World Cup 2010 Day 12 Group B Review

Group B
Predictions
1 Argentina 9
2 Greece 4
3 South Korea 4
4 Nigeria 0

Actual
1 Argentina 9
2 South Korea 4
3 Greece 3
4 Nigeria 1

I missed the last match day due to work commitments, so my insights will be even less informed than usual.

Argentina did well. Messi still has not scored, so he will need to come through in the knockout stage. They should handle Mexico. My worry comes further along in the knockout phase. Can they take their chances? They have squandered a ton of goals, and, if they go down early, I could see them crashing out. The defense has done enough but will have to shut down better attacks as they progress.

Greece were started slowly, and then settled into Euro 2004 mode. Nigeria handed them the second game, and then they were overmatched by group winners Argentina. Glad to see the back of them.

It could be argued that Nigeria were disappointing, but let’s face it, they just aren’t that good. Argentina could have hammered them by 3, 4 or 5; they hung in against Greece with 10 men and then gave up the game on a mistake by Enyeam, who did quite well in the group stage. They scored early against South Korea to give themselves a chance of progressing, but let it slip away. Still waiting for them to deliver.

South Korea took the Asian flag and ran with it. They got the vital three points against Greece before being humbled by Argentina, a game that turned on a couple of key moments in the second half. The South Koreans responded well and earned a point against the Nigerians to progress to the second round.