7 things to know about Copa America: USA vs. Argentina

Credit: Jim Rogash

Credit: Jim Rogash

The United States men’s soccer team will play Argentina at 9 p.m. Tuesday at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, in the semifinals of the Copa America Centenario.

Here are seven things to know about the game:

1. Underdogs: The United States is 2-6-2 against Argentina. The Americans won 3-0 in 1995 in the group stage of Copa America. In their only other Copa America meeting, Argentina won 4-1 in 2007.

Argentina is the top-ranked team in the world in the latest FIFA rankings. The United States ranks 31st.

2. Argentina star: Argentina has one of the world's greatest players, forward Lionel Messi. The 28-year-old who plays for Barcelona in Spain when he's not with the national team, was named the world's best player in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015.

3. U.S. star: Forward Clint Dempsey has scored in the last three matches for the United States. He had the game-winning goals against Costa Rica and Paraguay in the group stage. With 52 career goals for the national team, he is five away from tying Landon Donovan's all-time record.

4. Short-handed: The United States will be without three players missing the game because of suspensions: midfielders Jermaine Jones and Alejandro Bedoya and forward Bobby Wood. Wood and Bedoya each earned their second yellow card in the team's last game, a 2-1 victory over Ecuador on Thursday. Jones received a red card in that game.

5. Former champs: Colombia and Chile meet in the other semifinal at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Soldier Field in Chicago. Chile won the last Copa America in 2015. Colombia won the championship last in 2001. Argentina last won in 1993.

6. Lone survivor: The United State is the last team remaining from CONCACAF, which includes teams from North America, Central America and the Carribbean. Mexico was the last CONCACAF team to reach the finals in 2001.

7. Final game: The Copa American championship will be played at 8 p.m. Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

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