RIO DE JANEIRO (Rio 2016 Olympic Games) - It wouldn't be an Olympics without a glitzy USA v Argentina showdown in the knockout stage.

That's what many people would have been thinking this week as teams fought for top-four places in their groups in order to advance to the Quarter-Finals. Since 2004, the two countries have traded blows in the Semi-Finals, with Argentina winning 12 years ago and the Americans in 2008 and 2012.

After his team's 92-73 defeat to Spain on Monday, Argentina coach Sergio Hernandez knew his team (3-2) would finish third and take on Australia if Lithuania were to win their game against Croatia. A Croatia victory, however, would leave Argentina in fourth and facing a USA side that won five times in as many games to top Group A.

As the basketball gods would have it, Croatia beat Lithuania in Monday's last game to set up another USA v Argentina clash. It will be in the Carioca Arena 1 on Wednesday.

In 2004, Argentina won their Semi-Final, 89-81, after getting a 29-point explosion from Manu Ginobili.

Argentina beat the USA in the Semi-Finals at the 2004 Athens Games

In Beijing four years later, Ginobili again took center stage but for the unfortunate reason that he had a serious ankle injury after just six minutes and later required surgery. The USA rolled to a 101-81 victory with Carmelo Anthony's 21 points leading the winners. Luis Scola had 28 points in defeat in that game. The Americans then won the Gold Medal Game against Spain.

USA beat Argentina in the 2008 Beijing Games Semi-Finals

Four years ago in London, Argentina, who lost to the Americans in the Preliminary Round, 126-97, only trailed 47-40 at half-time but Mike Krzyzewski's team pulled away after the break for a 109-83 triumph.

Kevin Durant and Anthony had 19 and 18 points, respectively, for the winners and Ginobili poured in 18 in defeat.The USA captured that title, too, with a victory over Spain in the championship game.

Durant and Anthony led USA past Argentina in London

Ginobili, Scola, Carlos Delfino and Andres Nocioni have played against the USA at the last three Olympics and are still in the Argentina squad while Anthony is the only American that is about to feature against El Alma for a fourth time.

FIBA