<p>Argentina ensured their place in the quarter-finals of the Copa America on Monday when they beat Paraguay 1-0 in a game notable for Lionel Messi's record-equalling 147th appearance for the national side.</p>.<p>The victory in Brasilia was Argentina’s second 1-0 win in a row in this tournament and their 16th match without defeat since losing in the Copa America semi-final in 2019.</p>.<p>It gives them seven points from three games and leaves them top of Group A, two points ahead of Chile, four ahead of Paraguay and six ahead of Uruguay.</p>.<p>Bolivia are bottom with no points from two matches so with four of the five teams qualifying for the last eight, Argentina are sure of progressing.</p>.<p>“We’re through but we have to keep improving,” said defender German Pezzella. “We had a great first half, our intensity wasn’t the same in the second but they didn’t have very many chances at goal.”</p>.<p><strong>Unbeaten</strong></p>.<p>Paraguay had never beaten Argentina over 90 minutes in the Copa America, a run that covers 25 matches, and they were up against it as early as the 10th minute when Argentina went ahead.</p>.<p>Alejandro Gomez took a delightful pass from Angel Di Maria and dinked the ball over the diving keeper.</p>.<p>"Angel’s pass was great,” said Gomez. “I just had to get my foot under it and put it away.”</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/germany-eye-last-16-with-portugal-at-risk-of-shock-exit-from-euro-2020-1000066.html" target="_blank">Germany eye last 16 with Portugal at risk of shock exit from Euro 2020</a></strong></p>.<p>Argentina thought they had a second when Junior Alonso deflected a cross into his own net on the stroke of half time but the goal was chalked off by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).</p>.<p>Paraguay came out more positive in a changed second half, with Newcastle United’s Miguel Almiron always dangerous on the left wing.</p>.<p>However, although they enjoyed the bulk of the possession they could not turn it into chances and now face two tricky games against Chile and Uruguay.</p>.<p>For Argentina, Sergio Aguero made his first international start since November 2019 but was anonymous up front and it was Di Maria and Lionel Messi who stood out.</p>.<p>On the night he equalled Javier Mascherano’s record of 147 games in the blue and white shirt, Messi was a busy presence in the Paraguayan half.</p>.<p>Both he and Di Maria drew fouls from their opponents who ended up committing 23 fouls to Argentina’s 11. </p>
<p>Argentina ensured their place in the quarter-finals of the Copa America on Monday when they beat Paraguay 1-0 in a game notable for Lionel Messi's record-equalling 147th appearance for the national side.</p>.<p>The victory in Brasilia was Argentina’s second 1-0 win in a row in this tournament and their 16th match without defeat since losing in the Copa America semi-final in 2019.</p>.<p>It gives them seven points from three games and leaves them top of Group A, two points ahead of Chile, four ahead of Paraguay and six ahead of Uruguay.</p>.<p>Bolivia are bottom with no points from two matches so with four of the five teams qualifying for the last eight, Argentina are sure of progressing.</p>.<p>“We’re through but we have to keep improving,” said defender German Pezzella. “We had a great first half, our intensity wasn’t the same in the second but they didn’t have very many chances at goal.”</p>.<p><strong>Unbeaten</strong></p>.<p>Paraguay had never beaten Argentina over 90 minutes in the Copa America, a run that covers 25 matches, and they were up against it as early as the 10th minute when Argentina went ahead.</p>.<p>Alejandro Gomez took a delightful pass from Angel Di Maria and dinked the ball over the diving keeper.</p>.<p>"Angel’s pass was great,” said Gomez. “I just had to get my foot under it and put it away.”</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/germany-eye-last-16-with-portugal-at-risk-of-shock-exit-from-euro-2020-1000066.html" target="_blank">Germany eye last 16 with Portugal at risk of shock exit from Euro 2020</a></strong></p>.<p>Argentina thought they had a second when Junior Alonso deflected a cross into his own net on the stroke of half time but the goal was chalked off by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).</p>.<p>Paraguay came out more positive in a changed second half, with Newcastle United’s Miguel Almiron always dangerous on the left wing.</p>.<p>However, although they enjoyed the bulk of the possession they could not turn it into chances and now face two tricky games against Chile and Uruguay.</p>.<p>For Argentina, Sergio Aguero made his first international start since November 2019 but was anonymous up front and it was Di Maria and Lionel Messi who stood out.</p>.<p>On the night he equalled Javier Mascherano’s record of 147 games in the blue and white shirt, Messi was a busy presence in the Paraguayan half.</p>.<p>Both he and Di Maria drew fouls from their opponents who ended up committing 23 fouls to Argentina’s 11. </p>