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  • Date:22 Jun 2010
  • Kick-off:19:30
  • Venue:Peter Mokaba Stadium
  • Attendance:38,891
Goal!

Live Commentary

The referee brings the game to a close.

91mins

Georgios Samaras takes a shot. Save by Sergio Romero.

91mins

Martin Palermo is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Alexandros Tzorvas.

90mins

Shot by Georgios Samaras from just outside the area goes over the net.

90mins

Socratis Papastathopoulos takes a shot. Save by Sergio Romero.

88mins

Leo Messi takes a shot. Save by Alexandros Tzorvas. Martin Palermo scores a goal from inside the box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Greece 0-2 Argentina.Assist by Leo Messi.

87mins

Leo Messi fouled by Sotirios Kyrgiakos, the ref awards a free kick. Nicolas Otamendi restarts play with the free kick.

85mins

Effort from inside the area by Martin Palermo strikes the post.

83mins

Effort from deep inside the area by Martin Palermo misses to the left of the goal.

80mins

Corner taken short by Leo Messi.

79mins

Martin Palermo is brought on as a substitute for Diego Milito.

76mins

Outswinging corner taken by Leo Messi, Martin Demichelis takes a shot. Diego Milito gets a block in. Martin Demichelis finds the back of the net with a goal from close in high into the middle of the goal. Greece 0-1 Argentina.

75mins

Socratis Papastathopoulos fouled by Mario Bolatti, the ref awards a free kick. Mario Bolatti receives a yellow card. Javier Pastore replaces Sergio Aguero. Sotirios Kyrgiakos takes the free kick.

74mins

Leo Messi decides to take a short corner.

74mins

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Leo Messi played to the near post, clearance made by Avraam Papadopoulos.

71mins

The offside flag is raised against Diego Milito. Alexandros Tzorvas restarts play with the free kick.

68mins

Corner taken by Juan Veron, Mario Bolatti takes a shot. Save by Alexandros Tzorvas.

67mins

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Diego Milito by Sotirios Kyrgiakos. Leo Messi shoots direct from the free kick, save by Alexandros Tzorvas.

62mins

Angel Di Maria comes on in place of Rodriguez Maxi.

62mins

Leo Messi takes a shot. Blocked by Avraam Papadopoulos.

61mins

Rodriguez Maxi takes a shot. Sotirios Kyrgiakos gets a block in.

60mins

Nikos Spyropoulos fouled by Mario Bolatti, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Loukas Vyntra.

59mins

Effort from the edge of the box by Georgios Samaras goes wide of the right-hand upright.

59mins

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Georgios Samaras by Sergio Aguero. Loukas Vyntra takes the free kick.

57mins

Shot from just outside the box by Christos Patsatzoglou misses to the left of the target.

56mins

Clemente Rodriguez takes a shot. Save by Alexandros Tzorvas.

54mins

Christos Patsatzoglou comes on in place of Vassilis Torosidis.

53mins

Sotiris Ninis is brought on as a substitute for Kostas Katsouranis.

52mins

The ball is crossed by Leo Messi.

47mins

Georgios Samaras has an effort at goal from close range which goes wide right of the target.

The referee gets the second half underway.

45mins

Nikos Spyropoulos joins the action as a substitute, replacing Giorgos Karagounis.

The ref blows to signal half-time.

45mins

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Juan Veron.

45mins

Leo Messi takes a shot. Alexandros Tzorvas makes a save.

45mins

The ball is swung over by Clemente Rodriguez, Rodriguez Maxi takes a shot. Save by Alexandros Tzorvas.

42mins

Kostas Katsouranis produces a cross, save by Sergio Romero.

41mins

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kostas Katsouranis by Clemente Rodriguez. Giorgos Karagounis crosses the ball in from the free kick, save by Sergio Romero.

41mins

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kostas Katsouranis by Juan Veron. Free kick taken by Loukas Vyntra.

37mins

Rodriguez Maxi sends in a cross, clearance made by Avraam Papadopoulos.

37mins

Rodriguez Maxi crosses the ball, Alexandros Tzorvas makes a save.

37mins

Unfair challenge on Juan Veron by Alexis Tziolis results in a free kick. Leo Messi takes the free kick.

34mins

Inswinging corner taken by Rodriguez Maxi.

34mins

The ball is crossed by Clemente Rodriguez, clearance by Vassilis Torosidis.

33mins

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Diego Milito by Avraam Papadopoulos. Nicolas Otamendi takes the free kick.

32mins

Outswinging corner taken by Leo Messi from the left by-line.

31mins

Diego Milito produces a cross, Sergio Aguero takes a shot. Loukas Vyntra gets a block in.

30mins

Juan Veron takes a shot.

29mins

Kostas Katsouranis challenges Sergio Aguero unfairly and gives away a free kick. Caution for Kostas Katsouranis. Leo Messi takes the free kick.

25mins

A cross is delivered by Clemente Rodriguez.

23mins

Mario Bolatti produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty area which goes wide of the left-hand post.

22mins

Foul by Socratis Papastathopoulos on Leo Messi, free kick awarded. Juan Veron takes the direct free kick.

19mins

Foul by Avraam Papadopoulos on Sergio Aguero, free kick awarded. Mario Bolatti restarts play with the free kick.

18mins

Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Leo Messi, Loukas Vyntra makes a clearance.

18mins

Juan Veron takes a shot. Save made by Alexandros Tzorvas.

17mins

Outswinging corner taken by Leo Messi.

17mins

Sergio Aguero takes a shot. Alexandros Tzorvas makes a save.

15mins

Georgios Samaras challenges Martin Demichelis unfairly and gives away a free kick. Martin Demichelis takes the direct free kick.

13mins

Corner taken by Giorgos Karagounis from the left by-line, clearance by Nicolas Otamendi.

11mins

Clemente Rodriguez takes a shot. Avraam Papadopoulos gets a block in.

10mins

Socratis Papastathopoulos gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Leo Messi. Leo Messi takes the direct free kick.

9mins

Nicolas Otamendi concedes a free kick for a foul on Socratis Papastathopoulos. Kostas Katsouranis takes the free kick.

6mins

Juan Veron concedes a free kick for a foul on Giorgos Karagounis. Direct free kick taken by Alexandros Tzorvas.

1mins

Foul by Alexis Tziolis on Juan Veron, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Juan Veron.

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Leo Messi by Sotirios Kyrgiakos. Nicolas Burdisso takes the free kick.

The game kicks-off.

Match Preview

Rehhagel: Argentina not just about Messi Greece coach Otto Rehhagel has a plan to contain Lionel Messi in the final Group B encounter but admits Argentina have plenty of other threats which need taking care of. World player of the year Messi is the stand-out player in a squad of immense talent and Rehhagel believes just to focus on the Barcelona star would leave them open to failings elsewhere. Having secured the first World Cup win in their history last time out against Nigeria, Greece have a chance of qualifying for the second round if they can better South Korea's result against the point-less Nigeria. "I am aware we are playing against Messi, the best player in the world," said Rehhagel. "I am not going to tell you how we are going to stop Messi because we don't give secrets away. "But wherever he turns up we will try to attack him - but no team has been able to stop him yet. "For the game Carlos Tevez will not play and Diego Milito will take his place but it makes no difference because Argentina have a lot of world-class players." However, Konstantinos Katsouranis, celebrating his 31st birthday, gave an indication of what the plan was. "One player cannot stop Messi but a team as a whole, yes, we can limit him and that is what we are going to do." Rehhagel admits his team's chances against the South Americans are slim but, considering some of the shock results so far at this World Cup, the veteran German has not given up hope. "Every player has to play 110% and the game starts at 0-0," he added. "We have a chance and at the end I hope we don't say we have missed an opportunity. "We will try to find the right way to hold our own in the individual positions to provide resistance. "We will just see how we are going to stand up against the Argentinians. "It is a big game for us because Argentina have world-class players but we have nothing to lose and everything to gain." Argentina coach Diego Maradona has dismissed suggestions he might rest Messi, insisting it would be a "sin" to deprive the public of seeing the best player on the planet. Prior to the start of the World Cup there had been concerns about Messi`s state of health following a gruelling season with Barcelona and the 22-year-old then played the full 90 minutes in Argentina`s opening two matches against Nigeria and South Korea. With Argentina having won both those games to establish a three-point lead at the top of Group B heading into the final round of fixtures, it might have crossed Maradona`s mind to give Messi a break for the clash with Greece. That prospect seemed even more likely as Maradona tested a radically different team in training to the one that beat South Korea 4-1, with Messi one of those not involved. However, Maradona insisted the reigning FIFA World Player of the Year would feature in the match in Polokwane. "Lionel Messi always wants to play and I thought I should give him a break (in training) but if you have a player as good as Leo, who is the best player in the world, I think it would be a sin not to give Messi to the people, to the team, and leave out the player who can certainly make the difference in a match," said Maradona, whose side are not yet guaranteed a place in the last 16 as three teams can still finish on six points in Group B. "We of course wanted to give Lionel Messi a break (in training). He will play." Maradona also played down Messi`s lack of success in front of goal. The Barca ace had plenty of chances to score against Nigeria and South Korea but could not make the most of them, with great goalkeeping denying him on a number of occasions. "If Messi is having a bad run then let him continue with that bad run because I'm extremely pleased with Messi`s performances," said Maradona. "He goes out to play and help his team-mates. Leo helps define the match and creates things for the other players."

Formation:451Manager: Otto Rehhagel

Greece

Formation: 433Manager: Diego Maradona

Argentina

  • Alexandros Tzorvas
  • Sotirios Kyrgiakos
  • Loukas Vyntra
  • Avraam Papadopoulos
  • Vassilis Torosidis
  • Alexis Tziolis
  • Socratis Papastathopoulos
  • Evangelos Moras
  • Giorgos Karagounis
  • Kostas Katsouranis
  • Georgios Samaras
  • SUBS
  • Kostas Chalkias
  • Giorgos Seitaridis
  • Christos Patsatzoglou
  • Nikos Spyropoulos
  • Angelos Charisteas
  • Dimitris Salpingidis
  • Theofanis Gekas
  • Sotiris Ninis
  • Pantelis Kapetanos
  • Stilianos Malezas
  • Michail Sifakis

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Match Report

Argentina advance with 100% record Defender Martin Demichelis and substitute Martin Palermo succeeded where Argentina's multi-talented strikeforce had failed as they scored the goals to break Greece's resilience in a 2-0 win and end their World Cup hopes at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane. Bayern Munich centre-back Demichelis fired home from close range in the 77th minute after his header from Lionel Messi's corner bounced back off team-mate Diego Milito. Boca Juniors striker Palermo tapped in the rebound from Lionel Messi's shot to complete the victory a minute from time. It sent Argentina into the knockout phase to face Mexico full of confidence on the back of three successive wins as Greece's best defensive efforts ultimately proved to be in vain. South Korea's 2-2 draw with Nigeria put them through as Group B runners-up. For long periods Diego Maradona's side were frustrated by Greece, for whom defending is what they do best - having used the tactic to become surprise European champions in 2004. However, what Otto Rehhagel's side desperately needed more than anything was a goal and despite the unstinting efforts of Celtic striker Georgios Samaras - who at times appeared to be the one in a 10-1 formation - they just did not threaten enough. Argentina, by contrast, did not really need to exert themselves as they were virtually guaranteed to progress as group winners before the match kicked off. Messi captained the side after Maradona made seven changes from victory over South Korea but found himself closely marked throughout. He had one early trademark run towards the penalty area which was halted by Sokratis Papastathopoulos but otherwise was effectively shackled throughout. Sergio Aguero's first sight of goal saw the busy Alexandros Tzorvas palm his shot away for a corner in the 18th minute and the goalkeeper then immediately had to tip over Juan Sebastian Veron's 30-yard strike. Tzorvas almost undid all Greece's hard work when he spilled Diego Milito's low cross into the path of Aguero but Loukas Vyntra charged down his shot at the far post. But he redeemed himself in first-half added time when he saved from Liverpool midfielder Maxi Rodriguez and Messi in quick succession. Three minutes into the second half Greece almost snatched the lead when Samaras beat Demichelis to another long ball out of defence and raced into the penalty area but drove wide of far post with his left foot - Greece's first shot of the match. But injuries were not kind to Rehhagel's side as they lost Georgios Karagounis, Konstantinos Katsouranis and Vasileios Torosidis all within 10 minutes of the restart. Argentina pressed on regardless with Milito inches from heading in a cross from left-back Clemente Rodriguez, who himself hit a dipping shot just wide. In the 68th minute Messi's long-range free-kick brought another save out of Tzorvas and from the resulting corner the ball dropped to defensive midfielder Mario Bolatti but he shot straight at the goalkeeper from six yards. It was 24 years to the day since Maradona scored his infamous Hand of God goal against England in the quarter-finals of 1986 Mexico World Cup - Argentina's last triumph at this tournament - and the frustrated players might have felt like indulging in similar skulduggery themselves. But Demichelis saved anyone the embarrassment by drilling into the roof of the net with 13 minutes to go. Things opened up after that and Messi smashed a left-footed shot off the post having weaved his way into the penalty area. His next effort was more productive as Tzorvas parried his strike into the path of the 36-year-old Palermo who took full advantage.

possession


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