Argentina leave it late

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 last night.

Bayern Munich centre-back 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.

Boca Juniors striker Palermo tapped in the rebound from Lionel 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.

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 kick-off.

Messi captained the side after Maradona made seven changes from victory over South Korea but found himself closely marked throughout.

He had one early trademark run towards the penalty area which was halted by Sokratis Papastathopoulos, but otherwise was effectively shackled throughout.

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.

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 skullduggery 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.

GREECE: Tzorvas, Kyrgiakos, Vyntra, Papadopoulos, Torosidis (Patsatzoglou 55), Tziolis, Papastathopoulos, Moras, Karagounis (Spyropoulos 46), Katsouranis (Ninis 54), Samaras.

ARGENTINA: Romero, Burdisso, Demichelis, Otamendi, Rodriguez, Veron, Bolatti, Maxi (Di Maria 63), Aguero (Pastore 77), Messi, Milito (Palermo 80).

Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan).