WC2010 Liveblog: Argentina v. Nigeria

Part two of the liveblog extravaganza featuring Argentina and Nigeria.  Will the home continent advantage help Nigeria to a result?  Will Maradona do something radical?

The answers are: to be determined and of course.

The biggest storyline to this match has to be WWMD–What Will Maradona Do?  The Argentine manager has loads of talent on his squad, but will he be able corral the talent into a successful team strategy.  At this point the magic eight ball would say “all signs point to no.”  But, I am not sure it will matter against a lesser Nigeria squad lacking in organization in the back.  Talent should prevail.

Peep the previews: Argentina and Nigeria.

Prediction: Argentina 3, Nigeria 1.

Livebloggin’

Full Time: Argentina 1 – Nigeria 0. Argentina was the better team but couldn’t put away some great chances, although Nigeria’s keeper Enyeama put on a magnificent display saving almost sure Messi goals on 2-3 occasions.  Argentina relaxed in the second half and Nigeria finally started attacking.  The Nigeria – South Korea Match will be massive. 

The big one is up next.  I’m going to get my kit.  See you for that match in 30 or so.

90:00 +4 – Argentina is killing this match not allowing Nigeria possession. 

90:00 +1 - That was a pretty clueless looking Maradona on the sideline.  Plus, the suit doesn’t fit him well.

90:00 – Four minutes of stoppage time.

89:00 – Messi to Milito to Messi in the box, but Messi’s first touch fails him as he was in on the keeper allowing the defender to knock it out for a corner. 

87:00 – Yakubu lashes as 25 yard shot over the left post.  Looked nice but didn’t really have a chance.  Keeper had it covered.

85:00 – Substitution – Di Maria off and Burdisso on.  A little more defense. Nigeria has their tails up. 

82:00 – Blown Chance by Nigeria.  On the attack Yakubu received the ball on the right side pushing to the endline and he finds space in the box that he chips on to a sprinting Uche who can’t get situated right and blasts it wide.  Golden opportunity.  Should have buried that.  Bummer.

81:00 – Amazing Enyeama!! Di Maria and Messi play wonderful one touch passes in the box that puts Messi on the goal but Enyeama flashes out and saves Messi point blank. Great stuff.

78:00 – Obafemi Martins with a nice bit of play, juking just inside the center circle to get space and then power a left footed shot that Romero parries away. Very nice.

Substitution: Milito on for Higuain. You can only waste so many chances.

I missed an earlier sub…Taiwo went off with his injury and Uche came on for him. 

77:00 – Booking – Haruna booked for a foul on Messi…did everybody else seen the green light on the grass flashing around while Messi was taking the free kick?  Laser pointer?

74:00 – Substitution – Veron off for Maxi Rodriguez.

71:00 -  So close.  Taiwo powers in a toe punch that goes just wide of far post (right post).  That caused an audible gasp from me.  Taiwo is now injured after that exertion.  That would have made this very interesting because I don’t think Maradona would know how to respond.

69:00 – Corner for Argentina goes to Veron outside the 18 and his volley goes to row N.

68:00 -  Speaking of Odemwingie…I love that name.  Not sure why but it’s probably the “wingie” part.

65:00 – Argentina breakaway results in another Messi shot that goes just wide.  On the next possession, Messi knocks on to Higuain who shoots and Enyeama makes another great save.  Then, immediately after that Odemwingie breaks the opposite way but screws the proverbial pooch as he knocks the ball to far apace and can’t get a decent shot off under pressure.  He then starts yelling at Martins for what I don’t know because it was Odemwingie’s fault he f**ked up.  Nice bit of action.

63:00 - Yakubu earns a dubious free kick as he was already down and was never touched.  The free kick amounts to nothing.  Camon Nigeria!  Do something!!!

62:00 – Nigeria corner…too long but Nigeria recovers and slings it in on goal where Romero punches it out.

60:00 - Sub - Obasi off for Odemwingie.

56:00 - Great pass from Messi to Higuain down the right sideline that had him almost in on goal but the last Nigeria defender made a great sliding tackle out for a corner.  Enyeama flails at the ensuing corner but misses and it goes off an Argentine away from goal.

@Anonsters: Yes, I have requested pics but it remains to be seen if they will be sober enough.

53:00 Substitution - Obafemi Martins on for Obinna. 

51:00 – Yes. Argentine fan.

49:00 – Veron from out wide returns Messi’s pass as the little man streaks down the middle, Messi flicks it on just wide of the far post.  It is always great to receive the return pass after making a great run…at least I think so.

47:00 - Oh man…look at this f**ker.

 46:00 – Back in the saddle…no changes in either side.

Well, it’s time to see if Nigeria can put all its beef on the grill.  Argentina seemed to lose its edge later in the first half, although the class was still there.  Maradona will need to put his beef on the grill and make sure he gets his players back to level they had at the outset.  I wonder if it was just adrenaline in the first half and now this is the real Argentina.  Lots of flair and talent but lacking a killer edge.

Maradon telling something to Messi on the way out of the tunnel.  “Play like me,” perhaps?

Halftime – 1-0 Argentina

Argentina deserves to be in the lead and should probably be up 2 or 3 if Higuain could have put away his shots plus Enyeama has been outstanding in the goal saving at least two very good shots. Maradona probably won’t change anything and we’ll see if Nigeria can make an adjustment that allows them to contain Argentina a bit more.  See you in a few…

45:00  – Messi on a mazy run from outside the box is fouled at the edge.  Dangerous free kick now for Argentina from the left corner of the box.  Tevez, Veron and Messi stand over it…Veron wastes it over the bar at the near corner.  No real threat.

42:00 – Lots of rolling around on the pitch…Gutierrez booked for a foul on Obassi. Romero punches away the ball on the ensuing kick.

37:00 - Messi with another nice shot but Enyeama with a nicer save keeping Messi from hitting the far upper corner.   Enyeama is making himself some money today. 

36:00 – I have no idea what this means…but I think there should be some nudity at the World Cup.

 35:00 – Blow that vuvuzela little lady.  Blow it like you never have before.

@Lennon’s Eyebrow:  No such thing as too many touches in the box…oh…you were talking about soccer?  Nevermind.

31:00 – Just a bunch of knock about in the middle of the pitch for both squads.  A breather after some breathless opening action?

27:00 - Nigeria over a right of center free kick from 28 yards…Taiwo directly into the wall.

Another chance but number 19 screws the first touch and can’t get the ball to Yakubu flashing across the mouth of the goal. Wasted chance. Nigeria needed that.

25:00 – Yakubu had a nice burst around the right back but couldn’t get the last ball into the middle as Argentina knocked it out. Kaita on the ensuing throw attempted a volley but screwed it wide. As rampant as Argentina looked early on…it seems Nigeria is still in this game.

22:00 - Was the Nigeria trainer rubber the keeper’s nuts? It looked like that. That may be one way to get a quick recovery, but I thought it would make them sleepy.

21:00 – Tevez puts Higuain in on goal from the right but Enyeama makes another great save. Going with the young keeper seems to have been the right move…except now he’s down on the pitch.

18:00 – Messi is just destroying this match. He can do whatever he wants and get a shot at any time. It’s only a matter of time before the flea bites Nigeria. It’s pretty clear Argentina is winning this group, but the real challenge will come after that when the talent gap isn’t as significant and strategy will be more important. But, we always knew this.

15:00 – Trying to deal some technical difficulties…I gave up…back to the game.

Veron with the long pass to Messi, just a touch too long down the middle as Nigeria’s keeper is able to get out to the ball.

11:00 - Nigeria with its first real foray into the offensive half, but they cannot get anything going yet.

Excellent header by Heinze into the top left corner after Nigeria gave up the corner. Beautiful opener.

7:00 – GOAAALLLLLL! Heinze.  Argentina 1-0.

6:00 – A giveaway by Nigeria gives Messi the ball and he forces a good save by Enyeama.

3:00 - Messi with a great run to set up Higuain, who flubs his lines and hits it wide. Disgraceful

o:00 – Kickoff – Messi and Tevez make their first run at goal but the final touch was lacking.

Starting Lineups

Argentina: Romero; Demichelis, Heinze, Samuel; Di Maria, Verón, Mascherano, Gutierrez; Messi, Higuaín, Tévez

Nigeria: Enyeama; Odiah, Taiwo, Shittu, Yobo; Kaita, Etuhu, Obasi, Haruna; Yakubu, Obinna

Referee: Wolfgang Stark (GER)

Venue: Ellis Park Stadium – Johannesberg

 Pregame:

Maradona with an attacking lineup.  This should be fun.

Here’s an interesting picture…Maradona and Kanu hugging pre-match.  Even though Maradona is the manager of the opposing team, it seems even players are still in awe of him.

No scruff on Mascherano, the Argentine captain.  I don’t know if I have ever seen that.  It makes him look much younger.

Anthems….

At least Maradona changed out of the tracksuit into a real suit.