And on to the second group, featuring Greece, South Korea, Nigeria and Argentina. A solid group filled with the potential for shocks, goals and the great unknown.
The
disappointment looked liked it might come from South America. With the craziest coach in the land who had led them through a sticky qualification by utilising a shedload of players and taking a hammering in Bolivia only brave could have backed Maradona to repeat his playing success on the sidelines, even with an amazing Messi dictating play. Nigeria have a population of 150 million but have yet to translate those numbers into footballing success, barring a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics. Legends like Jay-Jay Okacha had fallen when the going got tough in previous tournaments, perhaps players like the mighty Martins might lift the Super Eagles up where they belong. This was a group where anyone might sneak points from anyone but only with plenty of grunting.
Unfortunately Nigeria again failed to live up to promise. So much so that President Goodluck Jonathan threatened to withdraw them from international competition for two years to sort their heads out. Lars Lagerback had obviously instilled some organisation in the defence and the attack still threatened but individual mistakes cost, and the World Cup is where they started paying. In goal Enyeama pulled off some special saves that earned him a man of the match award against Greece but it was a howler against Greece that added evidence to the Jabulauni inquest. Whilst cruising against the insipid Grecians a split second of madness from Kaita also helped snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. And after fighting back against the South Koreans Yakubu missed a chance Wayne Rooney would've scored that cost them dear in the final reckoning.
Fortunately the exciting Argentina turned up and played some of the best football of the group stages. They scored goals, survived aggressive marking tactics and allowed a cheeky bearded chappy to gesticulate wildly on the bench. Veron made Sir Alex look an idiot but then Messi just wasn't quite there,despite a flash or two he was either hustled out, too tired or not really that good. But then everybody else had done plenty so there would be a chance to for the young man to try again against a fragile Mexico defence in the last 16.
It turned out to be a fight between two of the noughties most unexpected success stories for second place. In a win for hard graft over hard tackles the Koreans edged it by a point, mainly thanks to their only convincing display, a opening 2-0 victory and the Greeks failing to grind out a point in their final game. Frankly neither were overly convincing, second spot was the Nigerians for the taking and it was another case of quite near and still so far for an African team.
Interesting Jo,
ReplyDeleteYou seem to have done a dis service to one or two however.
Firstly, Messi, although admittedly without a goal to his name, was amazing at times and really dictated the way that Argentina attacked. Some slick moves and genius play - A bit more luck and he would have been up there.
South Korea - Far more than just a hard working outfit. They tore Greece apart in the first game with excellent attacking skill and passing. A Greece side that usually know how to defend no less.
They kept Argentina at bay for a deal of the second game and should have made it 2-2 with an excellent attack.Capitualated a bit at the end which makes the scoreline look worse than it was and made Higuain look a better player than he is!
Final game, they felt the pressure and could have lost - but still attacked well and it was a really open game.
Which brings me on to Nigeria - near, yet far? the team finished with 1 point. They tried to kill the game against Argentina and were punished. They were outplayed by Greece of all teams and then when they did have one chance the fluffed it. Unlucky - pah!
Stop listening to the expertise of FIFA spokeman Alan Shearer, I beg of you! Pay attention to your heart Mr. Bourne. Messi sparked ocassionally but wasn't the best player in the Argentina midfield, let alone the world. He tired and shackled, I remember none of this genius you refer to.
ReplyDeleteFair play on South Korea, they did attack well against the Greeks, the result of their excellent team ethic. Came unstuck defensively against Argentina and then were lucky against Nigeria.
But your critique of Nigeria is surely unfair. What else could they do but try and kill the game against Argentina? They still created a few chances and this was a game that gave us a spectacular goalkeeping display. They were only outplayed by Greece in the second half when reduced to ten men and even then were unlucky to lose. Then against South Korea, a stirring fightback with a dramatic finale other teams could only dream of. But for two specific individual errors could have finished with 6 points and second place.
Hats off to Lars Lagerback!