Group B R1: Argentina - Nigeria

[Saraj Fanatico]

Great game. Probably will be the best of the group seeing both of these teams want to open well and they seem to be favorites for the top 2 spots. I think Nigeria will pull the first shock of the World Cup with a 0-1 victory.

[PAO_HELLAS]

I agree that the score isn't going to be big, probably 1-0, but I think Argentina will be the winner.

[Chileno]

I feel this will be another draw...unlike the 0-0 of S.Korea v Greece...this one will have a few goals...maybe 1-1 or 2-2...

But you can never discount Argentina...one run of Messi into the box can mean a 2-1 lead for the Argies...difficult call really...I'll stick to the draw.

[Ronni]

Argentina will need a couple of matches to start performing at their full potential. They're lucky they got such an easy group - even if they'll have to play all their matches at high venues.

I don't expect much from Nigeria this time.
Let's see what they present during the ACN.

A 0-0 or 1-1 wouldn't be any surprise for me.

[MrRossi]

Could be a draw or maybe a low win for Argentina.

[zampao]

I feel that this game will end in a draw with many goals like 2-2.

[HAYRIN86]

ARGENTINA win this time

[pierremed]

I think Nigeria will shock everyone and beat Argentina, Maradona has not got a clue on how to make this team great.

[IsaGs]

2-1 but agree Nigeria can shock everyone..
every time in the World Cup.. is usually an African team to surprise everyone..
maybe it will be Nigeria ..

[Salt The Fries]

The Black Mambas can give Argies run for their money.

[IsaGs]

hehe i beat they can hehe

[satelite]

It should be an interesting game. I think it will end 2:1 for Argentina (Messi, Palermo; own goal Heinze). :)

[MARADONA]

Argentina 4 sure will win:smoking:

[Leszek84]

This is not a youth competition and there is no as good perspective for Nigeria, and also first Nigeria team is not as strong as at the end of the XX century.

That why Argentina is a favourite and they present problems don't change this fact.

[Chileno]

I change my mind...saw Nigeria at the African Cup...was not impressed. Argies will win this.

[Socaddict]

A 3-2 win for Argentina. Without Zanetti their defense won't be that impenetrable, so they'll receive a few goals, but with such a great attack they will score a lot too. Really looking forward to the game. it will be decided in the final 10 minutes.

[Chileno]

A 3-2 win for Argentina. Without Zanetti their defense won't be that impenetrable, so they'll receive a few goals, but with such a great attack they will score a lot too. Really looking forward to the game. it will be decided in the final 10 minutes.

Hmm...I don't think so. The fact that they don't have Zanetti only means they will not have a fullback capable of attacking. Maradona will play an old back 4 composed of 4 pure center backs! There will be no one moving forward so at all times there will be 4 center backs down there who will be hard to brake. I don't see Argentina conceding more than 1 goal per match on this group.

[Hernandez #7]

I think this will be Argentina's toughest game but they will still win.
2-0 or 2-1.

[danZ]

With 2 million Nigerians living in South Africa, it will be a local-visitor match.
So I'm not so sure. Actually I wouldn't place my bet on Argentina so easy.
There're lots of optimism in Argentina, but if they fail to win this game, they start to walk on the edge, since Maradona had problems to take a loss. He goes crazy and instantly switches to inferior players for the next match.
I've seen that on the qualification round.

[Gringotown]

Think Greece and South Korea will end up a draw but Argentina should beat Nigeria.

Think Nigeria will produce some shock though and test the Argentinians.

Would I be right in thinking that the only way England and Argentina can meet is if they play for third place. Would much prefer a competitive game against us both!!!!

[Chileno]

I'm expecting more goals today...courtesy of Argentina and England.

[Vipaman]

And we're off. Argentina with a 4-3-3.

[Vipaman]

Wow Nigerian forward Obasi skins Heinze but pumps it just wide. On the other end Messi dribbles two defender and puts it in for Higuain who also puts it just wide. Both teams not showing any fear going forward.

[Vipaman]

6th min
Golazo Gabriel Heinze off a corner delivered by Veron. Header top corner!

[Cherry.DeRossi]

Goal for Argentina on 6'!!! 1 - 0!!!

[footballfan999]

Higuain terrible. Overrated player imo.

[footballfan999]

Another miss by Higuain.

What a lucrative career this guy has. The only reason he's scoring so many goals is because he plays for Real Madrid.

[Valefan]

Nigeria have found their confidence in this game now, I think Argentina will bottle it if Nigeria got a goal back.

[Blond-Arrow]

I want Argentina to win the WC to see if Maradona keeps his promise :lol:

[ZabbaZibba]

nigerian goalie is getting on my nerves!!! :mad2: He's mannaged to stop some "should have been goals" :lol: .....Lets see what happens

[Blond-Arrow]

Good solid win by Argentina. Looks like they won't be playing horrible in the group stages.

[shevafan]

Argentina's defence looked shit as expected, but this game should of been over considering the amount of chances they pissed away. Messi was class as usual and I was sad that he didn't get a goal cause he definitely deserved one.

[Chileno]

Argentina's defence looked shit as expected, but this game should of been over considering the amount of chances they pissed away. Messi was class as usual and I was sad that he didn't get a goal cause he definitely deserved one.

He will get a few more chances against Greece and S.Korea

[stuglue]

Not entirely convinced about Argentina, Nigeria weren't great opposition and they only really came alive towards the end of the second half.
Gutierrez at the back is the weak link, he's definitely not a defender.
Nigeria took far too long to get going, I can't imagine S Korea will be quaking in their boots over them.
Against a better team I think Argentina will come unstuck.

[Vipaman]

That's a lot of wishful thinking. Maybe they're just getting started?

[Provemewrong]

Can't help to repeat myself about Maradona's blunder leaving Zanetti and Cambiasso out. Clearly, and not a surprise for anybody, Argentina is just fine in offense, but defense and midfield leave a lot to be desired.

Jonas (gutierrez) does not belong in a WC; he's slow and cumbersome and simply not smart in possession of the ball. Zanetti can pitch a master class to him anytime, both in how to stop an attacker, or how to create plays from back there. I have no idea what Maradona's base was for this choice. It makes absolutely no sense.

Veron, another blunder. He's just not the class player that this star team needs in the middle. He's slow, loses all disputed balls, off-target passing, probably just too old for this level. He's supposed to be the creator and the only thing he creates is counter attacks for the other team by losing the ball in midfield, or by deficient passing. If he only had 10% of the flashes of skills that Messi showed today... Cambiasso must be laughing, if he is indeed watching this.

Up front.
Tevez, another absent. He just cannot control a simple pass thrown at him; every ball bounces off him, he can't dribble anything, losing the ball at every attempt, an easy pray for those Nigeria defenders. He should've been replaced before half time.

Messi. I wonder what the local Argentines are saying now about him. He was clearly head and shoulders above the rest of the team, in another class altogether. Sling-shot quick, yet very precise passing, he looked like the best playmaker out there, of all things. He did miss chances, but he also created even more chances for others, albeit wasted.

Higuain, another lost soul today. He didn't look good at all.

If Maradona is able to make more timely adjustments and if Higuain and Messi strike more like their usual selves, Argentina will walk from this group.

Last, but not least. How is it possible that the whole world just puts up with this funny, super light ball? Wouldn't FIFA listen to the voice of the performers? I've seen it pretty much across the board, every game I've watched, so far, the players fall short at catching it on time before it goes out of bounds. Or, the way so many players don't seem to be able to control it, bouncing off of them. Is it only me who sees this?

[Vipaman]

Higuain terrible. Overrated player imo.

He's welcome on my team anytime :)

[Raul_Madrid#7]

I nearly died of boredom from this crap game. Instead of running everyone was walking lol Nigeria looked like they wanted to lose. Worst WC 2010 game i seen so far pathetic.

[Chileno]

Can't help to repeat myself about Maradona's blunder leaving Zanetti and Cambiasso out. Clearly, and not a surprise for anybody, Argentina is just fine in offense, but defense and midfield leave a lot to be desired.

Jonas (gutierrez) does not belong in a WC; he's slow and cumbersome and simply not smart in possession of the ball. Zanetti can pitch a master class to him anytime, both in how to stop an attacker, or how to create plays from back there. I have no idea what Maradona's base was for this choice. It makes absolutely no sense.

Veron, another blunder. He's just not the class player that this star team needs in the middle. He's slow, loses all disputed balls, off-target passing, probably just too old for this level. He's supposed to be the creator and the only thing he creates is counter attacks for the other team by losing the ball in midfield, or by deficient passing. If he only had 10% of the flashes of skills that Messi showed today... Cambiasso must be laughing, if he is indeed watching this.

Up front.
Tevez, another absent. He just cannot control a simple pass thrown at him; every ball bounces off him, he can't dribble anything, losing the ball at every attempt, an easy pray for those Nigeria defenders. He should've been replaced before half time.

Messi. I wonder what the local Argentines are saying now about him. He was clearly head and shoulders above the rest of the team, in another class altogether. Sling-shot quick, yet very precise passing, he looked like the best playmaker out there, of all things. He did miss chances, but he also created even more chances for others, albeit wasted.

Higuain, another lost soul today. He didn't look good at all.

If Maradona is able to make more timely adjustments and if Higuain and Messi strike more like their usual selves, Argentina will walk from this group.

Last, but not least. How is it possible that the whole world just puts up with this funny, super light ball? Wouldn't FIFA listen to the voice of the performers? I've seen it pretty much across the board, every game I've watched, so far, the players fall short at catching it on time before it goes out of bounds. Or, the way so many players don't seem to be able to control it, bouncing off of them. Is it only me who sees this?

Hmmm...I don't agree with the Cambiasso thing...but I'm with you on Zanetti.

You can be forgiven as you have not seen Cambiasso in the S.American qualies recently but he has been non-existant, Veron can at least put a decent ball in all set pieces, as Heinze can corroborate. No Argie is complaining about his absence...as for Messi...I kid you not, this has been the best performance from him with the Argie jersey since Copa America. I think that has more to do with Maradona going for 3 up front this time around...which gives Messi more space and options for delivery or combination. Tevez did a silent job of dragging markers away and opening space for Messi and others.

I agree on Jonas. He is the weakest link in this Argie team and needs to be replaces ASAP, he will be found out against stronger opposition.

Higuain had one of his off days...I wonder if Milito would have been the better option...

[Chileno]

I nearly died of boredom from this crap game. Instead of running everyone was walking lol Nigeria looked like they wanted to lose. Worst WC 2010 game i seen so far pathetic.

Not a chance...Korea/Japan takes the prize so far...in this one at least we have decent refs.

[~zero_signal~]

Last, but not least. How is it possible that the whole world just puts up with this funny, super light ball? Wouldn't FIFA listen to the voice of the performers? I've seen it pretty much across the board, every game I've watched, so far, the players fall short at catching it on time before it goes out of bounds. Or, the way so many players don't seem to be able to control it, bouncing off of them. Is it only me who sees this?

It's a beach ball. FIFA got it wrong; no surprise.

[Vipaman]

I don't think I've read one positive comment about it from any player. Nothing but complaints and you can see how hard it is to catch on a long cross.

[Chileno]

Playing at altitude doesn't make it any easier either...it just magnifies the effect of the ball...

[yayoARG]

It was a solid win, they should of finished ******ia off in the first half but still, a good win. Can't wait for the game against Korea.

[yayoARG]

I also wanted to say, I think we beat the toughest opponent in this group, the rest should be a lot easier.

btw I think I misspelled Nigeria. not sure...

[Ronni]

I also wanted to say, I think we beat the toughest opponent in this group, the rest should be a lot easier.

btw I think I misspelled Nigeria. not sure...

Definately Argentina will get much more chances for scoring against S.Korea - but they can't complain about not creating goal chances against Nigeria. They were really impressive at that.

The defense should get sort of more consistent. The Koreans are much more dangerous than Nigeria. But still this won't be a problem.

They should take the match against Greece as a preparing match, since they didn't have any the days before the WC started.
Greece won't do any harm to anywone. They should just try to get a better result than on their last appearance, in '94. At that time they scored none, conceded 10 goals. This time again they won't score any goal. Perhaps they manage not to get 8 more goals. And this will happen only if Argentina really takes this match as a training session. Otherwise they'll repeat 2006 Serbia/Montenegro, and Nigeria will do the rest.