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Lionel Messi and Argentina await hosts United States in Tuesday's semifinal for a spot in the Copa America Centenario final.

U.S. national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann says his side is not scared of Lionel Messi and Co. as it prepares to face Argentina in the Copa America Centenario semifinals. 

The host U.S. qualified for the last four of a Copa America for just the second time courtesy of a hard-fought 2-1 win over Ecuador on Thursday, while Argentina dispatched Venezuela, 4-1.

Klinsmann's men have been in good form since their defeat to Colombia in the Copa opener, scoring seven goals and conceding just one in their three next games. But while they must face the world's No. 1 ranked side for a spot in the final, Klinsmann says his players will not be overawed by the occasion.

"We are not scared of them at all," the 51-year-old said Sunday. "We admire their players. This is now a special moment. I told the players yesterday before we started training, 'This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity now. You got into the semifinal, you made yourself proud but now go for more.'"

"We are ready to bite, to fight, to chase them, to be all over them. If we repeat that and add a couple more percent to it, it's going to be fun. We have to be on top of our game defensively – that's a no-brainer – but we've done extremely well in the whole competition defensively."