After a Messi penalty salvaged a point against Paraguay on Wednesday night, Argentina know they must now beat 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar to avoid an embarrassing early exit.

South America has provided football with its greatest icons but also suffered terrible tragedy; Chapecoense, Flamengo and the murder of Andres Escobar for scoring a World Cup own goal.

Argentina must beat Qatar in Porto Alegre on Sunday night and hope Paraguay fail to beat Colombia if they are to avoid a humiliating group-stage exit at the Copa America.

Real Madrid fans are relishing the prospect of watching 18-year-old Takefusa Kubo after his latest impressive display at the Copa America against Ecuador on Monday night.

After a slow start, Copa America 2019 in Brazil has finally heated up after a pulsating round of final group-stage matches. VAR and penalty shoot-outs mean the drama is set to continue in the last eight.

Brazil coach Tite joined the chorus of players and officials complaining about Copa America pitches, saying it was 'absurd' to play on surfaces like the one on which the hosts beat Paraguay on.

Brazilian star Neymar was ruled out of Copa America just over a week before the opening match after limping out of a friendly against Qatar with the untimely injury.

Brazil and arch-rivals Argentina will go head to head for a place in the Copa America final. For live updates from the semi-final, follow the action with Sportsmail's SAM MCEVOY...

TOM SANDERSON AT MINEIRAO STADIUM: Here it was, the one they had all been waiting for. A semi-final showdown between the two biggest rivals in international football. 

He may have won the Champions League last season, but Alisson Becker learned a few crucial lessons along the way. After being beaten by Lionel Messi once, amends have been made.

Chile were knocked out of the Copa America in the semi-finals with a 3-0 defeat by Peru, and Eduardo Vargas' misery was compounded when he missed a late penalty.

Alisson will become the first goalkeeper to win three Golden Gloves in one season having kept five clean sheets in the Copa America. No other goalkeeper can catch him with the final still to play.

Gary Medel has come out in defence of Lionel Messi after both players were sent off for a confrontation in the Copa America third place playoff. The were dismissed for a clash in the first half.

Brazil took on Peru in the Copa America final at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday night. Brazil won their first Copa America trophy since 2007.

Everton forward Richarlison sent 200 million of his fellow countrymen into hysterics through a post-match interview recorded after his Copa America-sealing goal on Sunday evening.

Dani Alves moved his trophy tally into the forties on Sunday night when he lifted the Copa America in front of a rocking Maracana crowd.

Lionel Messi has been recuperating on a family holiday after the disappointment of Argentina's Copa America semi-final defeat by Brazil.

The 23-year-old played an integral role in Brazil's Copa America success this summer and has attracted interest from several clubs, including Everton.

Italy are eager to convince Arsenal prospect Gabriel Martinelli to represent them instead of Brazil. Martinelli was born in Brazil and was called up to a training camp ahead of the Copa America.

Lionel Messi rarely needs a second invitation to score but that is exactly what he got as he scored from the rebound of his missed penalty to ensure Argentina beat Brazil out in Saudi Arabia.

Lionel Messi praised Argentina's work ethic after scoring the winner in a 1-0 win over Brazil on his return to international football following a three-month ban for criticising CONMEBOL.

Lionel Messi has a chance to win the Copa America on his own turf next summer - but Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni says the competition will be about more than just the Barcelona star.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY IAN LADYMAN: For Richarlison it helped to have 2.1million Instagram followers when his dog escaped. After an appeal on social media, two Everton fans found his pet.

Borussia Dortmund will return to training on Monday amid the coronavirus outbreak but will only allow their players to train in twos.

Prince William, 37, and Kate Middleon, 38, have appointed a former Home Office press officer as their Chief Communications Officer for The Royal Foundation.

Kate, 38, looked elegant in the bespoke Catherine Walker creation as she arrived for a service to mark the 75th anniversary of Auschwitz-Birkenau liberation at Westminster's Central Hall.

The Cambridges will kick off a day of engagements in South Wales next week with a visit to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) Lifeboat station to learn about the  24-hour rescue service.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were seen awkwardly laughing during Sunday night's BAFTA ceremony after Margot Robbie joked about Megxit during an acceptance speech.

Prince William, 37, and Kate, 38, seemed to relax their 'hands-off' policy in public when visiting Mumbles in South Wales today, according to body language epxert and author Judi James.

Kate, 38, was in Mumbles, near Swansea, alongside her husband Prince William, 37, for a busy day of engagements which saw them visit the Tata Steel plant in Port Talbot and tour a lifeboat station.

Kate Middleton, 38, sported Beulah London's £95 pink and red Shibani scarf for her outing to South Wales with Prince William, 37, yesterday. It is once again available to buy online.

Prince William, 37, and Kate Middleton, 38, will travel to Ireland between 3-5 March at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

The Duchess of Cambridge paid tribute to late designer Alexander McQueen today on the 10th anniversary of his death while attending an engagement in Loughborough.

The Duchess of Corwall faced a battle with the icy winds as she arrived at a food market in Leicester today.

Fans have gone wild over the signatures of Prince Charles, Camilla, Prince William and Kate Middleton, after they took part in their first joint royal engagement in nine years yesterday.

The Duke of Cambridge's impassioned message was shown at the Fire Fight Australia charity concert at Sydney's ANZ Stadium on Sunday night, in addition to its international broadcast.

The Duchess of Cambridge has recently swapped her signature bouncy blow dry for a half-up hairstyle - and a stylist has explained why the updated look is perfect for a busy working mother.

Royal commentator Ingrid Seward told Ok! magazine that the Queen, 93, struggles with the idea of divorce. She said the royal was 'thankful' for Prince William, 37, and Kate Middleton's, 38, marriage.

British royalty served as inspiration for thousands of Australian parents over the past 12 months, with Charlotte - Prince William and Kate Middleton's daughter - proving most popular for baby girls.

Speaking in Cardiff ahead of this afternoon's Six Nations clash against France, the Duke revealed how George revelled in the experience, Charlotte was initially hesitant, and Louis 'loved the tractors'.

Prince William, 37 and Kate Middleton, 38, will make their first visit to Ireland between Tuesday 3 and Thursday 5 March and will visit Dublin, County Meath, and County Kildare during that time.

Kate Middleton cut a fashionable figure as she arrived at the Noël Coward Theatre alongside Prince William in Covent Garden this evening.

The Duchess of Cambridge paid a subtle tribute to the Queen as she joined Prince William on the West End last night. The couple watched Dear Evan Hansen.

The Cambridges and the Sussexes were particularly active on Instagram today, both sharing two posts in quick succession of each other.

Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan Markle, 38, posted to their Instagram account SussexRoyal to mark the nation's holiday, which celebrates the patron saint of Wales.

The Duchess of Cambridge, 38, cut a stylish figure in a stunning emerald gown while attending an evening reception in Ireland tonight at the start of her historic three-day visit the country.

World leaders are continuing to shake hands (including Prince William and Kate, pictured in Dublin) across the globe despite health officials suggesting the gesture should be banned.

The Duke of Cambridge, 37, has been named as the new patron of the London Air Ambulance charity, having worked as a pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance for two years.

Aides are 'thinking outside the box' in order to help the royal family, who are scattered across the UK, adjust to working digitally during the coronavirus crisis, a source told Vanity Fair.

The Duke of Cambridge, who flew as a medic for two years until 2017, has privately suggested he misses it.