Copa America: Man City star in action as Argentina secure place in knockout rounds

Julian Alvarez played 73 minutes as Argentina beat 1-0 to secure the world champion’s progression to the quarter-finals of the tournament.

After winning their opener 2-0 against Canada last week - with Alvarez on the scoresheet - Argentina continued their 100 percent record in the tournament. The victory over Chile in the early hours of Wednesday morning came via Lautaro Martinez’s 88th-minute strike, although Argentina dominated for long spells and produced 22 shots to the opposition’s three.

Alvarez played up front once again, alongside Lionel Messi in a fluid 4-4-2 shape. La Albiceleste are the first side to progress to the last eight, with Lionel Scaloni’s side achieving the feat with a game to spare, although they’ll need to wait until Sunday’s match against Peru to discover their opponents in the knockout stages.

This is just the second time the Copa America has featured 16 teams, split across four groups and Argentina are one of 10 South American sides competing alongside Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Canada, Costa Rica and hosts America.

Elsewhere in Group A, Canada beat Peru 1-0, leaving them in the driving seat to qualify in second place. Brazil are next in action on Saturday when they face Paraguay in Las Vegas, with the five-time world champions looking to bounce back from a 0-0 draw in their opening match against Costa Rica.

With Ederson injured, Alvarez is City’s only representative at the 2024 Copa America, although Savio, who is expected to sign for the club in the coming weeks, is part of the Brazil side.