Argentina vs Paraguay: Copa America 2015, Schedule, Predictions, Rosters, Stream & Preview
Argentina and Paraguay will collide in a Copa America contest on Saturday afternoon. This game features the very first Copa America game for both of these squads. Argentina and Paraguay are competing in Group B with Uruguay and Jamaica.
This game has all the hype heading into it, so let's break down the teams and predict a winner.
Argentina (3)
Argentina enters this Copa America as the No. 3 ranked team in the entire world behind only Germany and Belgium. In other words, Argentina is the highest ranked squad at this event, and the favorite to win it all. Argentina has won 14 Copa America championships, the second most of all-time to only Uruguay who has 15.
Lionel Messi is the driving force of this team. Messi is widely considered the greatest player in the world today having led Barcelona to a treble, soccer's triple crown, this year. Messi has won numerous Spanish Premier League Championships, but he has been criticized for not winning a lot for his country. Messi has never won the Copa America or the FIFA World Cup. Incredibly, Pele never won the Copa America either.
Argentina's last Copa America title came in 1993 when they defeated Mexico.
Outside of Messi, Argentina has a great squad that is very balanced. Established goalkeeper Sergio Romero will get the start in net while Pablo Zabaleta and Martín Demichelis lead the defense. Javier Mascherano will be directing the middle fielders, and Sergio Agüero and Carlos Tevez (who faced Messi in the Champions League final) will playing alongside Messi on offense.
Argentina's next game will be against Uruguay on Tuesday, June 16.
Paraguay (85)
As the 85th ranked team in the world, Paraguay is the second highest ranked team in this tournament and highest in Group B. Bolivia (who is Group A) is ranked No. 89. Paraguay has a very tough task against Argentina, but they also have to face Jamaica and Uruguay later down the road.
Paraguay has faced Argentina numerous times at the Copa America dating back to 1922. In 2007 Argentina defeated Paraguay at the Copa America in Venezuela. Paraguay has won two Copa America championships, and they even made it to the finals in 2011, but lost to Uruguay.
Veteran goalkeeper Justo Villar will be starting in goal for Paraguay with 35-year-old Paulo da Silva commanding the defense. Head coach Ramón Díaz doesn't have an elite middle field with him this year, but team captain Roque Santa Cruz and Nelson Haedo Valdez make up a nice offensive attack. Don't sleep on this squad.
Paraguay's next game will be against Jamaica on Tuesday, June 16.
Schedule, Where to Watch
Argentina and Paraguay will play each other on Saturday, June 13 at 5:30 p.m. EST at the Estadio La Portada in La Serena, Chile. The game will be shown on beIN Sports. You can watch a live game stream here.
Prediction
Argentina is the favorite to win it all just ahead of the Neymar led Brazil squad and James Rodriguez's Colombian team. Paraguay loves to spoil the party with upsets and surprises, but Argentina won't lose this one. Messi, Tevez and a balanced roster will lead to an Argentina victory.
Argentina wins 4-2
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