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FIFA World Cup 2010 match 36 - Group B Argentina: Romero, Demichelis, Rodriguez, Burdisso, Otamendi, Bolatti, Veron, Maxi (Di Maria 63), Messi, Aguero (Pastore 77), Milito (Palermo 80). Greece: Tzorvas, Moras, Papadopoulos, Vyntra, Torosidis (Patsatzoglou 55), Kyrgiakos, Papaststhopoulos, Tziolis, Karagounis (Spyropoulos 45), Katsouranis (Ninis 54), Samaras. Argentina were basically assured of qualification after opening with two victories and made seven changes to their side. Greece were in the mix for second place in the group but made no real attempt to win this game. Their tactics were to hope for a draw and then hope for the best. Even when it became obvious that this would not be enough they remained totally negative in their approach. The negative tactics of the Greeks did frustrate Argentina until the last ten minutes and ensured that the incoming forwards, Aguero and Milito, were unable to press claims to oust the first choice strike force of Tevez and Higuain. Close marking also meant that Lionel Messi was more subdued than in the first two group games but when he did spring into life late on his impact was decisive. Argentina's attacking threat was muted but when they did sniff a chance Tzorvas had to be sharp to keep them at bay. The keeper did well to deny Aguero after a sharp turn and dribble by the forward had created a good chance and he was also on his toes to tip a rasping drive from Veron over the bar. Tzorvas topped his previous efforts shortly before half time when he produced a double save to deny Maxi and Messi in the same attack. Half Time: Argentina 0 Greece 0 Greece were no doubt hoping that if they could hold out at the back they would get one chance on the break and this did happen shortly after the break. Demichelis showed himself fallible, not for the first time at this tournament, as he allowed a routine punt forward to escape him and Samaras was suddenly running towards the penalty area. His first shot was weak but when this rebounded to him from a defender the chance was much better with Romero off balance from the original effort. Samaras drilled in a left footed shot but saw it disappear wide of the far post. Argentina continued to dominate without finding chances easy to come by and Bolatti was frustrated when he cracked in a fierce half volley at close range when the ball dropped to him at a corner but saw the ball embed itself in Tzorvas's midriff, knocking the wind out of the keeper in the process but not bringing the goal Argentina craved. With Messi finally beginning to break free of the shackles placed on him Argentina did finally take the lead with just over ten minutes remaining. Demichelis saw his original header from a corner bounce back to him and he wasted no time in belting a shot into the roof of the net from point blank range. Messi immediately began to carve holes in a deflated Greek backline and was at the heart of a fine move which ended with him smacking the post with his drive and when his shot was then parried after a similar move Martin Palermo was on hand to stroke a calm finish into the corner with Tzorvas helpless. So all the negative tactics of the Greeks counted for nothing in the end and they went home with a whimper while Argentina march on into the knockout stages. Full Time: Argentina 2 Greece 0 Argentina: Romero 6, Demichelis 5, Rodriguez 6, Burdisso 7, Otamendi 6, Bolatti 7, Veron 8, Maxi 6 (Di Maria 6), Messi 7, Aguero 7 (Pastore 6), Milito 5 (Palermo 7). Greece: Tzorvas 8, Moras 6, Papadopoulos 7, Vyntra 6, Torosidis 5 (Patsatzoglou 5), Kyrgiakos 5, Papaststhopoulos 4, Tziolis 4, Karagounis 2 (Spyropoulos 4), Katsouranis 4 (Ninis 4), Samaras 5. Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan) 6 Good: Messi proved what a great player he is by finishing the Greeks off despite having the life strangled out of him for eighty minutes. Bad: The Greek tactics. It's not easy playing against a side that's better than you but at the end of this game they had to go home anyway without ever really trying to stay in. Ugly: Maradona.
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