Argentina, winner of Paraguay (1-0), qualified Monday night for the quarter-finals of the Copa America, although nothing was easy, including for Lionel Messi, who however equaled the national record of selections by Javier Mascherano (147). A strike from Sergio “Kun” Agüero in pivot above the bar (8th), then above all a goal from Alejandro “Papu” Gomez, with a small dive after an assist from Angel Di Maria (10th), kicked off a match as soon as it closed, as almost nothing happened afterwards, even though Paraguay dominated the proceedings. This short victory is enough to guarantee Argentina (7 points in Group A) a place in the quarterfinals.
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Messi, who made his debut for the national team on August 16, 2005, therefore equaled Mascherano’s national record, while he already held the record for national goals (73, the last of which was against Chile). On the Brasilia pitch, the captain was transparent, unlike Di Maria, the only attacking player to try to give the team some relief. Messi may have been in some form of physical management as he turns 34 on Thursday and still dreams of clinching his first major title with the selection after losing four finals, in the 2007, 2015 and 2016 editions of the Copa America, and in the World Cup 2014. And it has been 28 years since the Albiceleste has been weaned from titles.
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