OMNISPORT

Sergio Romero says Argentina can take positives from their Copa America opener, despite dropping points from a winning position, as they prepare for this week's Group B clash against Uruguay.

Gerardo Martino's side threw away a two-goal lead in La Serena, as Nelson Valdez and Lucas Barrios scored in the final half hour to salvage a point and frustrate the World Cup finalists. 

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Argentina had led thanks to goals from Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero, with both Martino and captain Messi left frustrated by their second-half collapse.

Uruguay were also unconvincing in their opener - a 1-0 win over Jamaica - but Romero says both sides will take positives from their first Copa outings.

"Uruguay will not give away anything and although they had a tough match against Jamaica, they played their game and their style," he said.

"They also have dangerous strikers such as Cebolla [Cristian Rodriguez] and Edinson Cavani.

"On Tuesday, hopefully we can play our game and if we play like we did in the first half [against Paraguay] I think it will be alright.

"The first half against Paraguay was not good, it was excellent. Argentina had the ball, kept it on the floor and generally played the game the coach wants."

Defending champions Uruguay look on course to move into the knockout stages after Rodriguez's winner ensured them top spot in the group at the end of the first round of matches.

Jamaica had more than enough chances to take something from the game but failed to break down a stubborn defence well marshalled by the likes of Diego Godin and Jose Maria Gimenez.

Uruguay won the most recent instalment of this famous rivalry - a 3-2 success in qualifying for the 2014 World Cup - with Tabarez backing his side to grow into the tournament.

"We will continue to work in these few days," Tabarez said on Sunday.

"We were not at our best but that's not the case just for us, not many teams arrive in their best form and it is widely expected that teams improve."

The sides meet after Paraguay take on Jamaica, with the picture of the group set to look a lot clearer after close of play on Tuesday.

MATCH FACTS

• Argentina and Uruguay have met five times in Chile with three wins for the Albiceleste (the last three), one draw and one win for the Charruas.
• The last victory for Argentina over the Celeste in Chile (6-1, Copa America 1955) was their biggest win against them on a neutral ground.
• The last Clasico del Rio de La Plata in the Copa America was played in the Estadio Brigadier General Estanislao Lopez and Uruguay knocked out Argentina in the quarter-finals.
• Argentina have defeated Uruguay in their last three Copa America meetings in the group phase. They have not lost a Clasico del Rio de La Plata in the group phase since 1967, when Uruguay were the host nation.
• Argentina have failed to score in only one of their last 13 meetings with Uruguay (0-1 in 2005).
• Argentina have lost just one of their last five games against Uruguay, but it came in their last meeting - in the 2014 World Cup qualification campaign in Montevideo (3-2, October 2013).
• Uruguay (15) and Argentina (14) have won more Copa America titles than any other side. Combined, they have won 29 out of the 43 editions.
• While Uruguay finished in the first two places in three out of the six Copa America editions held in Chile, Argentina have managed it in all of them.
• Indeed, only Uruguay (2) and Argentina (4) have won the Copa America when it's been held in Chile.
• Two of Argentina's last three goals against Uruguay in the Copa America have been headers.
• Five of Uruguay's last six goals in the tournament have arrived in the first half and none of them were headed strikes.
• In the opening game against Paraguay, Lionel Messi scored his first goal in the first half of a Copa America game.
• Messi has been involved in four of Argentina's last five goals in this competition (three assists and one goal).
• Messi attempted seven shots in the opening game against Paraguay, more than he registered in any Copa America 2011 game.
• Sergio Aguero has scored four of Argentina's last seven goals in the Copa America.
• Argentina have not won a Copa America title when they failed to win their opening game.
• In their game against Jamaica, Uruguay attempted fewer shots on target (2) than in any other game in the previous Copa America.