Argentina Vs Greece Live Streaming online internet broadcast HD quality tv coverage fifa world cup Tuesday 22nd June 2010
Argentina Vs Greece Live Streaming online internet broadcast HD quality tv coverage fifa world cup Tuesday 22nd June 2010.Watch World cup football 2010 live on your pc laptop or mobile devices at a very cheap rate.Watch and download the match with 3D quality.Group B, 18:30 GMT, June 22, 2010
Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane, South Africa
Greek tragedy awaits against awesome Argentina
As the half-time whistle approached in Greece’s match against Nigeria, Otto Rehhagel’s side were staring a group stage exit in the face. But Dimitrios Salpingidis’ goal – amazingly Greece’s first ever at the World Cup – brought them level and with Nigeria reduced to ten men, the Pirate Ship went on to record an historic victory.
• Maradona urges fair play
• Mascherano: We’re playing for Diego
• On This Day: Hand of God
• Fan blog: Who do Argentina play next?
• Fan blog: Greek take on strange cup
Defeat to South Korea in the opening game was made all the more disappointing because of the tame performance, but it was rectified as Greece mustered a significantly improved display against the Super Eagles to give themselves a chance of progress from Group B. Now Rehhagel, the oldest coach in World Cup history, must mastermind a way past the most intimidating of obstacles, Diego Maradona’s Argentina.
Comparing the individuals at both sides’ disposal makes for grim reading if you are associated with Greece. The likes of Salpingidis and Theofanis Gekas are certainly no match for Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Higuain on paper, but Rehhagel has made his name by springing the most shocking of upsets. But even if the spirit of Euro 2004 is invoked on Tuesday, one feels it may still not be enough to overcome a hugely impressive Argentina side.
Higuain spurned several opportunities in the narrow 1-0 victory over Nigeria but the Real Madrid striker was at his prolific best in his last outing, netting a hat-trick against South Korea. Argentina have been inspired by the irrepressible Messi, who seems determined to prove that he can succeed where Ronaldinho failed – by proving his credentials as one of the world’s best on the biggest stage of them all. For Maradona, it’s simply a case of “same again please boys”, and if his players heed that call, there is little hope for Greece.
Greece player to watch: Giorgos Karagounis.The”Greek Gattuso”, as he is affectionately known, is not just a tenacious midfield dynamo, but the Greeks’ creator-in-chief. Capable of playing in either defensive or attacking midfield, Karagounis has drifted between the two roles in the opening two games – looking particularly dangerous in an offensive capacity against Nigeria. Greece are renowned for their ability from set-pieces and Karagounis is the man they rely on to deliver.
Argentina player to watch: Carlos Tevez. The industrious Tevez failed to find the net in the first two fixtures but he has continued to be an effective outlet in harassing opposing defenders. He continues to demonstrate a high work rate and despite Diego Milito and Sergio Aguero waiting in the wings, Tevez’s overall contribution to the team should mean he retains his place even if he continues to fire blanks.
Key Battle: Dimitrios Salpingidis v Gabriel Heinze – Salpingidis’ purposeful display against Nigeria resulted in the Greece forward netting the equalising goal and he has the potential to be a menace when drifting out to the wings where he will look to exploit Jonas Guttierez’s lack of defensive nous and Heinze’s lack of pace. Argentina continue to be dominant in attack but it’s at the back where question marks remain, with Heinze and defensive partner Martin Demichelis prone to lapses in concentration.
Trivia: There are eight Panathinaikos players in Greece’s World Cup squad, the largest representation by one club in any World Cup team. There are three clubs with seven representatives in one World Cup squad: Bayern Munich (Germany), Barcelona (Spain) and April 25 (North Korea).
Stats: Gonzalo Higuain (age 22 years, 189 days) became the youngest player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup match since Florian Albert (20 years, 261 days) against Bulgaria in 1962. Only two other Argentines aged 22 or younger have scored multiple goals in one game at the World Cup: Diego Maradona (age 21) in 1982 and Carlos Peucelle (21) in 1930.
Odds: Greece(6.00), Argentina (1.61), the draw (3.80) are all on offer at Bet365. A 1-0 win for Greece may seem like a long shot but it’s priced at 13.00.
Prediction: Greece have to go all-out to win the game and they have proved under Rehhagel before that they are more than capable of holding on to one-goal leads at major tournaments. But their desire to get forward will open them up, and with Messi & Co waiting to pounce, Argentina have more than enough quality to emerge as winners.
Tuesday 22nd June 2010
Venue: Peter Mokaba Stadium
Kick-off: 19:30
Rehhagel: Argentina not just about Messi
Greece coach Otto Rehhagel has a plan to contain Lionel Messi in the final Group B encounter but admits Argentina have plenty of other threats which need taking care of.
World player of the year Messi is the stand-out player in a squad of immense talent and Rehhagel believes just to focus on the Barcelona star would leave them open to failings elsewhere.
Having secured the first World Cup win in their history last time out against Nigeria, Greece have a chance of qualifying for the second round if they can better South Korea’s result against the point-less Nigeria.
“I am aware we are playing against Messi, the best player in the world,” said Rehhagel.
“I am not going to tell you how we are going to stop Messi because we don’t give secrets away.
“But wherever he turns up we will try to attack him – but no team has been able to stop him yet.
“For the game Carlos Tevez will not play and Diego Milito will take his place but it makes no difference because Argentina have a lot of world-class players.”
However, Konstantinos Katsouranis, celebrating his 31st birthday, gave an indication of what the plan was.
“One player cannot stop Messi but a team as a whole, yes, we can limit him and that is what we are going to do.”
Rehhagel admits his team’s chances against the South Americans are slim but, considering some of the shock results so far at this World Cup, the veteran German has not given up hope.
“Every player has to play 110% and the game starts at 0-0,” he added. “We have a chance and at the end I hope we don’t say we have missed an opportunity.
“We will try to find the right way to hold our own in the individual positions to provide resistance.
“We will just see how we are going to stand up against the Argentinians.
“It is a big game for us because Argentina have world-class players but we have nothing to lose and everything to gain.”
Argentina coach Diego Maradona has dismissed suggestions he might rest Messi, insisting it would be a “sin” to deprive the public of seeing the best player on the planet.
Prior to the start of the World Cup there had been concerns about Messi`s state of health following a gruelling season with Barcelona and the 22-year-old then played the full 90 minutes in Argentina`s opening two matches against Nigeria and South Korea.
With Argentina having won both those games to establish a three-point lead at the top of Group B heading into the final round of fixtures, it might have crossed Maradona`s mind to give Messi a break for the clash with Greece.
That prospect seemed even more likely as Maradona tested a radically different team in training to the one that beat South Korea 4-1, with Messi one of those not involved.
However, Maradona insisted the reigning FIFA World Player of the Year would feature in the match in Polokwane.
“Lionel Messi always wants to play and I thought I should give him a break (in training) but if you have a player as good as Leo, who is the best player in the world, I think it would be a sin not to give Messi to the people, to the team, and leave out the player who can certainly make the difference in a match,” said Maradona, whose side are not yet guaranteed a place in the last 16 as three teams can still finish on six points in Group B.
“We of course wanted to give Lionel Messi a break (in training). He will play.”
Maradona also played down Messi`s lack of success in front of goal.
The Barca ace had plenty of chances to score against Nigeria and South Korea but could not make the most of them, with great goalkeeping denying him on a number of occasions.
“If Messi is having a bad run then let him continue with that bad run because I’m extremely pleased with Messi`s performances,” said Maradona.
“He goes out to play and help his team-mates. Leo helps define the match and creates things for the other