POLOKWANE // While other big nations have toiled in South Africa, Argentina have rarely looked troubled and a 2-0 victory over Greece yesterday saw them top Group B with a three wins from three. Diego Maradona's side possess some of the finest attacking talents on the planet, yet they showed their battling qualities too with a patient victory, which knocked a defensive-minded Greek side out. Defending, of course, is what Otto Rehhagel's side do best - having used the tactic to become surprise European champions in 2004 - and they had plenty of practice in the opening 45 minutes.
Greece knew if they bettered South Korea's result against Nigeria they would go through. By contrast, Argentina were virtually assured a place in the next round even before the kick-off. There were seven Argentine changes from the side which beat South Korea, yet the depth of Maradona's squad was evident as he fielded his reserve strikers - Diego Milito, a Champions League winner with Inter Milan, and Sergio Aguero, who triumphed in the Europa League with Atletico Madrid last season.
Aguero's first sight of goal saw Alexandros Tzorvas palm his shot away in the 18th minute and the goalkeeper then immediately had to tip over Juan Sebastian Veron's 30-yard strike in a goalless first half. Greece were crowding out Argentina at every opportunity and Georgios Samaras, playing on his own up front, had a superb chance to put them 1-0 up at the start of the second half. Latching on to a long ball, the Glasgow Celtic striker saw his first effort, with his right, bounce of his marker's knees before lashing a left-footed shoot wide of the post. Samaras remained Greece's greatest threat and he created another chance for himself, but blazed over.
Greece's defensive wall appeared to be wearing Argentina down. Lionel Messi, the captain on the night, was kept quiet, but Tzorvas had to make a point-blank save from Mario Bolatti with 20 minutes left as the midfielder fired a rebound from a corner at goal. For all their attacking potential, when Argentina's opener came it was a scrappy one. A header from Martin Demichelis hit Milito and the ball bounced straight back in to the path of the centre-back, who rifled it into the ball into the roof.
But then Messi sparked into life. After a 20-yard effort slammed against a post, his jinking dribble and shot was parried by Tzorvas and the 35-year-old Martin Palermo, on as a substitute, scored from the rebound to make it 2-0. It was a five minute spell that lit up the match, but you still get the impression that Messi's best is yet to come. A scary thought for the rest of the contenders. * With agencies
