Tuesday June 22, 2010 Group Stage: Group B Finished Peter Mokaba Stadium

Greece 0 - 2 Argentina

  • Demichelis 77’
  • Palermo 89’

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  1. Argentina send Greece home

    Argentina send Greece home

    Argentina sealed top spot in Group B and sent Greece crashing out of the World Cup with a 2-0 victory at the Peter Mokaba Stadium. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Greece
    • Argentina
    • 90+3' FULL-TIME!! Argentina seal top spot in Group B and send Greece crashing out of the World Cup with a 2-0 victory at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane. They will play Mexico on Sunday evening.
    • 90+2' Now Samaras hits the target but easy for Romero.
    • 90+1' It's like buses Papastathopoulos's drive pushed away by Romero.
    • 90' Finally Greece have a shot on target as Ninis' effort is saved by Romero.
    • 89' Maradona was just as happy as Palermo with that goal.
    • 88' GOAL ARGENTINA!! Messi skips past two and although his first shot is saved by Tsorvas, 36-year-old Palermo is on hand to sidefoot home the rebound.
    • 87' Messi feeds Pastore but the return ball is blocked.
    • 86' That's the real Messi as he dances past two players before unleashing a shot that comes back off the inside of the post. So unlucky!
    • 85' Palermo's follow-up shot on the turn is wide.
    • 84' Great last ditch tackle by Spyropoulos to stop Messi just as he was about to pull the trigger.
    • 83' Greece have not had a single shot on target - few neutrals will be sad to see them exit the tournament.
    • 82' Argentina win their ninth corner but nothing prevails.
    • 81' Palermo has an uncanny knack of finding the right positions in the box. Stands out for the unusual goals he has scored and one key strike for Argentina in pouring rain against Peru in the qualifiers when Maradona asked for and got a miracle from the man who missed three penalties in one match at the 1999 Copa America but has scored eight in only 14 internationals. He spent 10 years overlooked by his country between 1999 and last year.
    • 80' Milito is replaced by the sixth of Argentina's strikers, Martin Palermo.
    • 79' Just a second international goal for the Bayern Munich defender, winning his 28th cap.
    • 78' GOAL ARGENTINA!! Finally the breakthrough as Demichelis smashes the ball into the roof of the net. The defender rises highest at a corner, his first header hits Milito on the back but he smashes the rebound past Tzorvas.
    • 77' Aguero replaced by Javier Pastore.
    • 76' Bolatti booked for obstructing Papastathopoulos.
    • 75' Messi is top scorer in Argentina’s squad with 13 international goals. However, he has only found the net once in the last 11 international matches he has played.
    • 74' Messi is unable to produce that special delivery he is capable of.
    • 73' Milito's first touch is heavy but Moras and Tzorvas have a real mix-up and the clearance from the keeper strikes the defender and goes behind for a corner.
    • 72' Argentina still with nearly 70% of the possession.
    • 71' If word has got through to the Greek bench it has not resulted in any tactical changes.
    • 70' Nigeria have equalised so Greece now need just to score to progress. Follow all the action from Durban
    • 69' A great save from Tzorvas at the near post as Demichelis flicks on Messi's corner and Bolatti makes superb contact with a crisp half-volley at the back post.
    • 68' Messi tries his luck from 35 yards and Tzorvas is forced to push the free-kick behind.
    • 67' This is the sort of anti-football that became Greece's trademark in Euro 2004.
    • 66' That was just as much a penalty as the one New Zealand conceded.
    • 65' Kyrgiakos has a handful of Milito's shirt and the Argentine goes down but no penalty.
    • 64' Maciver_James: "Maradona should bring himself on to break down Greece. It is not going to happen otherwise."
    • 63' Argentina bring on Angel De Maria for Maxi Rodriguez.
    • 62' Maxi Rodriguez unleashes a long range shot but it hits Moras on the back.
    • 61' Argentina are destined to top the group regardless of the outcome but Carlos Tevez is warming up.
    • 60' Greece have 30 minutes to score twice and stay in the tournament but are barely throwing anyone forward to support Samaras.
    • 59' Samaras does well to carve out a shooting opportunity as he holds off Demichelis but his shot is wayward.
    • 58' Argentina have scored five goals in the group phas. In 2006, they scored a team record eight goals in the group phase.
    • 57' Good try from the bright Clemente Rodriguez but his 20-yard effort whistles wide.
    • 56' The cross from Clemente Rodriguez is a whisker away from the head of Milito.
    • 55' Greece make their final change as Torosidis limps off and on comes Christos Patsatzoglou.
    • 54' Messi gets to the by-line but his pull back for Milito is too high.
    • 53' Ninis is arguably the most gifted player of his generation, vision, speed and skill will turn this youngster into a transfer target for major European clubs.
    • 52' Sotiris Ninis is the man to come on.
    • 51' Katsouranis has tweaked a hamstring and his evening is over.
    • 50' Torosidis charges forward but loses out on the edge of the penalty area.
    • 49' Korea have taken the lead which means Greece surely must now come out and attack. Follow all the action from Durban
    • 48' Greece's first chance and a golden one at that. Samaras pulls off Demichelis and sees his first shot blocked by Nicolas Burdisso but it comes back to the Celtic frontman who pulls his second effort marginally past the far post.
    • 47' So with Greece needing a goal, Otto Rehhagel as brought on a left-back for their playmaker.
    • 46' A change at the break as Nikos Spyropoulos replaces Karagounis.
    • 45+2' HALF-TIME! Argentina have not found a way through the Greek defence but as it stands they need a goal or a Nigerian goal to progress in this tournament.
    • 45+1' Tzorvas now called into action to tip Messi's curler over the crossbar.
    • 45' Clemente Rodriguez picks out Maxi Rodriguez in the penalty area but his shot is repelled by Tzorvas.
    • 44' Messi appeals for a free-kick after being blocked off by Papadopoulos but no free-kick.
    • 43' That is the first time Romero has been called into action.
    • 42' Karagounis swings over a free-kick from the right which Sergio Romero punches clear.
    • 41' Karagounis is trying to referee this game as is his won't and it is becoming increasingly fractious.
    • 40' Katsouranis needs treatment after an elbow in the back from Veron.
    • 39' Korea have equalised against Nigeria which means if things remain the same at both grounds then the Asian team will go through. Follow all the action from Durban
    • 38' Tzorvas punches Otamendi's cross from the right to safety.
    • 37' Avraam Papadopoulos has his mouth stuffed full of cotton wool after picking up a knock to the face.
    • 36' Aguero flicks on the corner at the near post but it eludes the posse of Argentine players stood behind him.
    • 35' Veron and Clemente Rodriguez combine and the full-back stands up a cross at the back post which Vassilis Torosidis puts behind for a corner.
    • 34' Again a long ball to Samaras poses danger but Demichelis comes around quickly on the cover to clear.
    • 33' Tzorvas fumbles a cross from the right but Aguero's goalbound shot is blocked by Loukas Vyntra.
    • 32' Veron's free-kick is straight into the wall.
    • 31' Katsouranis booked for a cynical tug on Aguero.
    • 30' Giorgos Karagounis almost picks out Samaras with a delightful long ball.
    • 29' Their longest winning run is nine matches, set between January 1941 and January 1942.
    • 28' Argentina are looking to win their eighth match in a row in all competitions, equalling their second best run set in 1946-1947 and in 1998.
    • 27' Argentina have had 70% of the possession so far.
    • 26' A cross from the left-back Clemente Rodriguez is chested down by Veron in the penalty area but Greece are able to clear.
    • 25' Their last clean sheet came on November 18 in Ukraine.
    • 24' Greece have failed to keep a clean sheet in all five matches they have played in 2010.
    • 23' Veron drives a cross in from the right but Mario Bolatti is unable to hit the target with a cheeky flick.
    • 22' A second foul by Papastathopoulos on Messi and he is lucky to escape a booking.
    • 21' Veron is running proceedings but Diego Milito's flick aimed at Messi goes astray.
    • 20' Katsouranis' low centre into the penalty box is cleared by Demichelis.
    • 19' What a strike by Veron from 30 yards and Tzorvas is forced to tip over.
    • 18' Lovely run by Sergio Aguero who turns at pace and skips past three defenders before his shot from the left side of the penalty area is turned behind by Alexandros Tzorvas.
    • 17' Juan Sebastian Veron feeds Otamendi down the right who cuts inside but his cross is cut out by Vangelis Moras.
    • 16' A nasty collision between Demichelis and Samaras and both players are slow to get up.
    • 15' Greece win the first corner of the match but cleared at the near post.
    • 14' Great tackle by Martin Demichelis in the penalty area to end Samaras' run.
    • 13' Nigeria have scored which means as things stand Greece will go through but there is a long way to go. Follow all the action from Durban
    • 12' Played short to Maxi Rodriguez whose shot is charged down.
    • 11' This time Messi is fouled by his shadow Papastathopoulos and Argentina can put the ball into the penalty area.
    • 10' No attempts on goal in the opening 10 minutes.
    • 9' Messi and Maxi Rodriguez combine neatly but Papastathopoulos makes an excellent tackle on the edge of the penalty area to deny "The Flea".
    • 8' Argentina have reached the knockout phase in seven of the last eight World Cups.
    • 7' Otamendi will look to impress at right-back with the man he has replaced, Jonas Gutierrez, not a natural defender.
    • 6' Nicolas Otamendi looks for Sergio Aguero with a long ball but Sotiris Kyrgiakos stabs clear.
    • 5' The South Americans dominating possession without really going anywhere near the final third.
    • 4' Argentina in unfamiliar all-blue tonight.
    • 3' Socratis Papastathopoulos is following Messi everywhere.
    • 2' Giorgos Samaras is very much on his own up front. Kostas Katsouranis will look to support him.
    • 1' And we are underway!
    • 19:25 A great atmosphere and it is a lovely night in Polokwane.
    • 19:20 Mascherano and Gabriel Heinze will be suspended if booked so that is why they are on the bench. Vassilis Torosidis, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Alexandros Tziolis and Georgios Samaras are in the same situation. Ravshan Irmatov of Uzbekistan is today's referee.
    • 19:15 Maradona scored the third goal in that match. It marked his eighth and last World Cup goal and his 34th and last international goal.
    • 19:10 The two sides have played one match against each other. On 21 June 1994, Argentina beat Greece 4-0 in the group phase of the World Cup. That was Greece’s first ever World Cup match.
    • 19:05 South Korea look best placed of the other three teams. All they have to do against Nigeria, apart from not losing, is match whatever Greece do against Argentina. Conversely, Greece must do better than South Korea to advance. And even Nigeria are not out of it despite having no points. If they beat the Koreans and Greece lose to Argentina, they will reach the last 16.
    • 19:00 Argentina are as good as through. They would have to lose by three goals to Greece and even then South Korea would need to beat Nigeria by three goals to be sure of denying them.
    • 18:55 Greece coach Otto Rehhagel makes two changes, bringing back Giorgos Samaras into the attack in place of Fanis Gekas and introducing defender Vangelis Moras in a tactical shift with Dimitris Salpingidis dropped to the bench.
    • 18:50 The only players retained from Argentina's first two matches are goalkeeper Sergio Romero, central defender Martin Demichelis and Messi while Maxi Rodriguez also remains from the South Korea game.
    • 18:45 Coach Diego Maradona, who captained Argentina to World Cup victory aged 25 in 1986, makes seven changes to the side that beat South Korea 4-1 five days ago, resting skipper Javier Mascherano and bringing back midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron from injury.
    • 18:40 Lionel Messi becomes Argentina's youngest World Cup captain as he leads his country for the first time two days before his 23rd birthday.
    • 18:35 Teams - Greece: 12-Alexandros Tzorvas; 11-Loukas Vyntra, 5-Vangelis Moras, 16-Sotiris Kyrgiakos, 15-Vassilis Torosidis, 6-Alexandros Tziolis, 8-Avraam Papadopoulos, 19-Socratis Papastathopoulos 7-Giorgos Samaras, 10-Giorgos Karagounis, 21-Kostas Katsouranis. /// Argentina: 22-Sergio Romero; 2-Martin Demichelis, 3-Clemente Rodriguez, 4-Nicolas Burdisso, 5-Mario Bolatti, 8-Juan Sebastian Veron, 20-Maxi Rodriguez, 15-Nicolas Otamendi, 10-Lionel Messi, 16-Sergio Aguero, 19-Diego Milito.
    • 18:30 Welcome to our coverage of the World Cup Group B match between Greece and Argentina at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.

  • Summary

    • 88' GOAL ARGENTINA!! Messi skips past two and although his first shot is saved by Tsorvas, 36-year-old Palermo is on hand to sidefoot home the rebound.
    • 86' That's the real Messi as he dances past two players before unleashing a shot that comes back off the inside of the post. So unlucky!
    • 78' GOAL ARGENTINA!! Finally the breakthrough as Demichelis smashes the ball into the roof of the net. The defender rises highest at a corner, his first header hits Milito on the back but he smashes the rebound past Tzorvas.
    • 69' A great save from Tzorvas at the near post as Demichelis flicks on Messi's corner and Bolatti makes superb contact with a crisp half-volley at the back post.
    • 68' Messi tries his luck from 35 yards and Tzorvas is forced to push the free-kick behind.
    • 48' Greece's first chance and a golden one at that. Samaras pulls off Demichelis and sees his first shot blocked by Nicolas Burdisso but it comes back to the Celtic frontman who pulls his second effort marginally past the far post.
    • 45+1' Tzorvas now called into action to tip Messi's curler over the crossbar.
    • 45' Clemente Rodriguez picks out Maxi Rodriguez in the penalty area but his shot is repelled by Tzorvas.
    • 33' Tzorvas fumbles a cross from the right but Aguero's goalbound shot is blocked by Loukas Vyntra.
    • 19' What a strike by Veron from 30 yards and Tzorvas is forced to tip over.
    • 18' Lovely run by Sergio Aguero who turns at pace and skips past three defenders before his shot from the left side of the penalty area is turned behind by Alexandros Tzorvas.
    • 18:35 Teams - Greece: 12-Alexandros Tzorvas; 11-Loukas Vyntra, 5-Vangelis Moras, 16-Sotiris Kyrgiakos, 15-Vassilis Torosidis, 6-Alexandros Tziolis, 8-Avraam Papadopoulos, 19-Socratis Papastathopoulos 7-Giorgos Samaras, 10-Giorgos Karagounis, 21-Kostas Katsouranis. /// Argentina: 22-Sergio Romero; 2-Martin Demichelis, 3-Clemente Rodriguez, 4-Nicolas Burdisso, 5-Mario Bolatti, 8-Juan Sebastian Veron, 20-Maxi Rodriguez, 15-Nicolas Otamendi, 10-Lionel Messi, 16-Sergio Aguero, 19-Diego Milito.

Team Line-up & Ratings

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      Goalkeeper
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      Defenders
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      Substitution Out55′ - -
      Midfielders
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      Substitution Out45′ - -
      Yellow Card Substitution Out54′ - -
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      Substitution In55′ - -
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      Substitution Out63′ - -
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      Substitution Out77′ - -
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      Subs
      Substitution In80′ Goal 1 -
      Substitution In77′ - -
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