Can Messi and Co end winless run against Paraguay?

Lionel Messi's Argentina will have the opportunity to secure a place in the knockout stages of the ongoing Copa America if they end a four-game winless run against Paraguay at the Estadio Mané Garrincha in Brasilia on Monday (Tuesday 6:00am Bangladesh time).

La Albiceleste have not beaten Paraguay in six years, although three of the four games in the meantime have ended in draws. Argentina's thumping 6-1 victory over Paraguay in 2015 Copa America was their last win against their South American neighbors.  

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has been frustrated by the frequency with which his side have been held.

The team are unbeaten in 15 games going back to the 2019 Copa America, but they have won only eight of those matches alongside seven draws -- including a home World Cup qualifier against Paraguay.

A sequence of three stalemates in a row was broken last time out, though, when Argentina defeated Uruguay 1-0 to move level with Chile at the top of Group A.

"I think that the previous games Argentina also deserved to win," Scaloni said following the Uruguay match.

"For small reasons, we were left with three draws that we did not deserve."

Paraguay could leapfrog Argentina and move into position for a potentially easier quarter-final draw with a repeat of their World Cup qualifying win, although Messi was absent on that occasion in 2016 and should be present for this game.

Paraguay won their Copa America opener 3-1 against basement side Bolivia.