Awesome Argentina Finally Hit Peak in Copa America Rout

For the entire Copa America, Argentina had been promising a breakout performance. It took its time in coming, but a masterpiece 90 minutes to blow away Paraguay 6-1 on Wednesday and book a highly awaited final clash with Chile was well worth the wait for fans of the South American nation.

It was a match approached not without trepidation by manager Gerardo Martino's men. In the opening game of Group B, the side had been coasting, 2-0 up and in complete control, only to take their foot off the pedal and fall to an inexplicable draw against the tough but limited Guarani.

That experience perhaps influenced the games that followed. Having netted twice in the first half of the opening game of the Copa America, Argentina saw just two more added to the tally in the next 315 minutes that followed. Uruguay and Jamaica were dispatched despite below-par performances, while Colombia fell on penalties in a game notable for the sheer quantity of chances squandered by the Argentinians.

On Tuesday, however, it all fell into place. And of course, the best player on the planet was right in the thick of things. Often unfairly questioned over his commitment to the international team, Lionel Messi responded with a performance that, even for his own galactic standards, was incredible.

Silvia Izquierdo/Associated Press

The statistics will show three assists from the Barcelona magician, but his contribution was far greater than numbers, as he played a part in everything good about the Albiceleste and gleefully tore Paraguay to pieces. Only a goal was missing from a majestic display. He came close, but after a delicious one-two with Javier Pastore, the Guarani's Justo Villar stood up well to deny a deserved strike.

To focus solely on La Pulga's game—as wizardly as it was—would be unjust to the rest of the Argentina ranks. This was a team performance from one end of the pitch to another. Pastore put in his finest display in international colours, and arguably of his entire career, linking up with Messi down the middle and taking advantage of the spaces left by Paraguay's defence.

His strike to put the Albiceleste up 2-0, having left his marker in the dust with the slightest turn of the hips, was just what the side needed to get going. Angel Di Maria was unrecognisable from the peripheral figure in earlier matches and helped kill off the game in a key passage just after half-time with two goals. 

Andre Penner/Associated Press

Those three, aided by the tireless Pablo Zabaleta and his incursions down the right, were the main architects of Argentina's triumph. But it was a sterling effort across the pitch. Aside from a catastrophic loss of attention that allowed Lucas Barrios to pull back to 2-1, the team stood firm, and Paraguay barely troubled goalkeeper Sergio Romero.

Given the late withdrawal of Ezequiel Garay, that defensive solidity in a team that surged forward even three, four and five goals ahead was crucial.

Saturday's final is the one most neutrals would like to see.

In a Copa America marked by negative teams, Chile and Argentina are the countries that have never faltered from the commitment to attack. Watch out, Jorge Sampaoli: If Argentina match this electric 90 minutes, the trophy will almost certainly be returning to Buenos Aires after 22 long years away.