Host Nation's World Cup Armchair Diary: Day Seven

We are now one full week into the 2010 World Cup, and the first full day of second fixtures was upon us. The big question: were the numerous wary, lethargic, low-scoring performances really down to the altitude, the new ball, the vuvuzelas?

If the quality of football on display so far in game two of Groups A and B, the answer would appear to be "perhaps they were".



Shaking things up a little bit was the order of play: with Uruguay kicking off the second wave with a 3-0 victory over hosts South Africa on Wednesday, their Group A bedfellows France and Mexico would have to wait 24 hours to make their own second impression.

In the mean-time, two of the most stylish nations from the opening batch of games, Argentina and South Korea, combined their positive play from Saturday to provide one of the best contests yet.

For all of Argentina's attacking prowess, their only two goals in their first 110 minutes of WC action were from dead ball situations. On this occasion, Korean defender Park Chu-Young inadvertently converted Lionel Messi's free-kick from the left, before Gonzalo Higuain began compensating for a lacklustre showing against Nigeria by doubling the lead just past the half hour mark.

Not many saw a Korean response coming on the stroke of half-time - least of all Martin Demichelis, whose casual dawdling allowed an alert Lee Chung-Yong to pounce for possession and quickly fire home for 2-1.

Both sides traded attempts on goal almost as equals in the second half, but when Yeom Ki-Hun missed a golden chance at the end of a wonderful flowing approach, the underdogs had scuppered their chance to end the game as just that.

Higuain's second was fortunate for him and unfortunate for the Asian sensations: Messi's second attempt at an angled shot bounced off the post and right to his feet from two yards. Some defensive ball-watching didn't help when the Real Madrid forward found himself unmarked to make it 3-1, but there wasn't much the back line could do about number four.

Fantastic work between Messi and Sergio Aguero left a close range header for Higuain to convert for the hat-trick - and pole position in the Golden Boot standings - which Gonzalo did with aplomb, masterfully guiding the ball inside the far post.

The all-action goalfest left Maradona's men on the verge of qualification, while Korea need to defeat Nigeria to be sure. But would it indeed be the straight play-off between the two nations next week? Or would Greece, dire in defeat Saturday lunchtime, add a twist?

Well, they did - but I have to wonder if they would have even got back into the game if not for Sani Kaita's straight red for a ridiculous reaction to a handbags situation, lashing out with a kick on Vasileios Torosidis with an hour left to play.

Kalu Uche had given the Africans the lead with a long-distance free kick which somehow crept its way past a packed box and in. Credit for the technique, though. It was looking like a repeat of the Korea capitulation was on the cards for Otto Rehhagel's side.

However, after the red card it was as if Greece smelt blood and decided to show the world they could indeed attack. That this transformation occurred after the sending off and not going behind was a trifle worrying, but nonetheless a game that many had written off in the entertainment stakes had sprung into life.

There was nonetheless an element of luck to both Greek goals: Dimitrios Salpingidis' effort took a wild deflection on its way in just before the interval, and with twenty minutes remaining Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama - excellent against Argentina and for the majority here - suffered a Rob Green-esque spill to gift Torosidis a tap-in for the nation's first World Cup finals win.

After their showing in game one, the prospect of Greece making the last sixteen was unfathomable, but it is nonetheless still possible. And with Argentina still needing a point to be absolutely sure of their own progress, they'll need more of this opportunistic fire to take something from the final group game.

One side who are now even more unfathomable to reach the knockout stage are 2006 finalists France. After their comprehensive 2-0 defeat to Mexico, they find themselves without a point, without a goal, and without a shred of credibility.

While the final fixtures are on their side as they match up against a frail and demoralised South Africa, judging by their first two games it's going to take a miracle for them to even show something resembling team spirit.

Raymond Domenech's men looked like a bunch of strangers throughout, and key man Franck Ribery in particular seemed to be playing as a team unto himself. Meanwhile, although it took longer than they'd hoped to break the deadlock, the Mexicans threatened with lightning pace and creative flourish throughout, backed up by a steely performance from engine room man Rafael Marquez.

When Man United's Javier Hernandez made it 1-0 on 64 minutes, he beat an offside trap that didn't even seem that bothered. The body language was matched by utter despondence on the touchlines from the French subs, many of whom Domenech appeared not to bring on for personal preference.

Ten minutes from time, the sorry showing was punctuated by Pablo Barrera's almost-too-easy dash into the box, where he was felled by Eric Abidal leaving 37-year-old Cuauhtemoc Blanco to put the game to bed from twelve yards.

While the host nation will have lost some of that initial tournament pride and momentum from their decisive defeat to Uruguay, and possess a back four liable to concede almost at all times, it's hard to believe they will succumb to defeat to this French side unless Domenech can somehow rally the troops for what is threatening to be his final game in charge, a fortnight sooner than planned.

Meanwhile, Uruguay and Mexico could easily just play out a bore draw to guarantee both sides' progression. However, with the group winners likely to avoid Argentina in the round of 16 there's hope yet that we'll have the possibility of twists and turns on matchday three in Group A.

THE GAMES SO FAR:

1. Argentina v South Korea, Group B, June 17 (4-1) 9
2. Germany v Austrailia, Group D, June 13 (4-0) - 8
3. Spain v Switzerland, Group H, June 16 (0-1) - 8
4. Brazil v North Korea, Group G, June 15 (2-1) - 7.5
5. South Africa v Mexico, Group A, June 11 (1-1) - 7.5
6. Chile v Honduras, Group H, June 16 (1-0) - 7
7. South Africa v Uruguay, Group A, June 16 (0-3) - 7
8. Nigeria v Greece, Group B, June 17 (1-2) - 7
9. Argentina v Nigeria, Group B, June 12 (1-0) - 6.5
10. New Zealand v Slovakia, Group F, June 15 (1-1) - 6.5
11. France v Mexico, Group A, June 17 (0-2) - 6
12. Ghana v Serbia, Group D, June 13 (1-0) - 6
13. England v United States, Group C, June 12 (1-1) - 6
14. South Korea v Greece, Group B, June 12 (2-0) - 6
15. Japan v Cameroon, Group E, June 14 (1-0) - 6
16. Holland v Denmark, Group E, June 14 (2-0) - 6
17. Italy v Paraguay, Group F, June 14 (1-1) - 5.5
18. Cote d'Ivoire v Portugal, Group G, June 15 (0-0) - 4.5
19. France v Uruguay, Group A, June 11 (0-0) - 3
20. Algeria v Slovenia, Group C, June 13 (0-1) - 3

THE GOALS SO FAR:

1. Tshabalala (South Africa v Mexico, June 11) 9
2. Higuain [3] (Argentina v South Korea, June 17) 9
3. Forlan (Uruguay v South Africa, June 16) 8.5
4. Maicon (Brazil v North Korea, June 15) 8.5
5. Podolski (Germany v Australia, June 13) 8
6. Yun-Nam Ji (North Korea v Brazil, June 15) 8
7. Klose (Germany v Australia, June 13) 7.5
8. Ji-Sung Park (South Korea v Greece, June 12) 7.5
9. Muller (Germany v Australia, June 13) 7.5
10. Elano (Brazil v North Korea, June 15) 7.5
11. Uche (Nigeria v Greece, June 17) 7.5
12. Gerrard (England v United States, June 12) 7.5
13. Heinze (Argentina v Nigeria, June 12) 7
14. Reid (New Zealand v Slovakia, June 15) 7
15. Higuain [1] (Argentina v South Korea, June 17) 7
16. Honda (Japan v Cameroon, June 14) 7
17. Pereira (Uruguay v South Africa, June 16) 7
18. Hernandez (Mexico v France, June 17) 7
19. Cacau (Germany v Australia, June 13) 7
20. Alcaraz (Paraguay v Italy, June 14) 7
21. Chong-Yong Lee (South Korea v Argentina, June 17) 6.5
22. Fernandes (Switzerland v Spain, June 16) 6.5
23. Beausejour (Chile v Honduras, June 16) 6
24. Jung-Soo Lee (South Korea v Greece, June 12) 6
25. Kuyt (Holland v Denmark, June 14) 6
26. Koren (Slovenia v Algeria, June 13) 6
27. Higuain [2] (Argentina v South Korea, June 17) 5.5
28. Marquez (Mexico v South Africa, June 11) 5
29. Salpingidis (Greece v Nigeria, June 17) 5
30. Dempsey (United States v England, June 12) 5
31. Torosidis (Greece v Nigeria, June 17) 4.5
32. De Rossi (Italy v Paraguay, June 14) 4.5
33. Vittek (Slovakia v New Zealand, June 15) 4

Expect a delay on Blog Eight as I hit Hornchurch for England's all-important second Group game! Also, Germany/Serbia and Slovenia/USA!