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Greece vs Argentina - 2010 FIFA World Cup Match Preview

Matias Vulej, June 22 2010,
With seven modifications, Maradona will be looking forward to claim the first position with a perfect score. Greece will go for an offensive formation to break Argentina's relatively weak defense. Will this be enough to earn the Olympics a place in the next stage?

10 days have passed since the opening game of this competition, and from that moment on Argentina's confidence has only grown larger and larger. Gonzalo Higuain is the top striker of this competition with three goals, while Gabriel Heinze has been an unexpected nightmare for most of his rivals. Lionel Messi, yet unable to taste the net has been the successful commander of Argentina's cruise and might even become the captain due to Javier Mascherano's absence.

 

 

Maradona's alternative squad up to a Greek feast 

Argentina's debut match showed a few doubts in the last meters, but thanks to last week's 4-1 victory against Korea the situation has turned around completely. Sergio Aguero's performance in the last 15 minutes of the match (when he occupied Carlos Tevez's place) have earned him an opportunity to be within the starting eleven, joining Diego Milito in this alternative offensive trident Maradona is likely to employ against the Hellenics. Internazionale's top striker will have his first opportunity in South Africa, as Higuain and Tevez's excellent performance has relegated Il Principe to the bench from the first moment on African ground.

Messi will finally be the captain of Maradona's aggressive teamArgentina's back line will offer a new look for this match. Walter Samuel's muscular fatigue against Korea gave Nicolas Burdisso an opportunity to show his worth and he has not let down anyone, even assisting Higuain on Argentina's second goal. Jonas Gutierrez received his second yellow card, and thus will be missing this game. Nicolas Otamendi will most likely be the one to occupy Argentina's left band, while Clemente Rodriguez will take Heinze's place (who already received one yellow card) to better preserve him for the Knockouts.

Javier Mascherano will give Fiorentina's Mauro Bolatti his place in the center of the midfield along with Maxi Rodriguez (who successfully took Juan Sebastian Veron's place during the last match, securing the right end of the midfield). Angel Di Maria will be given a chance to rest, for Veron will return to the starting squad but now on a more aggressive role. Finally, Carlos Tevez and Gonzalo Higuain will give Sergio Aguero and Diego Milito their first World experience in South Africa.

Is Greece to enter the round of 16 for the first time?

Otto Rehhagel will be taking on one of the strongest teams in this competition at the worst possible time, for the Greek need a positive result against Maradona's squad not to be sent back to the Mediterranean early this week. One of the bigger advantages Greece has over Argentina is the average height of its players, much taller than the Gauchos and more focused on the aerial play. This might be the reason why Maradona is making so many modifications in his defense, not to be caught off guard by the Europeans.

"Argentina is very talented and I'm not saying anything new, but we'll go for qualification nonetheless" were Greece's coach declarations regarding this match. He decided not to say anything regarding his team' formation up to the last moment, so all the players are fully focused on such decisive clash. Last week's loose victory over Nigeria embedded the players with a confidence unknown for the Greeks in the Group stage.

Team's most creative midfielder Athanasios Prittas recognized Argentina's weak spot is the defense "It is not that they don't play well, but it does not have the quality of their offense" were his exact words. "We need to remain strong as a team to stop Lionel Messi". Greece is likely to wait for Argentina to take control of the game and rely on the counter attack to lean the game on their side.

Having recently scored their first two goals in a World Championship, the same eleven players that defeated the eagles will be looking for a second victory at Polokwane, for Vangelis Mora is not yet fully recovered from his injuries. Dimitris Salpigidis will have to lead Greece's advance against the Albiceleste, will he repeat last week's glory by tearing down a giant?

Greece vs Argentina

Date: Tuesday, 22 Jun 2010
Time: 14:30 ( US/Eastern )
Competition: FIFA World Cup
Live/Repeat: Live
Venue: Peter Mokaba Stadium

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