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Argentina imposed Maradona’s game plan on South Korea and ran away with a 4-1 win. Whether the two events are connected or not has remained to be seen. Gonzalo Higuain was this week’s “teammate who benefits from opponents attempts to shut down Messi” after putting in three goals. I’m going out on a limb and saying the other Diego (Milito) would have scored four! In all honesty, Argentina played an outstanding game and their organization should be commended. However, I still don’t trust this team for a couple reasons. South Korea’s goal at the last minute of the first half was the product of lazy defending. An identified or balanced team would have taken advantage of the momentum and made the South Americans pay during the second half. Then there’s the outstanding interview that Maradona gave after the game.

Apparently, Argentina’s fan support was one of the most well represented of the entire tournament. For a variety of reasons, I am rooting for this team to do well. Most important, I have a sentimental and nostalgic connection to this team due to an old and meaningful flame. Much of the nations cultural and mental identity comes from the source of an Italian descent. Also, several players play for the club team that my family has been a fan of for generations, Inter Milan. But even more so, the better this team does, the more I question the very foundations of this sport and it’s meaning in my life. If a guy like Maradona, banished and mocked not even five years ago, can manage to take this national side to glory than no footballing principles to which I now adhere will continue to make any sense at all. This eventuality is quite exciting for me and the future of this website! My gut says, however, that a team with a stable disposition will stoically disassemble the talented Argentine blockade and take advantage of an internationally ripe goalkeeper.

Maradona doesn’t always drink beer, but when he does, he drinks Dos Equis.
Greece added some flavor to their World Cup couscous by beating a dejected and underpowered Nigeria 2-1. Vincent Enyeama, so prolific in the 0-1 loss to Argentina made a crucial mistake to give the Grecians their first ever World Cup victory. Greece, who won the European Championship in 2004 with a few of the same players, has an opportunity now to advance to the second round depending on the future of the South Korea.

France’s hopes for a successful World Cup have been clinically filed away by new Manchester United starlet Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez. Mexico has shaken off a qualification that at times was complete frustration to make their presence known in a tough group. Not-so-quiet storm Cuauhtemoc Blanco became the third oldest player to score at a World Cup but perhaps France may naturalize him so he can play for them in 2014. Even at 41, he would easily be their best attacker. If you have read this blog than you know that I don’t shy away from making fun of the French, but now there actually seems to be some serious discord among their players. Domenech has successfully communicated his curriculum of mediocrity to the extent that they might not make it out of the group stage. Despite the ease, it wouldn’t be right for me to comment too much on the peculiar state of French team any more without the approval of Offside Sarah, so we’ll wait for her to explain it to us.

Germany affirmed my most inner feelings when they showed their inexperience by allowing a 0-1 loss to Serbia. If critics may say that the Germans were the victim of an ‘interesting’ early red card, then those same critics would have to appeal to Serbia’s misfortunes in the first game against Ghana. This time, when the innocuous handball penalty against one of Serbia’s defenders (this time Vidic), eccentric goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic made the same move. The dive was completely vindicated and preserved Serbia’s second round hopes. Serbia is an interesting specimen because not only were they they the best team to finish last in their group in 2006, but most of their players look like original punk musicians from 1975.

Milos Krasic may or may not have had a breif spell in Iggy Pop & The Stooges.

The USMNT got a thorough cleaning of the highest order by Malian referee Koman Coulibaly. After embarrassing themselves in the first half defensively, the North Americans finally got aggressive in the second half a should have won the game. It needs to be said that the US played like absolute asshole for the first 45 minutes. The Swiss cheese routine with which Onyewu and DeMerit were operating the vapid American central defense made me want to dry heave. Thankfully, Bob Bradley caught up with the disillusioned players at half time and reminded them that they beat Spain and were leading Brazil 2-0 at the half in the Confederations Cup by being aggressive. Aggressiveness allows the inadequate defenses to operate with confidence. If the US wants a deep run in this tournament, then Landon Donovan and “The Alligator” Clint Dempsey will have to marshall their inner love of freedom and run right at Algeria’s “god-hating” defenders. Honestly, if I read one misguided article about how there is some sort of culture war attached to this game, I’m going to slap a baby.

Everyone is here to play football, and that is exactly what Algeria’s collection of athletes did to embarrass England’s finest gluttons. The difference in hunger was evident. After the game, I’m not sure there were many who questioned Algeria’s desire to be playing in this tournament. England elites like Lampard and Gerrard looked downright soggy, porous and unbalanced. First of all, with “Calamity” James between the English posts, the defender’s for the Home islands’ side looked more nervous than Ashley Cole at fidelity group therapy. If the scrappy Slovenia’s can hang around with the Three Lions, South Africans would welcome an early dismissal for the former colonizing nation.