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Neither Brazil, nor Argentina favourite in Copa semi: Messi

Argentine Superstar Lionel Messi said Argentina would take on hosts Brazil on an equal footing in the Copa America semi-finals. On friday Argentina beat Venezuela by 2-0.

Lautaro Martinez and Giovani Lo Celso scored the goals that gave improving Argentina a quarter-final success at Maracana stadium.

It was the Argentines’ best performance yet in a tournament they began with 2-0 defeat to Colombia followed by a 1-1 draw with Paraguay.

“It’s difficult to give a favorite between Argentina and Brazil, even more so in this Copa America where anyone can beat anyone,” said the 32-year-old Barca superstar ahead of Tuesday’s semi-final in Belo Horizonte.

Messi added, `We respect them, we know what Brazil represent.’

The hosts struggled to make the semi-finals, toiling for more than 40 minutes against 10 men before beating Paraguay on penalty shoot-out following a 0-0 draw in Porto Alegre on Thursday night.

`We’re in good form to take on Brazil, but we’ll have to be very focused,’ said the five-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi. He also admitted that he’s not at his best form in Copa. `I’m not having my best Copa America,’ he said. But as a team, Messi said their performance against Venezuela was `complete.’

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