By Anna Italia
Follow me in Twitter @ItalianSerieA,
Facebook: Anna Italia Page
Argentina passing to the Copa America Centenario Final after defeating United States. There are 3 Italian Serie A players in the United States vs Argentina game for the Copa America Centenario Semifinal on Tuesday 21 June 2016 at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, USA
Italian Serie A players called up for Argentina:
- Napoli forward Gonzalo Higuaín
- Lazio midfielder Lucas Biglia
- Fiorentina defender Facundo Roncaglia
No Italian Serie A players called up for United States. However, we see the ex-Chievo Verona and ex-AS Roma midfielder Michael Bradley leading USA team.
It’s Argentina to open the score following a corner in the 3rd minute with the ex-Napoli player Ezequiel “El Pocho” Lavezzi defeating USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan with a headed shot in the top left corner. The assist is by forward Lionel Messi. The corner was conceded by USA forward Gyasi Zardes.
Photo: facebook.com/AFASeleccionArgentina
Fans at the NRG Stadium going wild in the 32nd minute! It’s history in the making as Lionel Messi scores from a free kick defeating goalkeeper Guzan with a left footed shot despite his super stretch in the top right corner. It’s a historical goal because Messi is now the all time leading scorer of the Argentina National team with 55 goals breaking the record of former Gabriel Batistuta with 54 goals.
Photo: facebook.com/AFASeleccionArgentina
Third goal of the match is for Argentina in the 50th minute with Napoli forward Gonzalo Higuaín defeating goalkeeper Guzan with a right footed shot in the bottom left corner. The assist is by Ezequiel Lavezzi.
Photo: facebook.com/AFASeleccionArgentina
In the 59th minute, Argentina making a substitution. It’s time for Lazio midfielder Lucas Biglia to replace Augusto Fernández for injury.
In the 60th minute, United States making a substitution. Defender Steve Birnbaum replaces Kyle Beckerman.
Bad news for Argentina. Forward Ezequiel Lavezzi substituted for injury in the 67th minute and replaced by the ex Roma forward Erik Lamela.
USA unable to react. Argentina increasing the score and in the 86th minute, it’s again Napoli forward Gonzalo Higuaín to defeat goalkeeper Guzan with a right footed shot. The assist is by Lionel Messi
Photo: facebook.com/AFASeleccionArgentina
Here is United States official starting lineup by Head Coach Jurgen Klinsman:
USA (4-4-2): Guzan; Yedlin, Cameron, Brooks, Johnson; Zusi, Bradley, Beckerman, Zardes; Wondolowski, Dempsey.
Here is Argentina official starting lineup by Head Coach Gerardo Martino:
ARGENTINA (4-3-3): Romero; Mercado, Otamendi, Funes Mori, Rojo; Augusto, Mascherano, Banega; Messi, Lavezzi, Higuain.
Note: Italian Serie A players highlighted in red.
Photo: facebook.com/AFASeleccionArgentina
Argentina official starting lineup against USA
==========================
Argentina Tickets
USA Tickets
==========================
Photo: facebook.com/AFASeleccionArgentina
Argentina official lineup against USA
Argentina National Team 23-Man Squad
Goalkeepers: Mariano Andujar (Estudiantes), Nahuel Guzman (UANL), Sergio Romero (Manchester United)
Defenders: Facundo Roncaglia (Fiorentina), Marcos Rojo (Manchester United), Ramiro Funes Mori (Argentina), Gabriel Mercado (River Plate), Jonathan Maidana (River Plate), Nicolas Otamendi (Manchester City), Victor Cuesta (Independiente)
Midfielders: Matias Kranevitter (Atletico Madrid), Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Ever Banega (Sevilla), Javier Pastore (Paris Saint-Germain), Augusto Fernandez (Atletico Madrid), Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur), Lucas Biglia (Lazio)
Forwards: Angel Di Maria (Paris Saint-Germain), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Hebei China Fortune), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli), Nicolas Gaitan (Benfica)
United States National Team 23-Man Squad
Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids), Ethan Horvath (Molde)
Defenders: Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Edgar Castillo (Monterrey), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Monchengladbach), Michael Orozco (Tijuana), DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham)
Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Jermaine Jones (Colorado Rapids), Perry Kitchen (Heart of Midlothian), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Graham Zusi (Sporting KC), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund)
Forwards: Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Bobby Wood (Hamburg), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)
Copa America Centenario Semifinal
USA 0 – 4 Argentina
Tuesday 21 June 2016
NRG Stadium
Houston, Texas
6 p.m.
Goals: 3′ Ezequiel Lavezzi (A), 32′ Lionel Messi (A), 50′ Gonzalo Higuain (A), 86′ Gonzalo Higuain (A)
Official lineups – formations:
USA (4-4-2): Guzan; Yedlin, Cameron, Brooks, Johnson; Zusi, Bradley, Beckerman, Zardes; Wondolowski, Dempsey.
SUBS: Birnbaum, Besler, Nagbe, Howard, Orozco, Kitchen, Pulisic, Castillo, Horvath.
ARGENTINA (4-3-3): Romero; Mercado, Otamendi, Funes Mori, Rojo; Augusto, Mascherano, Banega; Messi, Lavezzi, Higuain.
SUBS: Maidana, Roncaglia, Kranevitter, Biglia, Di Maria, Aguero, Guzman, Cuesta, Lamela, Pastore, Andujar.
Note: Italian Serie A players highlighted in red.
Photo: facebook.com/AFASeleccionArgentina