’s best talent like Manchester Untited’s Sergio Romero, Paris Saint-Germain’s Angel Di Maria, Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero and FC Barcelona’s Javier Mascherano and Lionel Messi. Led by Messi, the only footballer to be awarded the FIFA Ballon d’Or on five occasions, Argentina is almost obligated to reach the final.
For the United States, this is as far into the tournament as they planned to reach but not as far as they dare to go. With many pundits not even expecting them to get out of the group stage, the U.S. Men’s national team now stands only one game away from the championship match.
The match is scheduled for 8 p.m. in Houston (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) and will broadcast on TV in the United States on FS1 (English) and Univision/Univision Deportes (Spanish).
Five things to know ahead of #USAvARG:
- Argentina is undefeated in Copa 100 and have led in every game. La Albiceleste is 4-0-0 through their group stage matches and the quarterfinal. Wins over Chile (2-1), Panama (5-0), Bolivia (3-0) and Venezuela (4-1) are what have gotten Argentina to the semifinal.
- The Unites States find themselves in their first Copa America semifinal since 1995. The United States shocked Argentina in the last match of the group stage to advance as the top of the group (both finished with 6 points) and a win on penalties over Mexico had the USA in the semis. The U.S. stopped being invited to the Copa America after 2007.
- Important absences due to suspensions.
For the United States, Jermaine Jones (red card), Bobby Wood and Alejandro Bedoya (both accumulated yellows) will be ineligible to play in this match due to suspensions. The USA submitted a petition to appeal the suspensions but were denied.Argentina’s Nicolás Gaitán, who has subbed in playmaker Angel Di Maria’s injury absence, will also be out due to suspension. Many pundits wonder if Argentina coach Gerardo Martino will attempt to play Di Maria due to Gaitán’s suspension. - Players with ties to Houston and Texas.
U.S. goalscorer Clint Dempsey was born in Nacogdoches, Texas, approximately 140 miles northeast of Houston.Geoff Cameron (USA) got his professional start with Houston Dynamo after being selected in the third round of the 2008 MLS SuperDraft. He played there until 2012 when he was sold to his current club, Stoke City F.C. Cameron helped the Dynamo return to the MLS Cup final in 2011, before falling to an L.A. Galaxy team made up of Robbie Keane, David Beckham and Landon Donovan.Chris Wondolowski (USA) also played with Houston Dynamo, moving there after the San Jose Earthquakes were relocated in 2006 and stayed with the team until traded to the reincarnated Earthquakes in the 2009 Major League Soccer season. Wondolowski had little playing time in Houston before becoming one of the prolific scorers in MLS with San Jose.
Argentina defender Ramiro Funes Mori grew up in the United States and joined the FC Dallas Academy in 2008 before leaving less than a year later to join River Plate in Argentina. Funes Mori is the brother-in-law of FC Dallas midfielder Mauro Díaz.
- With only one goal, Messi can pass Gabriel Batistuta as the lone top goalscorer of the Argentina national team. With a goal against Venezuela, Messi notched his 54th with Argentina and tied ‘Batigol’ on the all-time chart for goals in a blue & white jersey. Messi can stand alone on that platform with a goal in Houston on Tuesday.
Victor Araiza is a Houston-based writer covering Copa America Centenario and the Houston Dynamo beat reporter for Prost Amerika.
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