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Home|South Africa 2006|Travel|Guide|Groups|Group B
South Africa World Cup 2010 Group B
GROUP B
*ArgentinaWith Lionel Messi, Carlos Teves and Juan Sebastian Veron in the side, Argentina should be up there with the bookies' favorites, Spain and Brazil. The reason they are not is due to the chaos created by coach Diego Maradona. The Albicelestes seem all at sea tactically, especially at set-pieces, while reportedly Maradona trains the team only in the afternoon, as he likes to sleep late. Bizarre selections, including a first call up for 36-year-old Rolando Schiavi and a recall for 35-year-old Martin Palermo, plagued the qualifiers. Still, if Maradona can raise himself from his torpor and with Messi in the side, anything is possible. Fixtures
Argentina v Nigeria 12 June; Johannesburg CoachDiego Maradona Record1934, 1958, 1962, 2002 First Round; 1974, 1982, 1994 Second Round; 1966, 1998, 2006 Quarter Finals; 1930, 1990 Runners up; 1978, 1986 Champions FIFA RankingMen to watchLionel Messi, Javier Mascherano Predictions & Latest OddsWill make it out of the group and on to the quarterfinals. How they qualifiedFinished fourth in the South American qualifying group. On the sidelines Gabriel Batistuta is Argentina's highest goalscorer with 56. AnalysisShirt
South KoreaSouth Korea qualified easily enough and have a good nucleus of players with overseas experience. Lee Chung-yong and Park Ji-sung ply their trade in the English Premiership, while new golden boy Park Chu-young is at Monaco in France. South Korea, though, have never got out of the group stage except in 2002 when the tournament was on home soil and lack a proven goalscorer this time out. Fixtures
South Korea v Greece 12 June; Port
Elizabeth CoachRecord1954, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2006 First Round. 2002 Semifinals FIFA RankingMen to watchPredictions & Latest OddsThis just might be the time for South Korea to reach the second
round in an overseas tournament. How they qualifiedFirst place in Asian qualifying group 2. On the sidelines A number of bars and hotels in Korea are named after former coach
and hero Guus Hiddink. AnalysisShirt
NigeriaNo longer the powerhouse they once were, Nigeria struggled to qualify only doing so with a fortunate 3-2 win in their last game against Kenya in Nairobi. Long gone is the "golden generation" of Jay Jay Okocha, Sunday Oliseh and Emmanuel Amunike. Still the Super Eagles may soar again on their home continent and won't lack for support in South Africa. Premiership players such as Joseph Yobo, Yakubu Aiyegbeni and John Obi Mikel provide experience, but the team lacks a leader and a player of real flair. Fixtures
Nigeria v Argentina 12 June; Johannesburg CoachLars Lagerback Record2002 First round; 1994 & 1998 Second round FIFA RankingMen to watchPredictions & Latest OddsWe think they'll struggle to get out of the group. How they qualifiedWon group B in the African qualifying zone. On the sidelines Drew 0-0 with England at the 2002 World Cup in Japan. AnalysisShirt
GreeceAfter surprisingly winning Euro 2004, Greece failed to qualify for World Cup 2006 and bombed at Euro 2008. Still the Greeks showed spirit to beat Ukraine in a play off after finishing second behind Switzerland in Group 2. Fixtures
Greece v South Korea 12 June; Cape
Town CoachRecord1994 First Round FIFA RankingMen to watchTheofanis "Fanis" Gekas, Angelos Charisteas Predictions & Latest OddsEarly flight home for Otto and the boys. How they qualifiedSecond in European qualifying group 2 behind Switzerland, then won a play off 1-0 against the Ukraine. On the sidelines Both Argentina and Nigeria were in Greece's group in their only
other World Cup appearance. AnalysisShirt |
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