itsbeautifuloutside

Nigeria v Argentina

Porto Alegre, 25th June 2014

Match Report

Now this is where it all starts to get interesting. Players and coaches can almost taste the knock-out rounds. It’s not just survival that’s at stake, who finishes first and who second starts to matter as both managers analyse their potential route to the final.

All we do know, for certain, prior to kick-off is;

1. Bosnia and Herzegovina are on tomorrow’s plane back home.
2. Argentina will finish up as group winners or runners up
3. Iran can finish second, third or fourth
4. Nigeria can finish second or third
5. There is a possibility of FIFA drawing lots to select Nigeria or Iran as runners up

The permutations make for an interesting match.

This will be the fourth time that these two teams have met in a World Cup competition, Argentina having won the first three. Argentina also have an unchanged team which means that Messi, their brightest star so far, starts. Nigeria have one change, Babatunde on for the injured Victor Moses. Coach Stephen Keshi leaves Oboabona and Gabriel on the bench which means that Stoke’s Peter Odemwingie gets a start.

And what a start it was. Mascherano, barely back on his feet after a robust tackle by Odemwingie, slots a perfect pass through to Di Maria, he shoots, Enyeama gets a hand to the ball, it rebounds of off the post and is met by Messi who is charging into the penalty area. A scorching shot into the top of the net! Only 3 minutes gone and it’s 1-0 to Argentina.

If anyone thought that presaged the opening of the floodgates they were swiftly disabused. Just over a minute later, Musa runs down the left channel, cuts inside and curls a beautiful, unstoppable, shot into the top right hand corner of Romero’s goal. 1-1 and not even five minutes on the clock - apparently that’s the first time that’s ever happened in the World Cup!

An intriguing first half of end-to-end football; Argentina continuing to press, Di Maria is having an excellent match, Enyeama is kept busy; but Nigeria are having their moments too. Both sets of attackers are probing the frailties of their opposition’s defences but no further goals are scored until just before the half time whistle. And it’s that man Messi again; a superb free kick over the wall and into the net. HT 2-1 to Argentina.

The second half is barely underway when the other star of the game, Musa, runs onto a pass from Emineke and slams a shot under Romero. Messi 2, Musa 2! The Argentine defence too slow to react, but even so, that Musa is a class act.

It’s not too long before Argentina take the lead again as a corner is met by Rojo’s knee and flies into the net. But Bosnia are beating Iran so it’s not too bad for Nigeria - this news keeps them in second place.

Sabella (or IDS, whichever it is) takes off Messi, who gets a tremendous acclaim from the massive Argentine support in the stadium, on the hour. The half continues with Zabaleta giving a masterclass in defending against Musa but no further goals occur despite both sides trying hard. And that’s how it ends, 3-2 to Argentina, thanks to two unconvincing defences and some excellent attacking play.

Bosnia & Herzegovina beat Iran 3-1 so Nigeria finish as runners up (Bosnia take third place in the group). They go on to play France next Monday; probably as far as they will go, especially if France play Morgan Schneiderlin !

Argentina play Switzerland on Tuesday. Can they go all the way? They are in with a good chance but, unless they tighten up defensively the semi-finals will be the best they’ll achieve.

stbaz