The Greeks have been criticised for their defensive strategies that they have employed in their last few games, but coming up against a strong Argentina side, knowing a win would get them through, they decided to go with the tried and tested method as they knew that they could not afford to concede too many goals.
Greece therefore opted for a 4-5-1 formation, with Georgios Samaras as the lone striker up front. As the match wore on, it proved more and more difficult to get the ball out to him and for him to create any kind of chance to get the Greeks ahead. Greece were content with Argentina having the ball and being the more dominant in possession and in advancing forward. They made sure that they defended well and then tried to break on the counter.
Before this tournament began, many had been hoping to see Messi really set the World Cup alight however as I mentioned in an earlier post, it has been difficult to do so, because he has been man-marked. This was also the case in the game against Greece. Papaststhopoulos followed Messi around like a dog on a lead...seriously, wherever Messi went, he went too. It was a largely frustrating encounter for Messi, who was captaining his side in the game, after Maradona decided to rest some of his key players ahead of the last 16 clash against Mexico this weekend. Messi was forced to shoot from distance and didn't really do enough to trouble Greek keeper, Tzorvas. Tzorvas played a big part in keeping the Argentinians out for so long, making some great saves, keeping the danger out and providing a great safeguard for his defenders.
Greece's chances were few and far between. The play was almost always in their own half, and when the ball did find its way to Samaras, aside from a few rare occasions, he was unable to control the long, overhead balls and weave his way past the two central defenders. Romero was largely a spectator in this game, and it wasn't until shortly after half-time when he was finally forced to be alert to a great chance for Samaras. Fortunately, for Romero and Demichelis, who had let Samaras get past him too easily, Samaras shot wide.
Thereafter, it was all Argentina and Greece were made to rue that chance and their lack of attacking ambition, when Demichelis who had come from the back, smashed in a rebounded effort from 6 yards out. Greece, had to go forward. They didn't have a choice, especially as news was filtering through from the other match that South Korea were winning 2-1, after initially having gone down 1-0 in the opening 12 minutes, thanks to another Uche goal. Unfortunately, they did not seem to have it in them to make something and lacked that killer pass to get themselves back in with a chance.
For Argentina, the game began to resemble something of a training ground exercise, as they just passed, passed and passed the ball some more. They were happy to just make the Greeks run and run after the ball. The Greeks soon began to tire, and were unable to dispossess Argentina, who looked miles better than their opponents. Even Messi was given a bit more freedom to run around in. And, it was he who was responsible for the pass that found its way over to substitute Michael Palermo, to slot home with 1 minute of normal time remaining.
In the end, it was a comprehensive victory for Argentina (and for attacking football, some might say) over a very poor Greek side. In the other game, Yakubu had levelled things up for Nigeria after scoring from the penalty spot in the 69th minute. And, there was a great chance right at the end for Nigeria to win the game. But, a draw coupled with a defeat for Greece, was enough for the South Koreans to bugsy second place and they will now go on to play Uruguay in the other last 16 encounter.
Unfortunately for the Nigerians, another African side exits the competition along with Euro 2004 winners, Greece, who just weren't daring enough going forward to see them through to the next round. You know what they say, "you'll always miss 100% of the shots you don't take"...
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