Argentina 1-0 Nigeria (Gp B) Sat 12 Jun 15:00pm

The first of today's matches.

I would say Nigeria are no mugs but Argentina really have got an amazing choice of attacking options this year.

Would definitely watch it if I can.

Love watching Lionel Messi play.

Think Nigeria will play very rough and physical, probably the only aspect where they outdo Argentina is their physical strength.

I really dont know what to expect from Nigeria. In the past they used to have one or two big name players, while this time they've got some decent players in European clubs but no real star. Maybe Mikel was the closest they had to it, but he is injured. As a team, I have no idea how they are playing.

I'm going for a good win for the Argentines, considering their attack has so much quality and Nigeria probably wont be enough to stop them.

Not to mention Kanu and Martins are 50 odd.

Why the F**k does our local broadcaster have the UK Setanta Sports presenters?! Can't stand them!!

F**k the way this Fozzy guy commentates you would think he invented the game.

F**k the way this Fozzy guy commentates you would think he invented the game.

Mr state the obvious and act as if your an analystic genius? What a c**t.

EDIT: We're in for a big month ahead Daddo with coverage from 9-6:30am. 

This is going to be my 4th World Cup game of 2010 

Nigeria not starting with Osaze Odiwingwe. Clearly the best in the team. Obafemi, Kanu on the bench too.

Nigeria for he Win!

Argentina v Nigeria line-ups:  

Argentina: Romero, Gutierrez, Demichelis, Samuel, Heinze, Veron, Mascherano, Di Maria, Tevez, Messi, Higuain.

Subs: Pozo, Rodriguez, Burdisso, Bolatti, Garce, Otamendi, Aguero, Palermo, Milito, Maxi, Pastore, Andujar.

Nigeria: Enyeama, Odiah, Yobo, Shittu, Taiwo, Kaita, Etuhu, Haruna, Obasi Ogbuke, Yakubu, Obinna.

Subs: Ejide, Kanu, Afolabi, Utaka, Martins, Ideye, Odemwingie, Uche, Yussuf, Echiejile, Adeleye, Aiyenugbu.

Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany)

I remember BEFORE the World Cup that Maradona said he was going to play like this:

Romero; Otamendi (as right back), Demichelis, Samuel, Heinze; Mascherano, Veron, Jonas, Di Maria; Messi, Higuain

He said he preferred 4 center backs (with Otamendi on the right, Heinze on the left) cause he felt more secure that way. Then he said he would have Masch in front of the back four, with Veron being "Argentina's Xavi" and Jonas & Di Maria on the wings. Messi in the "free role" and Higuain to put the ball on the net.

But it seems that Jonas Gutierrez will play as right back, and Tevez is also starting. Gonna be an interesting game.

C'MON, NIGERIA!

C'MON, NIGERIA!

What he said

NIGERIA!

Mr state the obvious and act as if your an analystic genius? What a c**t.

EDIT: We're in for a big month ahead Daddo with coverage from 9-6:30am. 

We are indeed sir.

Starting to feel it allready hope I can get through this match.

I love that Mascherano.

It's on!

Weren't they in the same group as England in 2002 World Cup?

Just want Masch to do well and watch Lionel Messi and Aguero on the bench 

Those horns and fatty Peirce commentating!

Weren't they in the same group as England in 2002 World Cup?

Yep. Argentina went out in the group stage, it was awesome.

England and Sweden qualified.

Those horns and fatty Peirce commentating!

And Mick McCarthy! What's that all about?!

No Maxi makes me upset. Still love watching Mascherano, though.

Why the hell is Jonas Gutierrez playing right back?

Oh what a miss from Higuian after another brilliant run from Messi.

Higuain


Messi   He's too good, it's frightening

Told you, Messi has got a magnet in his boots with the ball

Enyeama! What a save.

(He's one of the best keepers on FM 10, very cheap too )

Heinze, free header.

We're going to see some goals here.

That didn't take long

Early goal again.

Poor defending, IMO.

6 mins reference to the scum, foul on the defender aswell for the goal.

Heinze 1-0

It was a foul on the defender

Why didn't I put the bet on. Ah well.

Well that didn't take long did it?

Why give Messi so much room?

I went to do groceries, seems my supermarket put a big orange couch and a big flatscreen in the middle of the store so everybody can watch the games.. Was watching for just a minute and then I saw Heinze score, brilliant timing

Higuain missed 2 good chances already. And where's Di Maria?

Enyeama having a good game so far

Good (for them ) to see Messi getting involved, looking for the ball, something he was always criticized for not doing in the National team.

Pearce and McCarthy are doing my head in . BBC must be short of cash

I like this free-form setup that Argentina are playing with. Probably best suits their players.

Di Maria has been completely invisible so far.

Bet Aguero starts over Higuain next match.

Just looking outside at this glorious day... and here I am sat inside watching football!

Bloody digital switchover. I would take a TV outside if it wasn't for that.

I like this free-form setup that Argentina are playing with. Probably best suits their players.

Di Maria has been completely invisible so far.

From what I saw so far it's Tevez on the right, Di Maria on the left, Messi in the free role and Higuain upfront. But Tevez, Higuain and Messi are moving around a lot while Di Maria never leaves the extreme left side of the pitch and doesnt get much involved.

Nigeria's 2 best chances so far were on Argentina's right side, not sure if Jonas was the best option for right back... Zannetti should be in the squad  

I'm actually sitting on my balcony together with my girlfriend, my laptop in my lap, set the tv up inside by the door opening. Just about to have a cold beer. If I'd believe in heaven then this would be it

I have no idea why Zanetti isn't even the squad. I think he's still at the very highest level despite his age.

I do like Taiwo. Think he's ideal for the Premier League.

Messi comes close!

The Nigerian goalie has been immense.  

Great play that was! And another amazing save by Enyeama.


I'm feeling cold here in Rio It's winter... probably warm for you (around 18º C, I think), but for those used to temperatures above 30 all the time, its cold!

The Nigerian goalie has been immense. 

If he carries on like that his club certainly won't be Hapoel Tel Aviv anymore!!

BBC scraping the barrel having that useless tw*t adebayor as a pundit.

Yellow card to Jonas Gutierrez.

Mick McCarthy's voice does my head in.

Good start for Argentina but the game was a little boring after that 

Higuian showing how overrated he is. The guy misses some dead set sitters. Lucky for him he gets another 5 chances to score once.

Messi is sublime. Hopefully this game opens up.

Oh and Di Maria non-existant and Guttierez exposed time and again. I need another 3 Argies!!! Come on.

Klinsmann as a pundit on the BBC, £50 he is linked with us in the Sunday rags

Got a bit boring towards the end.
Higuain and Veron are playing sh*te.
Get Aguero on and get DiMaria more into the game.

Messi was probably the best player of the half.

Di Maria has been quiet and Higuain has missed a couple.

From the Argentine back four, the only player I really rate is Samuel. Demichelis is average, Heinze is sh*t and Jonas isnt a right back (decent winger). Then they've got only Masch in front of them and Veron, who is 34 and very slow (not playing well with the ball either). The other players don't help much in defence which is worrying for them, but they're lucky to have so many great attacking players. Shame Nigeria is so poor too, a better team could've scored against such an exposed right side.

Agreed, Diego.

Jonas doesn't get his positioning right. You see him standing too far from an opposition player.

But to be fair, teams like Netherlands and Argentina have some of the best attacking players and a defensive area which isn't what they are well-known for.

Either Higuain is overrated or he's playing sh*te today.

Nigeria were quite irresponsible there, left only 2 behind to defend against 4 argies

Should be battering these Argentina!

Nigeria are coping but going forward, they're goosed. Well, they have got Yakubu up front.

Either Higuain is overrated or he's playing sh*te today.

This.

Couple broken toes from that for Taiwo?

Uuuuhhh that was close =/

Maxi getting ready to come on.

Looking like Maxi's about to come on.

Our Maxi warming up

Taiwo is a decent player.

And darn, Lionel Messi  

Go on Maxi!!

Is right Maxi lad.

Where's Aguero is he injured or something?

Not a bad strike by Obafatty Martins there.

Normally puts it in the back of the net.

Argentina are very vulnerable, not impressed.

Enyeama is immense. Best player of the World Cup so far.

Is it immature of me to laugh whenever I hear the name Danny Shittu?

If Nigeria somehow get a draw out of this game they can thank their goalkeeper.

and i think Nigeria's goalkeeper Enyeama is worth keeping a eye on! if he keeps this up he could provdie good cover for Reina.

But when was the last time Reina didnt play? has he ever been injured?

Thread here mate.

http://www.lfcreds.com/reds/index.php?topic=30929.0

What's wrong with Messi today? Not like him to fluff such easy chances.

and I think Nigeria's goalkeeper Enyeama is worth keeping a eye on! if he keeps this up he could provdie good cover for Reina.

But when was the last time Reina didnt play? has he ever been injured?

I always get him on FM, he's cheap and quality Then I sell Cavalieri for a decent fee.

Messi's physically tired apparently, not in good shape and in need of a rest. At least that's what one of their physio's has said a few days ago, they don't expect him to recover from that this tournament.

FT 1 - 0.

Now for the England match!

Messi's physically tired apparently, not in good shape and in need of a rest. At least that's what one of their physio's has said a few days ago, they don't expect him to recover from that this tournament.

If that's the case then he has played pretty well, hasn't he?

I know he didn't score but he had like 4-5 shots and a few of a his classic runs.

MOTM: Enyeama.

Argentina created a lot of chances, but Enyeama made many great saves. On the other hand, their defense looked very vulnerable. Shame no Nigerian could hit the target so Romero didn't have much to do. Gutted about Heinze's goal cause it should of been disallowed, there was clearly a foul on the defender.

Nigeria really missed Martins and Peter Odiwingwe. They changed the game in the second half. Boring for Argentina to run down the clock with their lazy run-down-the-clock passing.

Is Maradona on drugs?

Good shout out to the Nigerian keeper Victor Enyeama.

Jürgen Klinsmann's a c**t. His accent is pretentious. Like Tim Westwood.

Grrrr.

Could pretty much copy and paste what I said at half time. Higuian is so overrated! Milito shits all over him and could of been 4-0 if he played from the start.

Decent win, something to build on and show where they need to work.

Yeah the Nigerian 'keeper was the man of the match for me. Messi did decent but just couldn't get through.

I just watched a video of a Brazilian comedy show called CQC in which one of their reporters went to Argentina in the day of their game vs Nigeria, went to a bar full of argentines watching it and used an universal remote control to turn the tv off everytime Argentina got near to scoring. Every single time It's hilarious, and then after the match he tells them it was him all the time so the argies ask him "are you Brazilian? Are you Brazilian? I knew it was a Brazilian!" hahaha. I thought it was a very funny idea.