FIFA World Cup 2010: Group A and B Analysis

WOW.....what a day of football it has been! With 2 matches being played simultaneously, I found myself constantly switching back and forth between espn and starsports in futile attempts to not miss any of the action. And adding to my misery, there were three cricket matches being played across the world and ofcourse the Wimbledon didnt help my cause either. But football was priority ofcourse, so I kept tabs on the other sports online while juggling between the two matches. The amazing part was, in-spite of the constant channel changing, I did not miss a single goal. Someone up there was kind enough on me today. 

The final round of matches of the group stages kicked off today. All the teams from Group A & B were in action and each of them knew what to do to qualify for the next round, apart from Argentina, who had qualified beforehand. Now, lets see how the final round of matches of Group A and B panned out to be.

GROUP A

MEXICO VS URUGUAY - With both teams on 4 points, this match was more or less for the No. 1 position in the group standings. Uruguay was on top with a goal difference of +3 and Mexico was one behind them.

Knowing that a draw would be enough for both of them, many predicted both the team would play for one, but the match was quite an open one. Both teams were trying to score instead of playing for a dull draw, which was good to see. Guardado nearly scored the goal of the tournament but was denied by the bar.

Suarez scored for Uruguay off a wonderful cross from Cavani. That was the only goal of the match. Both sides, especially Mexico in the second half, had many other chances to score. Uruguay's defensive fort didn't crumble and the win meant they would top the group with Mexico taking second place.

FRANCE VS SOUTH AFRICA - The French camp was in all sorts of disarray before the start of this game. Their captain Patrice Evra being stripped of his captaincy. Their coach labelled the entire side as stupid in press conference. So you would think things couldnt be worse for them.

Sadly, it was.

They took on the host, South Africa in their final match and they needed a win atleast to have any hopes of qualifying to the 2nd round. They didn't start bad, considering they made six changes. South Africa needed a win with as many goals as possible.

With the entire nation behind them, they opened the scoring through Khumalo, who headed in from a corner. To make matters worse for the French, Yoann Gourcuff was sent off after he elbowed Tshabalala while trying to head a ball. The challenge didn't look malicious, but the referee saw it differently.

After that, South Africa took the game to France and got their second goal before the end of the 1st half. They continued pressing the attack in the second half, coming close on several occasions.

South Africans seemed to have a glimmer of hope but France killed it when they pulled one back through Malouda. The game ended 2-1 and Mexico edged out South Africa with a superior goal difference.

GROUP B

ARGENTINA VS GREECE - Argentina who were already on top of the group with two wins and a goal difference of +4, decided to rest seven of its starting 11 players from the previous match.

Even with the sitdowns, the likes of Messi, Di Milito and Aguero up front and Bolatti, Rodriguez and Veron in the midfield, made Argentina the clear favourites to win and top the group with 9 points.

Greece needed a draw at the least to have any hopes of going through to the next round, so they started of with a very defensive line-up playing 3 centre backs and 2 defensive midfielders.

Argentina dominated from the word go and had most of the possession. The Greeks kept  absorbing wave after wave of Argentina's attacks. The Greek goalie Tzorvas pulled out some spectacular saves and with almost nine Greek players defending at times, Argentina couldnt find their way through.

Greece also had a few chances on the counter, but Samaras couldnt convert them into goals.

Argentina kept their composure and finally Demichelis broke the deadlock with a close range volley. Messi came close on many occasion but was denied by the post once and the heroic efforts of Tzorvas.

Martin Palermo scored the second Argentine goal and that goal sealed the deal for Argentina.

SOUTH KOREA VS NIGERIA - This was by far the most entertaining match of the day. Nigeria needed a win to go through and a draw would have seen South Korea through, a feat they haven't achieved baring the 2002 World Cup.

Nigeria drew the first blood when Uche scored in the 10th minute. Korea then had a spell of good possession but were not able to make enough chances, the only chance falling to Lee Chung-Yong, who dragged the ball wide. They managed to score the equaliser from a set-piece. Lee Jung-Soo tapped in from the far post from a Ki-Sung Yueng free kick.

Then, Korea took the lead at the start of the second half, when Park Chu-Young scored the first direct free kick of the world cup. The Nigerians then lifted their tempo and got a penalty in the 66th minute. Yakubu, who had made a shocking miss just moments ago stepped up and converted the penalty and made it 2-2.

Nigeria got a few more chances with Obinna send one of them wide with just the keeper to beat. It ended in a 2-2 draw and that meant South Korea would join Argentina from Group B in the next round.

Argentina will face Mexico in a rematch from 2006 and South Korea will face Uruguay in the round of 16.

MOMENT OF THE DAY - The moment of the day had to be the miss by Yakubu. It was arguably on the worst misses in the history of football. In the 66th minute Ayila passed the ball to Yakubu, who was in the centre of the goal in the 6 yard area complete unmarked.

He had the entire goal at his mercy with the keeper and defenders not even in the picture but I dont know why, he tried to place it in the right corner and managed to shoot it wide.

PLAYER OF THE DAY - We saw some great performance from Messi, Tzorvas, Forlan...but the player of the for me was Park Chu-Young. Playing as a lone striker and that to against a physically superior defence is always tough but Young troubled the Nigerians constantly.

He won a free kick and scored to give the Koreans a lead. He also made numerous chances for another goal and nearly scored again, but his effort was saved by Enyeama.