Nicolas Otamendi praised Argentina for struggling through their torrid early form at the Copa America to book a semi-final showdown with bitter rivals Brazil.
Lautaro Martinez's instinctive early finish and a 74th-minute tap-in from substitute Giovani Lo Celso secured a 2-0 quarter-final win over Venezuela at the Maracana – the scene of La Albiceleste's World Cup final defeat to Germany five years ago.
The best performance Lionel Scaloni's side have managed in the tournament to date secured a meeting with the hosts in Belo Horizonte next Tuesday and Otamendi reflected on their improvements from a shambling start to the group stage.