Venue: Ellis Park
Line ups:
Argentina
- 22 Romero
- 02 Demichelis
- 06 Heinze
- 13 Samuel
- 07 Di Maria
- 08 Veron
- 14 Mascherano (Captain)
- 17 Gutierrez
- 09 Higuain
- 10 Messi
- 11 Tevez
Substitutes:
- 01 Diego Pozo,
- 21 Mariano Andujar,
- 03 Rodriguez,
- 04 Burdisso,
- 12 Ariel Garce,
- 15 Otamendi,
- 05 Bolatti,
- 20 Maxi,
- 23 Pastore,
- 16 Aguero,
- 18 Martin Palermo,
- 19 Milito
Nigeria
- 01 Enyeama
- 02 Yobo (Captain)
- 03 Taiwo
- 06 Shittu
- 17 Odiah
- 14 Kaita
- 15 Haruna
- 20 Etuhu
- 08 Yakubu
- 18 Obinna
- 19 Obasi Ogbuke
Substitutes:
- 16 Ejide,
- 23 Aiyenugbu,
- 05 Afolabi,
- 21 Echiejile,
- 10 Brown,
- 12 Uche,
- 13 Yussuf,
- 22 Adeleye,
- 04 Kanu,
- 07 Utaka,
- 09 Martins,
- 11 Odemwingie
Argentina silence critics for the time being with an opening win over Nigeria in Group B.
Will he play? What position is he playing in? Will he pick the right players? Why no Cambiasso?
These are all questions associated with the Argentina squad these days it would seem since Diego Maradona took over the team.
Many critics have questioned the tactics of Diego Maradona and were ready to pounce should any mishaps occur in their opening group game against Nigeria.
Argentina with a left midfielder at right back with 3 centre backs making up the rest of the back four, they actually got off to a blistering pace.
It was always a question as to whether or not Lionel Messi could bring his club form to his country and those questions were answered yesterday with Messi instrumental in Argentina's attacking play.
Messi had a glorious number of attempts to score but were denied each time by Nigerian goalkeeper, Enyeama who , for me earned a man of the match for his performance in goal.
It was Argentina who were dominant throughout the half. It was Tevez's shot which led to the goal as the keeper tipped over for Veron to supply the cross for Heinze to head home a beauty into the top left hand corner.
Nigeria had their chances when former Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins was brought on. Himself and Yakubu played well together with narrow misses.
The game was rather stretched and Argentina were calm and cool in their passing to break up play and earn a large slice of the possession.
One last chance for Messi in the final minute of the game was to prove unsuccessful as the little magician must have wondered how he could score at all against an in form Nigerian goalkeeper.
A swift blast of the full time whistle saw Argentina across the line with a well deserved victory.
The critics may have their doubts about the defensive options of the Argentina team but there's no doubt that Messi aims to be the star of the tournament after a sensational performance.
Attendance: 50,389
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