Thursday in the 2010 FIFA World Cup saw teams getting into full swing, as they overcame pre tournament jitters, and found their form with the new ball as most came out attacking.
Argentina went into the fixture as the favourites, and they did not disappoint with Lionel Messi proving why he has earned the title of the best player in the world.
Kicking off the action overnight, Group B started their second group fixtures as Argentina took on South Korea at Johannesburg’s Soccer City Stadium.
As the two time title winners went into the fixture as the favourites, they did not disappoint with Lionel Messi proving why he has earned the title of the best player in the world.
They came away with a 4-1 win, which sees Argentina the first team in the 2010 World Cup to reach six points, having almost certainly sealed their spot in the final 16.
Messi dominated all over the pitch, with the first goal being the result of a fantastic free kick which saw South Korea’s Park Chu-Young flounder and rebound the ball into his own goal off his shin.
With Messi involved again, Argentina sent waves of fear through the other nations still in the tournament with Gonzalo Higuain claiming the first hat trick of the world cup this year.
Just before half-time Lee Chung Yong took advantage of some lacklustre defending from the South Americans, and brought his side back into the tie, but it was not enough.
The underdogs’ keeper Jun Sung-Ryiong kept the side in the match, denying the Argentineans several opportunities to increase their lead further.
The second match of Thursday saw the remaining Group B nations take to the Free State Stadium, which saw Greece and Nigeria battle it out.
Nigeria went into the fixture favourites to claim the three points, and started well with a superb free kick by Kalu Uche on the 16th minute which gave them the lead.
However it all turned on the half hour mark, when Sani Kaita made a rash outburst at Vasileios Torosidis when the ball ran off the pitch, and was given a straight red card.
Greece took advantage and changed their tactics, bringing on Georgios Samaras to change to a more attacking style.
The equaliser came for Greece just before the break, when Konstantinos Katsouranis set up Ditmitrios Salpingidis whose strike took a big deflection off Lukman Haruna to make it 1-1.
On the 71st minute, Vasileos Torosidis claimed the winner, giving Greece their first ever win at a world cup tournament.
The win sees Greece in third place in Group B, level on points with South Korea, while Nigeria need a win of the South Koreans to have any chance of progressing through to the final 16.
Rounding off the overnight action in South Africa, Group A saw the remaining second fixture go ahead, with France and Mexico battling it out at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
France went into the game as favourites, but with yet another lacklustre performance were outclassed by and young and vibrant Mexican side who claimed a 2-0 win and see the final 16 within their reach.
It was the substitute Javier Hernandez who opened the scoring when the 22-year-old played the offside rule to his advantage, overcoming the French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, and claiming his first goal on the world stage.
While the Europeans made an attempt to equalize, they never threatened to score, and Pablo Barrera’s run on goals was abruptly stopped by a sliding tackle from Eric Abidal in the box – awarding the Mexicans with a penalty ten minutes from time.
Cuauhtemoc Blanco stood up to the spot, remaining calm under the building pressure, and secured all three points for Mexico when he struck the penalty perfectly.
Mexico now sits second in Group A, level on points with Uruguay at the top, and pre tournament favourites France now depend on other results going their way if they are to make it to the final 16, although need to secure a win over South Africa to have the slightest chance.
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