Copa America 2015: Live Stream Schedule, Prediction for Last Semi-Final Fixture

Sparks will fly on Tuesday evening as Argentina and Paraguay prepare to fight for their place in the 2015 Copa America final.

Tournament favourites Argentina overcame the challenge of Colombia, defeating Jose Pekerman's side on penalties after drawing 0-0, while Paraguay claimed a shock shootout victory of their own against Brazil last time out.

The pressure is on Gerardo Martino's men, in particular, to live up to their billing as hot contenders, but Ramon Diaz's underdogs will be no less impassioned to ensure their Copa America fairytale continues.

Read on for preview and prediction of Tuesday's semi-final encounter.

Date: Tuesday, June 30

Time: 12:30 a.m. BST (Wed., July 1) 

Venue: Estadio Municipal de Concepcion

Live Stream: beIN Sports Connect (US)

Front-runners Meet Dark Horses

Natacha Pisarenko/Associated Press

La Albiceleste have long been pegged as heavy favourites to emerge as champions in Chile this year, and with Paraguay kindly taking the obstacle of Brazil out of their path, the tournament odds now seem all that shorter.

However, Los Guaranies will have rarely felt the kind of elation they're enjoying after eliminating the Selecao, with defender Pablo Aguilar quoted by Goal's Tom Webber as saying the team are in jubilant mood:

"

I think that this group has put the name of Paraguay up high - we are among the best four. Although many did not believe in us we achieved our objectives, are still alive and will continue this way.

In my case I never think about whether I am a booking away from a suspension. I do not think about the next game, I think about the present. Against Argentina we must go out and play as equals, like we did against Brazil.

"

This will be the second time Argentina and Paraguay have met in this year's competition, having opened their group-stage campaigns with a 2-2 draw just over a fortnight ago.

Lionel Messi stamped his impact on that fixture with a 35th-minute strike from the penalty spot, and the Barcelona marvel took to his official Facebook page this week to proclaim he's ready for Paraguay's next assault:

Self-belief can be a tremendous ally and considering Argentina have failed to score more than twice in any of their outings since that 2-2 draw, Paraguay may feel their chances are good enough to advance.

As far as Diaz will be concerned, his players are again free to play burden-free and with every chance of staging another surprise, while Argentina's players may find their increasing burden weighing heavy.

Prediction

Ricardo Mazalan/Associated Press

Argentina and Paraguay are two teams of stark contrast thus far in the Copa America, with Martino relying on a select crop of stars to do his dirty work while Diaz's success has come through a banded sense of grit.

South American football writer Mauricio Savarese was in no way overawed by the quality of Paraguay's performance against Brazil, but they will treat their competition on a policy of results first and glamour second:

"

Neither Brazil nor Paraguay deserved to advance. But one had to go through, it was Paraguay.

— Mauricio Savarese (@MSavarese) June 27, 2015"

The four goals scored by Argentina so far in the tournament have all come thanks to the finishing skills of their elite strike force, with Sergio Aguero bagging two, along with Messi and Gonzalo Higuain notching one apiece.

Diaz has been doing his bit to play media mind games this week, relieving his Paraguay team of pressure by hailing Argentina as "the best national team in the world," per Goal's Mark Doyle:

"

Argentina are the best national team in the world. We know them well and there won't be much time to enjoy this special moment. But the players, the directors, everyone here is very happy. This is very important for us - a great step to carry on believing in this project.

We have played Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil and none of them have been able to beat us so you have to have a lot of respect for this team. The players have shown the fans just what they are capable of doing.

"

Brazil were missing the talents of Neymar in their quarter-final, a player who could have made every difference to their success, but it's quite plausible the individual superstars Argentina still boast will make all the difference.

Both teams have shown limitations in open play, but Paraguay's in particular may be found out as insufficient come Tuesday.

Prediction: Argentina 2-1 Paraguay A.E.T.