Demichelis, Palermo Goals Win Group B For Argentina, Eliminates Greece

Argentina’s 2-0 win over Greece eliminated the Greeks from the 2010 World Cup, affirming first place in Group B and a Round of 16 match with Mexico along the way.

Late goals by Martin Demichelis and Martin Palermo gave Argentina three points and a perfect record in group play, outscoring their opponents 7-1 along the way. Today’s result came despite seven lineup chances from Diego Maradona, changes that saw Nicolas Otamendi, Nicolas Burdisso, Clemente Rodriguez, Diego Milito, Mario Bolatti and Kun Aguero get their first starts of the tournament.

Lionel Messi’s quest for a goal has cracked the post and forced a diving stop in the last three minutes, but the second of those changes led to a Martin Palermo goal.

A shot from Messi from 20 yards out was parried by Alexandros Tzorvas, with the rebound going to the Boca Juniors forward, who put the ball home to make it 2-0.

Argentina has gotten on the board first against Greece, though it took 78 minutes to do so, but with Martin Demichelis’s conversion of a corner kick. Greece is all-but-out of the 2010 World Cup.

Demichelis headed a corner kick toward goal only to have it blocked by teammate Diego Milito. Demichelis was first to the loose ball and powered it into the top of the goal, giving Argentina a 1-0 lead.

Seven changes for Argentina gave the Albiceleste a new team for today’s match against Greece, but with Greece starting in a 5-4-1, Argentina’s World Cup debutantes were unable to break through, leaving the teams drawn 0-0 at halftime.

Greece only had one touch in Argentina’s penalty area, while Argentina kept 78 percent of the possession and had four shots on goal. The closest the Albiceleste came was in the 18th minute, when a left footed shot from Sergio Aguero forced Alexandros Tzorvas into a diving block.

But if that door is open, it’s barely so as it concerns Argentina’s chances of losing this group. Argentina needs to lose to Greece by three and have South Korea win by three for them to miss-out in the next round, so Diego Maradona seems safe making his changes; however, Argentina is heavily influencing the race for Group B’s second place. Even if Greece can’t pass Argentina, their chances to move past South Korea and into second place improve with each concession Maradona makes.

Argentina, Going Forward: This is where Maradona’s proposed wholesale changes could stagnate the Albiceleste. Where Greece has typically been very disciplined at the back, you think a certain level of cohesion amongst teammates necessary to break-down the Greeks. But with all the changes Maradona proposes to make, that cohesion will be absent.