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Match Day 7


MrJibbles

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Group B's early pacesetters meet at Ellis Park knowing that a second victory could potentially seal their progress to the last 16. Argentina and Korea Republic won their respective opening games against Nigeria and Greece although both have different goals for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, with the South Americans' sights fixed firmly on a third title and the South Koreans chasing qualification for the knockout rounds for the first time beyond their own shores.The matchArgentina-Korea Republic, Group B, Johannesburg (Ellis Park), Thursday 17 June, 13.30 (local time)The two coaches are no strangers to each other having featured in their teams' meeting at Mexico 1986, where La Albiceleste ran out 3-1 winners. South Korean coach Hun Jung-Moo had the unenviable job of man-marking Diego Maradona that day – a thankless task for anybody in a tournament where today's Argentina coach inspired his country to their second FIFA World Cup triumph.Twenty-four years on, they cross swords again with Huh hoping for a different outcome as he bids to become the first homegrown coach to lead Korea Republic into the last 16. Argentina are 41 places higher in the FIFA/Coca Cola World Ranking but Korea Republic have proved in the past they are more than capable of springing surprises, a fact borne out when they beat Italy and Spain to storm into last four on home soil in 2002.Their 2-0 victory over Greece on Saturday should ensure confidence is high in the Korea Republic camp although betterin an Argentina side including the likes of Lionel Messi, Javier Mascherano and Juan Sebastian Veron is evidently a more awkward proposition. Although Maradona's men beat Nigeria by just a single goal, the victory margin would have been greater had it not been for Super Eagles goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama's brilliant Man of the Match performance.Players to watchLionel Messi v Park Ji-SungAfter doing everything but score against Nigeria, Messi will hope for better luck in front of goal in his team's second outing at Ellis Park. If Messi is pivotal to Argentina's hopes, the same can be said of Park Ji-Sung, who underlined his talismanic status against Greece by sealing Korea Republic's victory with a wonderful solo strike of which Messi himself would have been proud.The stat4 –Argentina have reached four FIFA World Cup Finals, beating the Netherlands in 1978 and West Germany in 1986 but losing out to Uruguay in 1930 and the Germans in 1990. Korea Republic finished fourth on home soil eight years ago which remains the best-ever result by an Asian team on the world stage.What they say"Comparing ourselves with other teams, we have played some of the best football in the competition and created more chances than anybody else so far. Now we need to take the games as they come. We are still one of the favourites and that is why we are here – to win this World Cup," Gonzalo Higuain, Argentina forward."To be honest we are a little nervous heading into the match-up with Argentina as they have some of the world's best players. But we are not intimidated by their qualities and we have unwavering confidence in ourselves. They may boast Messi, but we can count on captain Park Ji-Sung to lead us to a good result," Kim Nam-Il, Korea Republic midfielder.Voice of the fans"Argentina is an incredibly strong team for Korea Republic. However, the game of soccer is full of possibilities and Korea is notorious for pulling magic out of thin air. This will be a fantastic game to watch," FIFA.com user Jook Yuh.The questionCan Messi open his scoring account in South Africa? Can Korea Republic build on the promise of their opening win and create a surprise against the fancied Argentines?
Just a single game into the tournament, the pressure is on both Greece and Nigeria, as both lost their opening Group B fixtures. Korea Republic deservedly downed the Greeks 2-0, and although Nigeria gave a creditable account of themselves against Argentina, they ultimately had in-form keeper Vincent Enyeama to thank for limiting the damage to a 1-0 reverse.The matchGreece–Nigeria, Group B, Mangaung/Bloemfontein, Thursday 17 June, 16.00 (local time)Both sides really require a victory to keep alive their hopes of reaching the last 16. The need is arguably greater for the Greeks, as they face the daunting prospect of going head-to-head with La Albiceleste in their third group game. In the circumstances, the sides can be expected to jettison at least some of the caution which has generally characterised the first round of matches in South Africa. Certainly, the Nigeria camp has made no secret of its intention to pursue all three points with vigour.The nations have met twice in the past, each coming away with a 2-0 victory. The Super Eagles came up trumps in a 1994 FIFA World Cup™ meeting in Foxboro in the USA, but the Greeks took at least partial revenge in a friendly five years later. The loser of the clash in South Africa can almost certainly pack for home.The Nigeria camp reacted calmly to defeat in their opening match. Lars Lagerback and his men had obviously at least allowed for the possibility of losing to two-time world champions Argentina. The mood among the Greeks was considerably more agitated, although there was also a ray of hope with the likely return of key defender Evangelos Moras for the Nigeria clash.Player to watchVincent Enyeama (NGA)If the sides play to the form shown in their opening matches, the Greeks appear to stand little chance of breaking their scoring duck at the FIFA World Cup finals, as Enyeama turned in a world-class display against Argentina. The 27-year-old proved a particular thorn in the side of superstar Lionel Messi, thwarting the Barcelona striker time and again. If the shot-stopper comes anywhere near that level of performance, it will take the combined efforts of the entire Greece side to overcome him.The stat0 - Greece are contesting their second FIFA World Cup finals and have played four matches in total, but they have yet to score. Their debut appearance in 1994 in the USA started with a 4-0 defeat to Argentina, followed by the same result against Bulgaria, and a 2-0 defeat to Nigeria. The sorry pattern continued into their opening match in 2010, with a 2-0 reverse against a much livelier Korea Republic side. In a curious coincidence, Greece now face two of the same opponents from 1994, the Argentinians and the Nigerians.What they said"I’m happy enough with our approach against one of the best teams in the world. We had our fair share of luck and it ended up a good evening for us. I think we showed we have potential and proved we could go a long way. We’ve lost a match at the World Cup, but I’m hearing that the folk back home are happy. We didn’t play as well in attack as we’d hoped, but it’s good that we only conceded the one goal. It's going to be easier against the other teams," Peter Odemwingie, Nigeria forward."Nigeria are a good team. We’ll analyse every aspect of our game and do the same with Nigeria, and we’ll see what’s needed to win. We’re not giving up. We all know you frequently suffer poor results in football. We’re not disappointed, because we’re taking a realistic view of our potential and what we can hope to achieve. The job now is to prepare well, play better against Nigeria, and register our first win," Alexandros Tzorvas, Greece keeper.Voice of the fans"If Greece set out to win it 1-0, they can forget it. Enyeama, the best keeper at the tournament so far, will turn out to be a wall they can’t break down. They’ll need to be at their very best or they’ll be going home, because this keeper will frustrate them, and fresh Nigerian legs will do the rest. It’ll be 2-0 to Nigeria. But both teams need a very good, morale-boosting performance, or they’ll be going home,” NoDreamer, FIFA.com userThe questionAre Greece yet again destined to finish the FIFA World Cup finals without a goal? What do the 2004 European champions have to do to end this sequence?
Following draws in their opening Group A encounters here at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, France and Mexico are both in need of a positive result in Polokwane on 17 June. What is more, a win for either could prove a hammer blow for the other’s hopes of reaching the Round of 16.The matchFrance-Mexico, Group A, Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane, 20:30 (local time)After a lacklustre display in their goalless opener against Uruguay, France coach Raymond Domenech still appears unsure as to his best formation. Favouring a 4-3-3 system in pre-tournament warm-up action, Les Bleus’ supremo opted for a 4-5-1 against La Celeste. Now though, he is expected to push midfielder Yoann Gourcuff closer to central striker Nicolas Anelka and flank the Chelsea man with club-mate Florent Malouda and Franck Ribery. Intriguingly, while France have won just one of their five games in 2010, they have never been beaten by Mexico at senior level, with three of the sides’ six meetings coming at FIFA World Cup finals.Over in the Mexican camp, the aim is to improve on the wayward finishing shown in the 1-1 draw with South Africa. Clearly unhappy with his charges’ display, El Tri coach Javier Aguirre is set to start Andres Guardado in place of Paul Aguilar, though young tyros Carlos Vela, Efrain Juarez and Giovani dos Santos are expected to keep their starting berths. Mexico are bidding to improve on a record of just one win from eight encounters with European nations at the finals.Players to watchCarlos Vela vs Abou DiabyArsenal striker Vela, a star of Mexico’s FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning side in 2005, could end up facing no fewer than four club colleagues in defenders William Gallas, Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy and midfield man Abou Diaby, who is charged with shielding Les Bleus’ rearguard after the withdrawal of Lassana Diarra from the squad. Both Vela and Diaby put in promising shifts in their respective openers, with the young Mexican looking lively throughout and the marauding Frenchman winning plenty of tackles and carrying a threat going forward.The stat1 – France have won just one of their last seven group matches at the FIFA World Cup, when they beat Togo 2-0 in their final section encounter on German soil to squeeze through to the Round of 16. What's more, Les Bleus scored just three times in those seven matches.What they said“We’re up against a great team and we have to win the game any way we can. This is a vital match and France are strong opponents, both in defence and attack. Even though they’re not playing to their usual high standards, they’ve got players who can turn a game at any moment,” Rafael Marquez, Mexico midfielder.“We mustn’t let Mexico control possession. They’ve got a very, very good team. When they click into gear, they up the tempo and hold onto the ball for a long time, which can unsettle any side in the world. But my players are really up for this game, I can sense that vibe coming from them,” Raymond Domenech, France coach.Voice of the fans“All Mexico need to do is start taking the chances they create and score goals, which are what win games. But I really liked how El Tri played in the first game. I think that we played well and stayed faithful to our style of play, with quick touches and good possession of the ball,” Rafael161319, FIFA.com user.The questionFrance’s goalless opener was the third time they started a major finals in this fashion under boss Domenech. At Germany 2006 they recovered to go all the way to the Final, while at UEFA EURO 2008 they fell at the first hurdle. Which path will they follow at South Africa 2010?
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