Argentina and Greece Will Make it Out of Group B

With three well matched teams battling it out for second place in Group B, Al Dannity reckons the order of the games will prove decisive in determining who stays in South Africa and who goes home.

Argentina’s talent will prevail
Bad teams hope for miracles, average teams need luck, good teams look to avoid a bad break, but great teams just get it done. For all the trouble Argentina endured in qualifying, this is a team so deep in talent there is no question Diego Maradona is overseeing the squad with the most ability in Group B. The names of Argentina’s stars just roll off the tongue, Messi, Milito, Tevez, Samuel, and Veron. All have proven their class on the grandest stages of European and South American Football and now they stand ready to deliver in South Africa.

The mind of a master
With Argentina a lock to make the second round, the task for the other three nations is to find a way to join them.

Nigeria faces the toughest task. With Argentina up first the Super Eagles face the prospect of having to radically adapt their game. Were Greece or Korea Republic their opening opponents, Nigeria could play their normal game, built around a solid spine, but the multiple wide threats posed by Argentina will force Nigeria to either adopt a radically aggressive or defensive approach. Such a move will have knock-on effects in later games. Korea Republic, while outsiders, won’t suffer the same tactical problem and can look to play their brand of Soccer from the outset against Greece, possibly adapting in the second game against Argentina.

The schedule makers have been particularly kind to Greece. Otto Rehhagel knows how to build a team to compete in tournaments and will have a plan in place to ensure victory against Korea and then force Nigeria to attack in the second game. This should leave Greece in good standing entering the final game against an Argentina side that may already have qualified. The standings in Group B after the second set of fixtures will prove a useful indicator in World Cup betting.

The final shake-up
Argentina, while certain to progress, will not necessarily win all three games. Nigeria and Greece will each look to steal a point from Argentina. The Super Eagles have the surprise factor going in their favor but little else. Argentina will know the perils of opening matches and should play a clever game to guarantee victory. This leaves Greece in far better position to exploit the South American side. It may not come down to that however as Greece could lock up second spot before the final round of group games. Either way I expect Greece to do enough to join Argentina in the second round.

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