Argentina's players and assistants listen to coach Diego Maradona (C) during a training session of the national football team. - AFP Photo
Koreans can shock Argentina, insists Park
Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-Sung insists his South Korean side are capable of defeating Argentina when the unbeaten Group B rivals clash on Thursday at the World Cup.
Last Saturday Argentina, one of the sides tipped to lift the trophy in the final on July 11, were impressive in their 1-0 win over Nigeria, while South Korea enjoyed a 2-0 win over Greece as both sides started their campaigns.
Argentina coach Diego Maradona will be looking to tighten his defence against the live-wire South Korean attack led by Manchester’s Park.
He was the man-of-the-match against the Greeks and scored a second-half goal after team-mate Lee Jung-Soo gave the Koreans an early lead.
The Koreans play Argentina at Soccer City, which will host the final, and Park says his side have nothing to fear if they can play with the same intensity they produced against Greece.
His coach Huh Jung-Moo said his side are growing in confidence since their win and can upset the star-studded Argentina team.
“We’ll give it our best shot, because my players can only grow in stature against opponents of their calibre,” said the 55-year-old.
Despite dominating the Nigerians, Argentina only managed a single goal early on through Gabriel Heinze and Maradona says his side must improve their finishing against Korea.
Maradona will also shore up his defence. Having played a back three against Nigeria, he is set to play a 4-3-1-2 formation and add AS Roma’s Nicolas Burdisso to the defence.
Jonas Gutierrez may keep his place in the side, particularly if veteran deep midfielder Juan Veron does not recover from a calf strain.
“There will not be any surprises,” said Maradona, who looks likely to make Lionel Messi the link man behind Carlos Tevez and Gonzalo Higuain, having played all three as out and out attackers against Nigeria.
The key to winning the title will be whether or not Maradona can harness the full ability of world player of the year Lionel Messi.
Leading into the tournament, the 22-year-old has endured difficult times in the blue and white shirt under Maradona.
He still averages less than a goal every three games at international level, a disappointing tally for such a gifted player.
Having failed to convert so many of their chances, Argentina’s ability to finish will be the something Maradona will be looking to see improved against the Koreans.
KEY TO THE MATCH
South America’s magician meets Asian flair as Argentina’s attacking maestro Messi goes up against South Korea’s Park, who will be looking to pull off an upset.
Dubbed ‘double-hearted oxygen tank’, Park’s exceptional work-rate and runs down the middle of the flanks will keep Argentina’s defenders busy.
With both sides unbeaten after one game, the winner will be virtually guaranteed a place in the last 16 with his side.
GREEKS MUST WIN TO STAY ALIVE IN WORLD CUP
Greece’s players believe they must secure their first ever World Cup finals victory in Thursday’s match against Nigeria or start packing their bags for home.
Both sides need the points in the Group B game in Bloemfontein after losing their opening matches, but Nigeria showed flashes of form in the 1-0 defeat by Argentina while Greek defensive errors handed South Korea a 2-0 victory.
“In the first match we didn’t do what we could. Why, I don’t know,” midfielder Sotiris Ninis told a news conference.
“Tomorrow is our last chance, there will be no other chance to catch up with losses. Either we will win or that will be the end and we will have to return to Greece disappointed.”
In fact, three points could be enough as the U.S. proved last year in losing their opening two games in the Confederations Cup but still progressed to the final in South Africa before losing to Brazil.
Greece not only failed to win a match in their only other finals appearance in 1994, they did not even manage to put the ball in their opponents’ net.
German coach Otto Rehhagel, who led them to an unlikely European Championship win in 2004, has been criticised for his defensive approach but he denied this limited their ambitions.
“We have played always in our way, we have been successful. When I and my assistant started, Greece were in 65th place and we have advanced since (to 13th). If one day we have Ronaldo, Kaka and Messi in our team, then we can certainly play this kind of football.”
TROUBLED FRANCE FACE UPBEAT MEXICO
Troubled France tackle Mexico in a crucial Group A Polokwane showdown on Thursday desperate for a win that would raise morale and open the doors to the last 16.
Les Bleus (The Blues) have reached two of the last three finals, crushing Brazil 3-0 in the 1998 Paris climax with Zinedine Zidane scoring twice and losing a penalty shootout to Italy in Berlin four years ago.
But the French looked anything but potential finalists in Cape Town last Friday as they ground out a goalless draw with 10-man Uruguay in a group completed by hosts South Africa.
It has placed coach Raymond Domenech in a position he knows only too well – under public and media pressure – and even the weather has not been kind to the man who will be replaced by former star Laurent Blanc after the World Cup.
The Western Cape where France camp at a five-star resort is notorious for delivering all four seasons within 24 hours and downpours have transformed the training pitch into an uninviting, sodden mess.
Fellow finalists Denmark refused Domenech permission to use their facilities in the area so France had to carry on in less than perfect conditions preparing for a game that could define their World Cup.
A win over Mexico and they would have one foot in the second round ahead of their final mini-league fixture against South Africa on June 22 in the central city of Bloemfontein.
But a loss could prove catastrophic as it would probably leave the 2000 European champions needing maximum points against the hosts in probably the most intimidating South African cauldron to have any hope of survival.
Outwardly at least, the French squad seem unperturbed by poor warm-up results culminating in a loss to non-qualifiers China on the island of Reunion, government criticism of the luxury resort, and the drab draw with Uruguay.
Defender Eric Abidal from Spanish champions Barcelona came straight to the point when quizzed about Polokwane: “We have to play for a win against Mexico and nothing less.”
He believes there is no cause for alarm, reminding reporters how Les Bleus struggled early on in Germany only to stun hot favourites Brazil en route to the final.
France could only draw with Switzerland and South Korea and were facing a second successive humiliating first-round exit from the tournament before overcoming tournament weaklings Togo 2-0 to finish group runners-up.
“We have to step up a gear and make it out of the first round,” said Abidal ahead of the second match staged at 46,000-seat Peter Mokaba Stadium, one of five purpose-built World Cup venues.
Mexico midfielder Andres Guardado, whose deep cross created the equaliser in a 1-1 draw against South Africa at Soccer City five days ago, believes the Central Americans can be the “revelations” of the tournament.
“There are always lots of surprises in football and though no one probably gives us a chance of getting through to the next round or the quarter-finals, we remain confident.”
Although criticising the underachieving French has become popular, left-side midfielder Guardado from Spanish club Deportivo la Coruna is having none of it.
“How can you underestimate a team that boasts footballers like (Yoann) Gourcuff, (Franck) Ribery and (William) Gallas and reached two of the last three World Cup finals?
“The host nation tends to do well at each tournament and Uruguay are always a threat
especially having arrived in South Africa following some impressive warm-up victories.”
KEY TO MATCH
Franck Ribery (FRA) v Giovani dos Santos (MEX)
Most football followers know how good an attacking midfielder Ribery can be as his touchline trickery down the left flank is followed by a cut inside or cross. However, less known Turkey-based Dos Santos drove South Africa to distraction with his ball skills and speed and requires pecial attention.
