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.

Uruguay twice came from behind to draw 2-2 against a superb Japan side in the Copa America with the help of two questionable refereeing decisions and will have to wait to book a quarter-final place.

Despite knowing he can play no part in a potential trophy-winning tournament, the Paris Saint-Germain ace was all smiles as he reunited with players and staff at their base in Sao Paulo.

Alexis Sanchez admitted he is 'always playing happy' for his country Chile in what could be perceived as a dig at Man United after overcoming a twisted ankle to score their Copa America winner.

An impressive double from striker Darwin Machis helped Venezuela book their place in the Copa America quarter-finals with a comfortable 3-1 win over Bolivia on Saturday.

Brazil cruised into the Copa America knock-out stages by dismantling Peru at the Arena Corinthians. Casemiro, Roberto Firmino, Everton, Dani Alves and Willian were all on target.

After picking up just one point from their opening two games, Argentina needed to win to progress and they managed to do so courtesy of goals from Lautaro Martinez and Sergio Aguero.

Uruguay striker Luis Suarez took his reputation as a fierce competitor to new heights in his side's 1-0 win over Chile in the Copa America by appealing for a handball... by Chile's goalkeeper. 

Lionel Messi (left) and Sergio Aguerro (right) cut relaxed figures as Argentina prepared for their Copa America quarter-final clash with Venezuela.

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.

Argentina booked their place in the Copa America semi-finals on Friday night with a 2-0 win over Venezuela in Rio de Janeiro thanks to goals from Lautaro Martinez and Giovani Lo Celso.

Everton striker Richarlison was left out of Brazil's Copa America quarter-final with Paraguay on Thursday amid concerns the attacker has contracted mumps.

The Everton forward was put in isolation for three days after contracting the contagious viral infection and was holed up in a hotel in Porto Alegre while he recovered.

His performances have caught the attention of the Catalan giants, who are now preparing to pay his £100m release cause to bring him to the Nou Camp, according to Corriere dello Sport.

Stars from Argentina and Brazil have been training in preparation for their crucial Copa America semi-final showdown on Tuesday evening.

TOM SANDERSON IN SAO PAULO: And so they meet again. On this occasion, for a place in the Copa America final. Yet far more than the chance to face either Chile or Peru will be at stake.

The Manchester United forward fired his country into the last four by netting the winning penalty in a shootout against Colombia on Saturday.

Arsenal have completed the signing of Brazilian 18-year-old Gabriel Martinelli. The youngster is one of the most promising talents in his homeland and bases his game on Cristiano Ronaldo.  

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. 

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni claimed his side deserved to reach the Copa America final in the wake of their 2-0 defeat by Brazil. Goals from Gabriel Jesus and Roberto Firmino sealed victory.

Lionel Messi blasted 'bulls***' refereeing and accused officials of favouring Brazil after Argentina were dumped out of the Copa America at the semi-final stage on Tuesday night.

Argentina and Lionel Messi remain optimistic about their future despite another year without a trophy. There is some hope despite the team's 2-0 loss to Brazil.

The Chelsea star felt pain in his right thigh during the second half of Tuesday's 2-0 semi-final victory against Argentina but stayed on the pitch as his side had used all three substitutes.

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.

TOM SANDERSON AT THE MARACANA: In front of 70,000 revellers at the Maracana, Brazil prolonged their record of having won the Copa America each time they have hosted.

Edu is closing in on the technical director job at Arsenal after Brazil appointed Juninho to replace him as their general coordinator.

Messi was left incandescent with the performance of referee Roddy Zambrano and the use of VAR and did not hold back in his post-match assessment after their defeat by Brazil.

Premier League stars Roberto Firmino, Gabriel Jesus and Fernandinho joined their team-mates to celebrate Brazil's Copa America success on Wednesday. 

Fresh from their Copa America success, Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho have been kicking back in style while making the most of well-earned time off.

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.

Suarez was put through a rigorous sandpit routine on his own as he attended his first session back at Barcelona's Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper training base on Friday.

Napoli have started negotiations with Gremio for Brazil's Copa America hero Everton. Carlo Ancleotti's side have been looking to reinforce their attack all summer but have been unsuccessful.

Jesus scored Brazil's second goal in a 3-1 victory over Peru at the Maracana last month but erupted in anger after being sent off for a second bookable offence.

The Brazilian sealed his country's Copa America triumph on home soil with the third goal in their 3-1 victory over Peru in the final at the Maracana Stadium in July.

Peru would have been looking to achieve some measure of revenge when they came up against Tite's team on Tuesday evening after losing 3-1 to them in the competition's showpiece in July.

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.

Argentina and Brazil lock horns for the 111th time in Saudi Arabia to renew one of football's most iconic rivalries. Sportsmail has put together an all-time combined XI ahead of Friday's clash.

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.

Bring an image of Brazil to your mind and it is almost certain you will think of free-flowing attacking moves, samba skills and jogo bonito. Not debates about defensive midfielders.

The goal-shy Toffees have identified the forward positions as an area of improvement, and boss Carlo Ancelotti has set his sights on the club's Brazilian namesake as a transfer target.

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.

Manfred Goldberg, 89, born in Kassel, Germany, accompanied the Cambridges on their tour of the Stutthof concentration camp in July 2017, and told People Kate was emotional.

The 51-year-old Danish royal sustained a 'minor injury' to his left shoulder on the slopes at Verbier in Switzerland last week. He is being treated at a highly specialised hospital in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Duchess of Cambridge, 38, selected a glitzy pair of daisy-shaped diamond earrings worth £17,300 as she arrived for her first official visit to the Republic of Ireland earlier today.

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.

The milestone for Madonna, pictured in an Instagram post on her birthday, has made Liz Jones wonder whether having Botox and allowing a surgeon inside our faces is not a little bit sad.

It is the ultimate irony – bailiffs knocking on the door of Wonga, the payday loan company. There is no place in a just society for a company that charges interest of up to 1,311 per cent.

Despite rifts in their party, young Tories are fiercely confident in their views. I hear repeatedly that Theresa May is ‘doing a good job’ at the Conservative conference in Birmingham.