Lionel Messi and Argentina have been like a drunken giant, not quite sure what is happening, not quite sure what to do or where to go to find that pot of gold. Having huffed and puffed their way through to the semifinals of the Copa America 2015, and with that glint of the pot of gold just slightly visible, the South American giant woke up, led by their magician, small in stature but as large as they make them when it comes to impact.
Argentina sent a message to Chile in emphatic style, thumping Paraguay 6-1 in the Copa America 2015 semifinal to march their way into the final where the hosts await.
Messi was not at his usual goalscoring best, with that ball-hits-the-left-boot-and-flies-into-the-net magic still missing in this continental tournament, but everything else was in tune for the Barcelona man.
The majority of the goals and chances were created by Messi, with the first one coming via a freekick perfectly taken by the little genius, which eventually found its way to Marcos Rojo who made no mistake with the finish.
Javier Pastore then got onto the scoresheet to make it 2-0 – no prizes for guessing it was via a Messi pass – before Paraguay invoked the possibility of coming back from two goals down against the same opponents for the second time in the Copa America 2015 by making it 2-1. After coming on for the injured Roque Santa Cruz, Lucas Barrios took advantage of some poor Argentina defending to slot the ball home from 20 yards.
However, two goals from Angel Di Maria early in the second half ended all hopes of a comeback. First, the Manchester United midfielder fired in a low drive off a wonderful Argentina counter-attack to make it 3-1, before a rebound, off a Pastore shot via a Messi pass, also had the same result.
Sergio Aguero then decided to get his name on the scoresheet, via a header off a Di Maria cross, before substitute Gonzalo Higuain added the gloss on a wonderful night for Argentina.
Chile, the hosts, who haven't really been able to hit top gear often enough, either, now await for Messi and this Argentina side. If Messi turns on the style, Chile will need the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal to have a couple of blinders.
However, even that might not be enough, if Argentina turn up in this mood.
