Group B of the 2010 FIFA World Cup began on 12 June and ended on 22 June 2010. The group consisted of Argentina, Nigeria, South Korea and Greece. It was the third time that Argentina and Nigeria had been drawn together in the same World Cup group, after 1994 (when Greece were also in the same group) and 2002. Argentina had also been paired with South Korea in 1986.
Argentina won all three of their matches, conceding just one goal, and progressed as group winners. South Korea joined them in the knockout stage by virtue of their victory over Greece in the opening match and a draw with Nigeria in the last. That point was the only one Nigeria won, having also lost to Greece in their second match.
Source: FIFA Rules for classification: Tie-breaking criteria
Argentina advanced to play Mexico (runners-up of Group A) in the round of 16.
South Korea advanced to play Uruguay (winners of Group A) in the round of 16.
Matches
All times local (UTC+2)
South Korea vs Greece
In the seventh minute, Ki Sung-yong's free kick near the left corner was inadvertently flicked on by Kostas Katsouranis, before Lee Jung-soo rushed to the back post to open the scoring. The Koreans' lead was doubled through captain Park Ji-sung, who tackled Loukas Vyntra and sprinted all the way to fire a low shot into the corner of the net as they kept their 2–0 win until the final whistle.
Assistant referees: Jan Hendrik Hintz (New Zealand) Tevita Makasini (Tonga) Fourth official: Martín Vázquez (Uruguay) Fifth official: Carlos Pastorino (Uruguay)
Argentina vs Nigeria
On six minutes, an unmarked Gabriel Heinze dived forward to head home Juan Sebastián Verón's corner kick and put Argentina 1–0 up. Lionel Messi had numerous chances for Argentina following that, but on each occasion, Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama was able to keep the margin down to one. Enyeama's saves earned him the man of the match award. Post-match, Argentina coach Diego Maradona said he was confident his side would perform well in the future.
Argentina
1–0
Nigeria
Heinze 6'
Report
Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
Attendance: 55,686
Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany)
Argentina
Nigeria
GK
22
Sergio Romero
RB
17
Jonás Gutiérrez
41'
CB
2
Martín Demichelis
CB
13
Walter Samuel
LB
6
Gabriel Heinze
DM
14
Javier Mascherano (c)
RM
8
Juan Sebastián Verón
74'
LM
7
Ángel Di María
85'
AM
10
Lionel Messi
CF
11
Carlos Tevez
CF
9
Gonzalo Higuaín
79'
Substitutions:
MF
20
Maxi Rodríguez
74'
FW
19
Diego Milito
79'
DF
4
Nicolás Burdisso
85'
Manager:
Diego Maradona
GK
1
Vincent Enyeama
RB
17
Chidi Odiah
CB
2
Joseph Yobo (c)
CB
6
Danny Shittu
LB
3
Taye Taiwo
75'
CM
14
Sani Kaita
CM
20
Dickson Etuhu
CM
15
Lukman Haruna
77'
RF
19
Chinedu Obasi
60'
CF
8
Yakubu
LF
18
Victor Obinna
52'
Substitutions:
FW
9
Obafemi Martins
52'
FW
11
Peter Odemwingie
60'
FW
12
Kalu Uche
75'
Manager:
Lars Lagerbäck
Man of the Match: Vincent Enyeama (Nigeria)
Assistant referees: Jan-Hendrik Salver (Germany) Mike Pickel (Germany) Fourth official: Khalil Al Ghamdi (Saudi Arabia) Fifth official: Hassan Kamranifar (Iran)
Argentina vs South Korea
Argentina took the lead when Lionel Messi's free kick from the left was turned into the Korean goal by Korean player Park Chu-young. A free kick was awarded on the left, and Messi's cross was headed in by Gonzalo Higuaín. In first half injury time, Korea cut the deficit when Lee Chung-yong tackled Martín Demichelis to score. Two goals from Argentina in the second half sealed a 4–1 win. Messi's shot was first saved by goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong; his second shot hit the post before Higuaín shot the ball into an unguarded net. Higuaín completed his hat-trick by heading in a cross from substitute Sergio Agüero.
Assistant referees: José Cardinal (Portugal) Bertino Miranda (Portugal) Fourth official: Marco Antonio Rodríguez (Mexico) Fifth official: José Luis Camargo (Mexico)
Greece vs Argentina
Greece
0–2
Argentina
Report
Demichelis 77'
Palermo 89'
Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane
Attendance: 38,891
Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)
Greece
Argentina
GK
12
Alexandros Tzorvas
RB
16
Sotirios Kyrgiakos
CB
11
Loukas Vyntra
CB
8
Avraam Papadopoulos
LB
15
Vasilis Torosidis
55'
DM
5
Vangelis Moras
CM
19
Sokratis Papastathopoulos
CM
10
Giorgos Karagounis (c)
46'
RW
6
Alexandros Tziolis
LW
21
Kostas Katsouranis
30'
54'
CF
7
Georgios Samaras
Substitutions:
DF
4
Nikos Spiropoulos
46'
MF
18
Sotiris Ninis
54'
MF
3
Christos Patsatzoglou
55'
Manager:
Otto Rehhagel
GK
22
Sergio Romero
RB
4
Nicolás Burdisso
CB
2
Martín Demichelis
CB
15
Nicolás Otamendi
LB
3
Clemente Rodríguez
DM
5
Mario Bolatti
76'
RM
8
Juan Sebastián Verón
LM
20
Maxi Rodríguez
63'
AM
10
Lionel Messi (c)
CF
16
Sergio Agüero
77'
CF
19
Diego Milito
80'
Substitutions:
MF
7
Ángel Di María
63'
MF
23
Javier Pastore
77'
FW
18
Martín Palermo
80'
Manager:
Diego Maradona
Man of the Match: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Assistant referees: Rafael Ilyasov (Uzbekistan) Bakhadyr Kochkarov (Kyrgyzstan) Fourth official: Peter O'Leary (New Zealand) Fifth official: Matthew Taro (Solomon Islands)
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