Argentina 1—0 Over Nigeria in World Cup Group B

Argentina dominated Nigeria in all facets of the game, but was only good enough for a 1—0 victory at Ellis Park Stadium in Johnanesburg on Saturday.
Argentina 1—0 Over Nigeria in World Cup Group B
Lionel Messi easily could have scored a hat trick against Nigeria. (David Cannon/Getty Images)
Rahul Vaidyanath
6/12/2010
Updated:
6/12/2010
<a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/Messi102012327_medium.jpg"><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/Messi102012327_medium.jpg" alt="Lionel Messi easily could have scored a hat trick against Nigeria. (David Cannon/Getty Images)" title="Lionel Messi easily could have scored a hat trick against Nigeria. (David Cannon/Getty Images)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-107166"/></a>
Lionel Messi easily could have scored a hat trick against Nigeria. (David Cannon/Getty Images)
Argentina dominated Nigeria in all facets of the game, but was only good enough for a 1–0 victory at Ellis Park Stadium in Johnanesburg on Saturday.

The South Americans join South Korea atop Group B. The Asian team was vastly superior to Greece in a convincing 2–0 earlier in the day.

Lionel Messi was the star of the game for Argentina. Whenever he got the ball, he’d make things happen. He struck fear into the Nigerian defense with his weaving runs that would either lead to a nifty through ball or a deft left-footed shot.

But it was left fullback Gabriel Heinze who got Argentina on the board with a diving header off a corner kick. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid defender was perfectly placed to score in the sixth minute.

Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama kept his team from being blown out. He pulled off several saves, against the likes of Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, and Carlos Tevez. He was named Man of the Match.
<a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/102009905_medium.jpg"><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/102009905_medium.jpg" alt="ARGENTINA UP: Gabriel Heinze's diving header off a corner kick gives the South Americans the lead early in the first half. (DANIEL GARCIA/AFP/Getty Images)" title="ARGENTINA UP: Gabriel Heinze's diving header off a corner kick gives the South Americans the lead early in the first half. (DANIEL GARCIA/AFP/Getty Images)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-107167"/></a>
ARGENTINA UP: Gabriel Heinze's diving header off a corner kick gives the South Americans the lead early in the first half. (DANIEL GARCIA/AFP/Getty Images)

Predictably, Argentina dominated possession in true South American style. Juan Veron, 35, has been given the role of pulling the strings in midfield for Argentina. But he was unimpressive in the half and was the first person coach Diego Maradona spoke to as the teams left the field. Veron was guilty of numerous giveaways. The former Manchester United star is well past his prime and one would have to question whether or not he’d start against South Korea on June 17.

Nigeria had a few good chances of their own mostly due to the occasional giveaway by the Argentine defense. But, by and large, their play in Argentina’s end was very poor. Their crosses and finishing were off the mark. Argentine goalkeeper Sergio Romero had a fairly comfortable day at the office.

The loss of John Obi Mikel for Nigeria was critical as he is a player capable of all facets of the game. The Chelsea star was ruled out of the tournament due to a knee injury.

Argentina could have won by three or four goals. Messi has really been spectacular and the give-and-gos worked so well by the Argentines has been cutting through the Nigerian defense at will.

But their offensive thrust seemed to flow mainly through the center of the pitch. Maradona’s team failed to get winger Angel Di Maria into the game and the team’s lack of width could be costly against a team that clogs up the middle of the park.

Nigeria failed to show much in the way of creativity in attack or speed on the flanks. Substitute Kalu Uche could have equalized but his volley went skyward. That was an example of Nigeria just not getting the breaks and  technique letting them down when they most needed it.

Still, Argentina, for all their talent, is not the finished product yet and certainly looked less impressive than the South Koreans.

The Koreans have the speed and talent to beat the Nigerians to advance to the round of 16. Nigeria’s Swedish coach Lars Lagerback needs to get his squad better prepared for breaking down the Greek squad who come to defend first and attack later.

Coach Maradona was with his team emotionally every step of the way. He used every inch of his technical area and made appropriate substitutions when required. He brought off the hopeless Veron after 73 minutes. He attempted to add fresh legs up front with Inter Milan’s Diego Milito in place of Higuain. Milito’s few touches on the ball were dreadful, however, but it wasn’t of much consequence.

Overall, Group B, was taken by force by the South Koreans early but Argentina can only get better with time. Greece and Nigeria have both started out disappointingly although it would be too early to write them off.



Follow Rahul on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/RV_ETSports
Rahul Vaidyanath is a journalist with The Epoch Times in Ottawa. His areas of expertise include the economy, financial markets, China, and national defence and security. He has worked for the Bank of Canada, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., and investment banks in Toronto, New York, and Los Angeles.
twitter
Related Topics