Source: FOOTYMAD
Thats More Like It - Little Boy Blue's World Cup Diary
June 17: Day Seven Uruguay's ruthless demolition of South Africa suggested the second phase of group matches might light up this World Cup. Argentina certainly didn't mess around too much against South Korea, only a moment of madness got Greece out of jail in an afternoon of high drama in Bloemfontein and France and Mexico served up an excellent game which has left the French staring down the barrel of an early exit. Predictably, Argentina were too strong for South Korea and the honour of netting the first hat-trick of the tournament fell to Real Madrid's Gonzalo Higuain, although I doubt if he'll score an easier three goals at any time in his career. A 16th minute OG and a free header from the edge of the six-yard box had Higuain and his mates in easy street. But how might things have panned out if Yeon Ki-Hun hadn't missed a sitter early in the second half? After Argentina had gone 2-0 up, Lee Chung-Yong took advantage of some sloppy defending to peg it back to 2-1 just before the interval and the equaliser was on the cards as Yeon Ki-Hun bore down on Sergio Romero's goal. Inexplicably, he chose to try to beat the keeper at his near post, his shot flashed wide and the Argies just gave a 'feck it' shrug before taking a grip of the game again. A Tam Forsyth distance tap-in after a Messi shot had hit the post and another free header from a few yards out completed Higuain's hat-trick, Argentina have got Group B all but wrapped up and are on course to meet Uruguay or Mexico in Joburg's Soccer City on June 27. It looked like Nigeria were well on their way to getting back into the shake-up in this group when they led Greece with what appeared to be a harmless free-kick from Kalu Uche which contrived to elude everyone on its way into the net. The Greeks were on their way home, of that there can be no doubt, then Sani Kaita had a stupid kick at Torosidis, it was a clear red card and suddenly it was 'game on' time again. Perhaps it offended Otto Rehhagel's sense of fair play to be facing only ten men because he immediately decided to handicap his side by sending on Ha-ha Samaras for Papastathopoulous. They certainly began to see a bit more of the ball but posed little threat in front of goal then, just when the Nigerians thought they would get into the dressing room at half-time with their lead intact, a speculative effort from Dimitris Salpigidis took a deflection off a defender to level the scores. Despite being down to ten men, the Africans made a game of it and, in one action-packed minute early in the second half, they came close to regaining the lead. Keeper Vincent Enyeama made a great save from a close range effort from Theofanis Gekas and in a swift counterattack Yukuba powered in on goal, his shot was saved by Tzorvas and Obasi miskicked the rebound into the side-netting with the goal gaping. What a miss...what a costly miss!!! Vasillas Torosidis won it for Greece in the 71st minute. A 20-yarder from Tziolis was saved by Enyeama but he coldn't hold it - the ball's fault or the keeper's fault? - and Torosidis pounced to score from six yards. By the way, it was good to see Sotirios Kyrgiakos recalled to the Greek team, he has a presence at set pieces but, in my eyes, he still looks like an accident waiting to happen. And the Greeks ain't out of the woods yet. Surely they won't take anything from Argentina next Tuesday and, with Nigeria meeting South Korea, an African win would leave all three teams stuck on three points, their World Cup futures to be decided on goal difference. Any kind of victory should be enough to preserve Nigerian interest. Having seen Uruguay take control of Group A 24 hours earlier, Mexico and France were fighting for survival at Polokwane and, after a fascinating first half, it was the Mexicans who edged it with two second half goals. Man Utd star-to-be Javier Hernandez's opener had a hint of offside about it but he was coolness personified as he jinked around goalkeeper Lloris before scoring and a Cuauhtemoc Blanco penalty wrapped things up in the 79th minute after Abidal had brought down Barrera. If French coach Raymond Domenech wasn't already working his notice he would surely be sacked for his team's miserable performances in South Africa. The writing was on the wall when they lost home and away to Scotland on the way to Euro2008, they were rubbish in that tournament and, with Domenech clearly reluctant to ditch so many of the old guard - although he did leave Henry kicking his heals on the bench - there has been no sign of anything to generate greater hope for the future. This World Cup is, to all intents and purposes, all over for the French. Regardless of how they do against South Africa on Tuesday, a draw between Mexico and Uruguay would be enough to take both teams through. What is the betting on a 0-0 stalemete? Tomorrow: Germany v Serbia, England v Algeria, USA v Slovenia.
