Report by Stephen Lars

Significantly had been mentioned and speculated about the Argentinean National Soccer team’s debut in South Africa World Cup 2010. The albicelestes are guided by no other then the Soccer legend Diego Armando Maradona and even with his great accomplishment as a player, his performance as the team’s head coach had been a bit dubious.

Even with the star-stuffed squad, and the counting with maybe 1 of the greatest active gamers in the globe, Lionel Messi, Argentina struggled a lot in the qualifying stage of their South American qualification. Nevertheless, the group showed up on Saturday to play Nigeria on Ellis Park Stadium in Johanesburg and just plainly dominated the Nigerian national soccer crew.

Gabriel Heinze, the Marseille defender, opened the score really early in the game. He obtained a fantastic pass from Juan Sebastian Verón from the right flank, and just dived for the ball and placed a fantastic header into the leading left corner of the Nigerian goal.

The two Messi and Carlos Tevez had been continuously triggering wonderful difficulty for the Nigerian defense. Their swift and rapidly-paced dribbling, as nicely as their capacity to find spaces in the tightest defense, kept offering the Argentinean team the edge.

Finally, and for the very first time in a whilst, the Argentinean crew was in a position to perform quite nicely as a group. A lot of fans and some of the sport press had expressed their considerations for Messi’s efficiency with the Nationwide Group. It is fact that while playing for FC Barcelona, and especially at their home stadium, the Camp Nou, the Argentinean player had just been breathtaking. Not only for his above par scoring capability, but also for his practically normal disposition for the sport. He can pass, defend, and even outrun and outplay opponents that are much taller and corpulent then he is.

But he had nonetheless to make the transition and show a related efficiency although enjoying for the Argentinean nationwide soccer group. But he certain adequate proved his well worth on this first sport. The total tale would had been a lot much more distinct had the Nigerian crew not have this sort of a gifted and often attentive goalkeeper. If it had not been for the rapid hands and almost acrobatic ability of Vincent Enayama, Messi and the relaxation of the Argentinean offense like Barcelona’s Gonzalo Higuain, Benfica’s Angel Di Maria, and Manchester City’s Carlos Tevez would all had scored at least the moment.

Even with the good game, and Diego Maradona’s group putting their first 3 points in Group B board, the team just couldn’t complete most of their offensive plays. For a team that dominated most aspects of a sport, kept the ball in their control 65% of the time, and had 20 shots at goal (practically twice as a lot of as Nigeria) a 1- win would not look to be very convincing.

Argentina seemed defensively fragile at time. Nigeria, despite finishing only a single shot on target, had lots of possibilities to adjust points around. They ended up able to open up the Argentinean defense in quick breaks, when some of the defenders would move up front to lead on the attacks. Tayer Taiwo had a extremely close shot that just went vast. Obafemi Martins shot from a distance would then get Sergio Romero, the Argentinean goalie, into problems, but he was ready to deflect the ball. At the end, just a couple of minutes before the stop, Yakubu Alyegbeni couldn´t maintain his shot very low, in what would had been the Nigerian team’s greatest shot to even the sport.

Angel Di Maria was on off-mode for significantly of the sport. Now, the Argentinean staff had a great game, but they positive plenty of have to stage it up, if they really want to be taken severely for the title. Stronger teams up forward will not be so forgiving to a team that had 20 shots and but couldn’t destroy the game.

About the Author

Stephen Lars is a prominent sports blogger and currently addresses the FIFA Globe Cup 2010 Odds previews and handicaps for the BetIAS’ Sports Betting Weblog. You might reprint this post in its full content, be sure to note no modifications to it are accepted.