3 excellent games today, that I hope have kick started this World Cup  properly they way we all hoped it would, Impressive play from the Argentineans, First World Cup goals from Greece and Latin fire puts out the French light.

MY THOUGHTS:

Properly impressed by Maradona’s side today, started off really fast, attacking the Korean defence, Di Maria and Tevez were superb, Di Maria coming more into his own, knowing when to drift inside and letting Tevez drift wide, in which he was fantastic, showing his fighting spirit and he never give up attitude, Messi was his majestically self, picking the ball up deep and trying to dazzle the opposition, the 5 minutes before half time and the 5 minutes after the break the Argentine train stuttered they lost a goal and could have been cut down to 2 each, but for the other 80 minutes Argentina’s play was fast direct and effective, question marks over Higuain’s ability to recreate his Real Madrid form were mostly answered with a superb hat-trick, 2 neat headers and a tap in, Messi was the wizard that made it all happen, swishing his left foot around the pitch creating magic it was a joy to watch.

Interesting to see what Maradona does if Veron is fit the next match as I think that team was more balanced, another food for thought would be Sergio Aguero he was a constant threat when he came on in the second half, Maradona’s son-in-law pushing for a place in the starting lineup.

Korea didn’t look the same team that beat Greece on Saturday, the second half they started better putting some passes together, Park was too quiet, Ki was taken off for Kim Nam-Il at half time, this made them a bit more solid in midfield but nothing could have stopped Messi & Co. Park wasn’t as effective up front Demichellis and Burdisso kept him under wraps.

Korea needs to find the form they showed against Greece in their last game against Nigeria who are all but eliminated, and they have the players to do it.

MY THOUGHTS:

A Day Greece will remember for a long time, scoring their first ever World Cup goals and also coming form behind to win, Rehhagel came under lots of criticism from his teams performance and his selection in the first game, no surprise he made changes, Salapingidis came in on the wing after he impressed when he came on against Korea, and he had a superb game, small and very strong, great on the ball, has pace and power, he was my man of the match, he got some luck for his goal but good players make their own luck, Karagounis played much better than his first game, spreading the ball around, and having some attempts on goal, he looked like the playmaker he has made his reputation as.

A great come back from Greece helped in fact by the sending off of Sani Kaita, however they showed fight and spirit to get the goals and bombarded the Nigeria goal in the 2nd half, you wouldn’t fancy them to trouble Argentina, however anything goes in this World Cup.

Nigeria will be very disappointed in themselves, took the early lead and looked to be in control of the game until Kaita saw Red, lunging out a foot and kicking a Greek player, straight red, and it changed the game. Odemwingie was ineffective in the first half and was subbed at half time; the bright points were Lukman Haruna looking very impressive, calm on the ball, good passer, a bright future ahead of him.

It could have been so different, Enyeama made a fantastic save, Nigeria broke up the pitch Obasi using his speed to get free, found Yakubu in space he was 1 on 1 with Tsvoras and the keeper made a great save, the rebound fell to Obasi and his effort was terrible, he should have scored.

Nigeria need a miracle to qualify they need to beat Korea and hope Argentina beat Greece and they need to score goals, nothing is impossible.

MY THOUGHTS:

I thought that France couldn’t possibly play as bad as they did against Uruguay, boy was I wrong, they actually started pretty well, some nice passing, but no end product, however when they got to the second half, they looked a shambles not passion, no effort, before it was 1-0 they had given up.

Ribery started bright in the middle of the park, as did Malouda they 2 were Frances hopes to create something, Anelka and Govou were invisible, Toulalan very ineffective, and the France defence doesn’t even deserve to be mentioned.

Mexico were superb, gave 100% for the whole game, maybe didn’t look comfortable till Vela came off injured and Paulo Barrera came on and his pace and desire to attack cause endless problems, dos Santos worked his socks off, defending from the front not giving any French player any time on the ball, always in and about them, the back line of Salcido, Moreno, Rodriguez and Osorio were never troubled, Salcido had a great desire to get forward as well which kept Sagna and Govou quiet, Javier Hernandez replaced Franco in the second half and he got the first goal, a great run in behind the defence, took it past Lloris and finished calmly.

The second came when Barrera glided past Evra and then invited a challenge from Abidal he took Barrera down, and the veteran Cuauhtémoc Blanco stepped up and placed the penalty past Lloris and now Mexico only need a point to guarantee a place in the 2nd Round, but will want to win to avoid Argentina.