A South American Soprano?
* If anything can save this tournament, it's the reappearance of the one and the only Diego Maradona. Just a day after bitch slapping Pele -- Maradona told him he should "go back to the museum" -- Diego Armando will squeeze into his suit again to coach Argentina against a feisty-looking South Korea. It's one worth getting up early for. If the Koreans can work a draw, they'll have a one-goal advantage in differential going into the last match, and Argentina will face pressure to run up the score on Greece to top the group. I'm guessing the Koreans will hunker down defensively and try to work the counterattack, but I like Messi and Co. to sneak at least one past the post. More than that, though, I'm afraid I can't expect from this tournament. Argentina 1, South Korea 0.
* Also in Group B, Greece takes on Nigeria in a battle of two first-match losers. Another loss here would almost certainly send either of these squads out of the tournament; even a draw puts them deep behind the 8-ball. I liked Nigeria coming into the Cup, but I wasn't overly impressed with their ability to generate offense against Argentina. This match has an ominous feel to it: I'll say, with some small hope for a reverse-jinx, Greece 0, Nigeria 0.
* Finally, back in Group A, it's France vs. Mexico. Uruguay's stomping of South Africa makes this game even more significant for both these teams, who can now count on trailing the South Americans in goal differential. I have extremely high hopes for this match: Mexico (along with Chile and Germany) have played among the most open soccer of the tournament, and scoring chances should be available on both ends of the pitch. Both sides, too, like to have possession, so it will be interesting to watch the duel in the midfield. In the end, I'm hesitant to predict much more than France 1, Mexico 1, but if ever a match looked likely to see 3+ goals, it's this one.
* Also in Group B, Greece takes on Nigeria in a battle of two first-match losers. Another loss here would almost certainly send either of these squads out of the tournament; even a draw puts them deep behind the 8-ball. I liked Nigeria coming into the Cup, but I wasn't overly impressed with their ability to generate offense against Argentina. This match has an ominous feel to it: I'll say, with some small hope for a reverse-jinx, Greece 0, Nigeria 0.
* Finally, back in Group A, it's France vs. Mexico. Uruguay's stomping of South Africa makes this game even more significant for both these teams, who can now count on trailing the South Americans in goal differential. I have extremely high hopes for this match: Mexico (along with Chile and Germany) have played among the most open soccer of the tournament, and scoring chances should be available on both ends of the pitch. Both sides, too, like to have possession, so it will be interesting to watch the duel in the midfield. In the end, I'm hesitant to predict much more than France 1, Mexico 1, but if ever a match looked likely to see 3+ goals, it's this one.