Full-time - 90'
Greece
0 - 2
Argentina

Group B, 18:30 GMT, June 22, 2010

Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane, South Africa

Defender Martin Demichelis and substitute Martin Palermo succeeded where Argentina's multi-talented strikeforce had failed as they scored the goals to break Greece's resilience and end their World Cup hopes at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.


MATCH SUMMARY

Man of the Match: Clemente Rodriguez - The left-back bombed forward at every chance and was a constant threat. Not the first name on the lips when you think of an Argentine defender, but he was excellent and it just goes to show what happens when you play a proper defender as a full-back.

Argentina verdict: Very comfortable on the ball, but they were hardly troubled. Going about their business quietly, Maradona was not forced into making any real decisions as Greece sat back. Argentina only needed a point and they won't have worked up much of a sweat picking up the win.

Greece verdict: Utterly awful. Even when they knew they needed to score goals and win the game, they didn't come out of their shell. Seemed very happy with a small defeat and some may say they showed a disrespect to the competition for playing as they did. They should regret not giving it a go.

Could do better: Otto Rehhagel - The man behind the tactics that bored everyone to death at Euro 2004 was at it again. Greece are by far and away the worst team to watch in the entire competition and Rehhagel really needs to change something if they are to ever be taken seriously.

Stat attack: At one point, Juan Sebastian Veron had more touches of the ball (98) that the top three players on Greece combined (97).


Demichelis fired home from close range in the 77th minute after his header from Lionel Messi's corner bounced back off team-mate Diego Milito. Palermo tapped in the rebound from Messi's shot to complete the victory a minute from time.

It sent Argentina into the knockout phase to face Mexico full of confidence on the back of three successive wins as Greece's best defensive efforts ultimately proved to be in vain. South Korea's 2-2 draw with Nigeria put them through as Group B runners-up.

For long periods Diego Maradona's side were frustrated by Greece, for whom defending is what they do best - having used the tactic to become surprise European champions in 2004.

However, what Otto Rehhagel's side desperately needed more than anything was a goal and despite the unstinting efforts of Celtic striker Georgios Samaras - who at times appeared to be the one in a 10-1 formation - they just did not threaten enough.

Argentina, by contrast, did not really need to exert themselves as they were virtually guaranteed to progress as group winners before the match kicked off. Messi captained the side after Maradona made seven changes from victory over South Korea but found himself closely marked throughout.

Sergio Aguero's first sight of goal saw the busy Alexandros Tzorvas palm his shot away for a corner in the 18th minute and the goalkeeper then immediately had to tip over Juan Sebastian Veron's 30-yard strike.

Tzorvas almost undid all Greece's hard work when he spilled Diego Milito's low cross into the path of Aguero but Loukas Vyntra charged down his shot at the far post.

But he redeemed himself in first-half added time when he saved from Maxi Rodriguez and Messi in quick succession.

Three minutes into the second half Greece almost snatched the lead when Samaras beat Demichelis to another long ball out of defence and raced into the penalty area but drove wide of far post with his left foot - Greece's first shot of the match.

But injuries were not kind to Rehhagel's side as they lost Georgios Karagounis, Konstantinos Katsouranis and Vasileios Torosidis all within 10 minutes of the restart.

Argentina pressed on regardless with Milito inches from heading in a cross from left-back Clemente Rodriguez, who himself hit a dipping shot just wide.

In the 68th minute Messi's long-range free-kick brought another save out of Tzorvas and from the resulting corner the ball dropped to defensive midfielder Mario Bolatti but he shot straight at the goalkeeper from six yards.

It was 24 years to the day since Maradona scored his infamous Hand of God goal against England in the quarter-finals of 1986 Mexico World Cup - Argentina's last triumph at this tournament - and the frustrated players might have felt like indulging in similar skulduggery themselves.

But Demichelis saved anyone the embarrassment by drilling into the roof of the net with 13 minutes to go.

Things opened up after that and Messi smashed a left-footed shot off the post having weaved his way into the penalty area.

His next effort was more productive as Tzorvas parried his strike into the path of the 36-year-old Palermo who took full advantage.