Brazil's Vanquishers Paraguay Another Stiff Test for Confident Argentina

As ever doggedly determined to ruin the party, Paraguay and Derlis Gonzalez destroyed illusions of a block-buster Argentina-Brazil semi in the Copa America. If anything, Ramon Diaz's men will pose an even tougher challenge for the improving Albiceleste than their last-eight victims. 

Since the 2015 Copa America draw was made the South American grudge match had loomed large on the calendar for the semi-final. In one corner would be Brazil, still smarting from that humiliation on home soil during the World Cup at the hands of Germany but churning out results with ultra-pragmatist Dunga at the helm. 

In the other corner, Argentina. Having gone so close to rubbing their neighbour's faces in victory in their own backyard a year ago, a triumph in the Chile semis would have been a wonderful way to break out the old classic: Brasil, decime que se siente. Logic and form suggested the pair would meet in the last four, a clash guaranteed should both finish top of their respective groups. 

But Paraguay, stubborn as always, had other ideas. Just as in the opening game against Argentina, Diaz's Guarani charges had absolutely no inclination to be beaten by their more prestigious rivals. 

There were easy parallels when Robinho fired Brazil ahead in the first half of Saturday's quarter-final. It was a stunning goal, the type of team move once synonymous with Joga Bonito and the men in yellow shirts but here, the only glimpse of flair in another 90 turgid minutes from Dunga's men. Their opponents did not panic. Paraguay had matched the World Cup semi-finalists in most facets of play and Diaz kept his men attacking, waiting for the breakthrough. 

It eventually arrived with Thiago Silva's handball, a clumsy piece of football from a defender who should know much better. Gonzalez, who has increased his stock tenfold in this Copa, slotted home the penalty past Jefferson and repeated the action during the shootout. It will be small consolation for Brazil that the shootout went slightly better than in 2011: There, a team in meltdown missed all four penalties to give Paraguay victory in the last eight; here, Douglas Costa and Everton Ribeiro were the culprits in a 4-3 loss. 

All that means Argentina and Paraguay go back to where they started the Copa America. It is by no means an easier clash for Gerardo Martino's men. Brazil carry the weight of history but were gutted by the suspension of only star Neymar, which left bare the lack of attacking force in the squad. Young Roberto Firmino was drafted in as a striker but was only sporadically effective; the less said about Diego Tardelli, an inexplicable Dunga favourite perhaps solely on the back of the double netted against Argentina back in October, the better. 

Silvia Izquierdo/Associated Press

The Selecao staggered rather than marched to the knockouts. Paraguay, on the other hand, have grown with every game so far. Diaz has formed in little time a team which does not aspire to control possession, but rather aims for quick recovery in the middle, multiple points of attack and strength both on the ground and in the air. It is not beautiful football, but it is effective and dangerous. 

The Albiceleste, of course, know all about the danger posed by Tuesday's opponents. In the Copa opener a fantastic first half put Lionel Messi's men two goals ahead, seemingly in complete control. In the blink of an eye, however, tables were turned, as Nelson Haedo Valdez and Lucas Barrios fought back and Paraguay finished the 90 minutes searching for the winner.

Both sides have improved in the interval. Argentina will logically start as favourites to reach the final and book a clash against hosts Chile or Peru, but they cannot afford to take anything for granted. Diaz has not done his countrymen any favours by kicking out the old enemy in yellow; if anything, an even fiercer clash awaits for the Copa's penultimate game.