Live The Pitch

The Group B winner and runner-up was also decided today with Argentina and Greece playing at the same time as Nigeria and South Korea. For me it was a no-brainer, I’m watching the team with arguably the best player in the world on it. Messi did not disappoint either but good thing I had the other game on my laptop because it was a terrific game as well.

Lionel Messi is just on another level than anyone on the field. In the first half he showed his amazing first touch when he took a very high ball out of the air and turned onto goal before being fouled just outside the box. This was the tactic for much of the game as Greek defenders were forced to just pull Messi to the ground after he burned them.

Argentina would take control in the second half to finish off Greece 2-0.  Martin Demichelis pounced on a loose ball inside the six and buried it in the upper corner to make it 1-0.Second half sub Martin Palermo would also get a goal in the 89th minute to make it 2-0, when Messi’s shot came off the Greek goalkeeper to a waiting Palermo for a first time finish.

Nigeria would give South Korea all they could handle in the other group B match that finished  2-2.   Nigeria pushed players forward and were unlucky not to get a winner.  South Korea showed they are a team with a lot of discipline and great athletic talent. They will surely  cause defenders nightmares in the rounds to come.

South Korea would get goals from Lee Jung-Soo and Park Chu-Young.  Jung-Soo attempted to head the ball after a cross was sent into the box but misplayed the shot so poorly that the ball  hit his shin and went into the net. It was hardly a thing of beauty but they all count. Chu-Young scored on a brilliant free kick that puzzled goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, beating him to the far post.

Nigeria received goals from Kalu Uche and Yakubu Aiyegbeni.  Uche hit the net first in the 12th minute with a great first time finish.  Aiyegbeni would get a penalty kick goal in the 69th but Nigeria just didn’t have enough steam for the winner.

With today’s games complete the round of sixteen is starting to take shape. Argentina and Mexico will be facing off and Uruguay will be playing against an elated South Korean side. This was the first time that South Korea has made it to the knockout stages in a World Cup not held on Korea soil.

Check out David Mathew’s culturally insensitive World Cup goal round up at Deadspin.com to see highlights of the goals. The music he adds is HILARIOUS!!- Your Culturally Insensitive World Cup Round Up For June 21