Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Lionel Messi's Copa America dream lay in tatters on Saturday after Argentina were beaten by old rivals Uruguay in a dramatic quarter-final.
Uruguay, aiming for a record 15th title, won a penalty shootout 5-4 following a 1-1 draw after extra time in Santa Fe. They meet Peru in Tuesday's semi-final in La Plata after the Peruvians upset Colombia 2-0 after extra time in Cordoba.
Messi, still without a goal for Argentina in a competitive match since March 2009, had dreamt of inspiring Argentina to their first major title since the 1993 Copa America before an assault on the World Cup in Brazil in 2014.
Coach Sergio Batista's critics can be expected to round on him after a disappointing tournament in which Argentina only won one group match against a weak Costa Rica side despite preaching
the kind of attacking football perfected by Messi's club Barcelona.
"I will carry on ... I don't call this a failure," Batista told the post-match news conference at the Brigadier Estanislao Lopez stadium.
"We have to continue working for the most important thing which is getting to the World Cup," added Batista, whose contract runs until the end of the South American qualifiers in 2013.
"In the first two matches we didn't play the way we wanted, in the third we played well and today we could have won in the first half which was our aim. Then we lost some composure when it was 10 against 10."
"(Messi) had an 30 exceptional minutes (against Uruguay)," Batista said of his ace who laid on trademark passes fellow forwards and came close to a breakthrough himself.
Carlos Tevez became the Argentine villain as the only player to have his penalty saved in the shootout by Fernando Muslera, who had a fine game in goal.
Tevez added little to the attack when he came on as a substitute near the end of the second half.
In the space of little more than a month, Tevez was recalled by Batista amid popular acclaim after an apparent falling out, cemented his standing as "The people's player" and even earned a starting place in the early group matches.
Reuters
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments