Argentina South Korea Nigeria Greece
* = Seeded Team
[Team Jersey Images © Soccerphile]
With 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.
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Argentina Kit 1 |
Argentina Kit 2 |
Argentina v Nigeria 12 June; Johannesburg
Argentina v South Korea 17 June; Johannesburg
Argentina v Greece 23 June; Polokwane
Diego Maradona
1934, 1958, 1962, 2002 First Round; 1974, 1982, 1994 Second Round; 1966, 1998, 2006 Quarter Finals; 1930, 1990 Runners up; 1978, 1986 Champions
Lionel Messi, Javier Mascherano
Will make it out of the group and on to the quarterfinals.
World Cup Betting
Finished fourth in the South American qualifying group.
Gabriel Batistuta is Argentina's highest goalscorer with 56.
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South 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.
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South Korea |
South Korea |
South Korea v Greece 12 June; Port Elizabeth
South Korea v Argentina 17 June; Johannesburg
South Korea v Nigeria 22 June; Durban
1954, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2006 First Round. 2002 Semifinals
This just might be the time for South Korea to reach the second round in an overseas tournament.
World Cup Betting
First place in Asian qualifying group 2.
A number of bars and hotels in Korea are named after former coach and hero Guus Hiddink.
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No 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.
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Nigeria |
Nigeria |
Nigeria v Argentina 12 June; Johannesburg
Nigeria v Greece 17 June; Bloemfontein
Nigeria v South Korea 22 June; Durban
Lars Lagerback
2002 First round; 1994 & 1998 Second round
We think they'll struggle to get out of the group.
World Cup Betting
Won group B in the African qualifying zone.
Drew 0-0 with England at the 2002 World Cup in Japan.
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After 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.
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Greece |
Greece |
Greece v South Korea 12 June; Cape Town
Greece v Nigeria 17 June; Bloemfontein
Greece v Argentina 22 June; Polokwane
1994 First Round
Theofanis "Fanis" Gekas, Angelos Charisteas
Early flight home for Otto and the boys.
World Cup Betting
Second in European qualifying group 2 behind Switzerland, then won a play off 1-0 against the Ukraine.
Both Argentina and Nigeria were in Greece's group in their only other World Cup appearance.
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