World Cupdate

Round 3 in the World Cup began with the two Group A matches, Mexico and Uruguay, and France and South Africa.  El Tri opened up hard against La Celeste, the winner taking the group, the loser possibly bounced out if the score was run up too much.  Mexico's familiar 1-2-3-4 spear with Franco at point tried to pierce Uruguay's 3-3-4 formation with Suarez, Forlan, and Cavani up front, and early on both sides were driving hard.  Both teams were clearly flustered by the thought of being sent home by a loss, but it was Uruguay's Suarez who struck home at 43'.  El Tri were suddenly on the verge of going home with nothing. The second half turned into a massive turf war with Mexico fighting for the draw.  The second half was more of the same, both teams fighting for the win to try to take the group outright, but Uruguay's defense was just too strong and they won 1-0.

Meanwhile, South Africa and France tangled as it was the last chance for the host Bafana to show their mettle, while the French were desperately trying to stave off an embarrassing collapse in the first two matches and team in turmoil.  The Bafana went 2-4-4 with Mphela and Parker in the lead, while the French congealed into a 1-3-2-4 blob that found Cissie the unfortunate point man.  The French surrender started early as Les Bleus failed to pick up the scarecrow-like Khumalo on the corner kick and he headed it in at 20', then not five minutes later France's Yoann Gourcuff is sent off with a red for a face-bound elbow shot, and the French resistance then promptly collapsed into complete disarray.  Mphela promptly put one in at 37' and at the half, South Africa was poised to run up the score high enough to pass Mexico and actually make the round of 16.  But in the second half some of the old Gallic pride finally shone through as France deflated the Bafana with a Malouda goal at 70', enough to keep them out of advancing, but not enough to rescue their own horrible, last place performance with th 2-1 loss.  Uruguay and Mexico will advance, while South Africa has to look on at the rest of the Cup wondering what almost was...and France has to find a large enough rock to hide under for the next four years.

The late games bring us to Group B where Nigeria faced South Korea, and Greece took on Argentina.  Nigeria needed a win and for Argentina to smash Greece, South Korea needed the same result, and the Greeks just needed to win (and for Korea not to score six goals.)  Nigeria went on the board first at 12' as Kalu Uche of the Super Eagles and their 1-3-2-4 squad led by striker Yakubu drew first blood, and the South Koreans tried to get back into the match with a 2-4-4 squad led by Chu Young Park and Ki Hoon Yeom.  they did so, but it came from the unlikely head and boot of fullback Jung-Soo Lee, sneaking in on the free kick set piece at 38'.  The second half immediately saw South Korea step up against the floundering Nigerians and score again off a free kick at 49' by Chu Young Park, but a Yakubu penalty kick at 69' knotted the match at 2-2 and were very much back in the contest.  Time however was not on Nigeria's side, and the match ended in that draw.

On the other side of the savanna Greece faced off against Argentina, and the Piratikos looked to stun the Albiceleste , but Argentina was in no hurry to risk injury where they had all but won the group.  Greece was clearly playing for the draw with a defensive 1-5-4 formation with Georgios Samaras at point, while the Gauchos wasted no time with a bold 3-3-4 attack led by Messi, Milito and Aguero. The first half results were underwhelming at best as both sides seemed happy with the draw, especially with news that Nigeria was leading early.  Korea tying the match was not good news for the Greeks however.  The second half saw the South Koreans take the lead, and that lit a fire under the Greeks, now playing for survival and throwing all three subs in by 55'.  Sometimes pressure brings out greatness...in others it just opens the cracks in the armor, and that's what happened to Greece as Argentina scored at 77' and again at 89' to decapitate the stunned Piratikos and sinking their hopes for good.  With Argentina getting the win and South Korea earning a draw, they'll be the one-two from Group B to face Mexico and Uruguay respectively this weekend.