Slender lead this for Argentina. The players are out at Ellis Park in Johannesburg for the fourth (already??) BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty, the World Cup’s about to get a little bit Messi…. Today, El Diego returns to the World Cup fold - and he's got unfinished business. "Rustenburg's media centre is already filling up with only a little less than four hours to go to kick-off between England and the United States. Diego Maradona prowls the touchline - he looks like he's itching to get on and showcase his skills. Nigeria and Tunisia have met 19 times in the past, across friendlies, World Cup qualifications, AFCON qualification, and the Africa Cup of Nations. Maradona was thrown out of the tournament by Fifa. Lionel Messi goes on another run from right to left, diagonally across the Nigerian backline and into the area, where his left-foot shot is deflected behind. Operating in a front three alongside Real Madrid's Gonzalo Higuain and Carlos Tevez of Manchester City - a trio that has scored 105 club goals between them this season - Messi produced a performance befitting of his billing. But I think the brains of this Argentine side right now is probably [assistant boss] Carlos Bilardo.". Vincent Enyeama is making an early case for goalkeeper of the tournament - he races from his line to make a fine save once more, this time to prevent Gonzalo Higuain's goalbound shot going in. Twice in the first 20 minutes Messi ran at the Nigeria defence and provided scoring opportunities for Higuain, but the first the Real Madrid striker put past the near post from three yards out and then saw his angled drive from further out blocked by Enyeama. Subs: Ejide, Kanu, Afolabi, Utaka, Martins, Ideye, Odemwingie, Uche, Yussuf, Echiejile, Adeleye, Aiyenugbu. Match Preview, Fact Lineup, Argentina Vs Iceland: World Cup 2018 (1 - 1) - Full Time, Argentina Vs Nigeria: Why We Lost Against Super Eagles – Coach Jorge Sampaoli, Argentina Vs Nigeria: International Friendly - 2 - 4 (Full Time), Re: Argentina Vs Nigeria Friendly! Hold on to your hats. We are under way at Ellis Park. This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. He plays a delightful one-two to get clean through on goal and yet again Vincent Enyeama rushes off his line to block the shot. Lionel Messi bursts past three static Nigerian players on the left and passes into the box - but from six yards, Gonzalo Higuain can only side-foot wide. It means there are chances, but they look too tired to take them.". I'm too excited for words. Sandwiched between these two chances Argentina took the lead. Nairaland - Copyright © 2005 - 2020 Oluwaseun Osewa. Argentina VS Nigeria for International Friendly Head to Head (H2H) statistics and match preview. Though if I was playing for Nigeria, I'd want to attack Jonas Gutierrez because he isn't a right-back. The South Americans remained the more likely to score, but they were either wasteful or unable to beat Enyeama, who kept his side as a credible threat in the match with further impressive saves from Higuain and Messi. Top-class give and go. Chance. From ishzz: "It's so fun watching Maradona everytime their boys miss the chance.". Taye Taiwo whips over a cracking cross from the Nigerian left, but none of his team-mates are attacking the ball and the chance goes begging. If you don’t know much about either team, why not check out our handy team guides on Argentina and Nigeria? Have to say Argentina look pretty good going forward with fluidity that I never saw them play with in qualifying. Group D of the 1994 FIFA World Cup was one of six groups of four teams competing at the 1994 World Cup in the United States. While not quite the sum of their supremely talented parts, Diego Maradona's side were able to capitalise on the space fatally afforded them by their opponents to register a well-deserved victory, secured through a headed goal from Gabriel Heinze. match of the 2010 Fifa World Cup, led by their captains Javier Mascherano and Joseph Yobo. Just fabulous football all round. From Gaz: "Is it just me or does Maradona look like a spaghetti western villain?" Diego Maradona, one of the most fouled men in World Cup history, is apoplectic with rage at some of the treatment his star player is getting. Had Obasi been better able to capitalise on the poor positional play of Gutierrez with greater accuracy in his shooting in the first half, Taye Taiwo's toe-poke shot been a foot to the left, or had substitute Kala Uche shown greater composure when unmarked to keep his shot under the bar late on the Africans could have salvaged what would have been an undeserved draw. They might yet pay for this profligacy. Don’t worry, there will be plenty of pre-England v USA chat throughout the afternoon, but it seems only fair to concentrate on the second Group B contest of the day as Argentina take on Nigeria. Armani, Mercado, Tagliafico, Rojo, Otamendi, Mascherano, Perez, Banega, Di Maria, Messi, Higuain. I'll see you in a little while. Maradona, wearing a dark grey suit, looks like a gangster with his earring and greying beard. They look focused, while their fans jubilantly bounce up and down. However, am staying in J’burg at same hotel as the President of Nigeria (and his entourage) - and am really hoping that the drinks are on him tonight! ", "I think we're going to have some fun with Argentina in this World Cup. FT. Whatever you say about him, you can tell the Argentines love their boss.". The game against Nigeria was his 91st and final cap. Argentina face Nigeria shortly and will looking bounce back after a poor showing against Croatia. Their attacking options are incredible, but they will give teams a chance at the back as well. Argentina Vs Nigeria Friendly! ", From JP, NP and SL (40 kms from Rustenberg): "On way to Rustenberg currently - excitement mounting. Decent position, this... After an eternity for the ref to sort the wall out, Juan Veron curls it harmlessly over the crossbar. Chinedu Obasi easily does Jonas Gutierrez down the Nigeria left and fizzes a left-foot shot past the far post from a tight angle. What a chance to level. When he runs at them, they can only stop him by fouling. Here are the Nigeria vs Argentina lineup confirmed. Nigeria make a second change, with Peter Odemwingie on for Chinedu Obasi. Busy, busy, busy. "Kanu is my inspiration, he is the player I looked up to when I was growing up and I'm so happy for him that he is at this World Cup. The pace of the game has slowed down a touch, which probably suits Nigeria more than it does Argentina. Tevez waits and waits and tees up Lionel Messi, but he can only curl a left-foot shot wide from 16 yards. Brilliant. Argentina defend a Nigeria corner brilliantly and when Carlos Tevez breaks, suddenly they are four against two defenders. All rights reserved. "We've been waiting for the tournament to come to life and that is what we've just seen - Argentina are controlling the game. Iceland also have a better disciplinary record than Argentina so hold an advantage if both teams finish with identical records. It’s boot-filling time. Wasteful. Lionel Messi bursts past two Nigerian challenges and is brought down by Peter Odemwingie. Lionel Messi curls the free-kick miles over. ", "Lionel Messi is one of those players, isn't he, that us neutrals just want to see on the ball all the time.". The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Nigeria are causing Argentina problems on the counter-attack. Argentina have made a brilliant start and from a corner from their right, former Man Utd defender Gabriel Heinze produces a stunning diving header from the penalty spot into the top corner. Lionel Messi sends the ball wide to the right to Juan Veron and his low cross is met by an onrushing Messi, who can only clip wide of the far post with the outside of his left foot. However, If Iceland beat Croatia, then the Argentines can still qualify if they beat Nigeria by two more goals than Iceland. ", "Gonzalo Higuain has had the opportunities and Argentina have a lot of good forwards on the bench - when you get them you're gonna have to take them - they are very strong in the forward positions. ", From Daily Telegraph's Henry Winter: "No one hugs like Maradona. That jacket will pop some buttons. Oba Martins does really well to get the ball out of his feet and hammer in one of his left-foot rocket specials from 30 yards - and it must be flying all over the place because Sergio Romero uncomfortably punches away. Lionel Messi tries to send Gonzalo Higuain clean through, but Joseph Yobo gets in a fabulous sliding challenge to intervene. Tevez's superb curling shot wad tipped over by Enyeama for a corner, from which Juan Sebastian Veron provided the cross for Heinze to dive in unmarked and head home. Argentina got their 2010 World Cup campaign off to a winning start and silenced some of their doubters with a dominant performance against Nigeria in Johannesburg. He's been waiting for this moment for the last 16 occasionally troubled years of his life. From Mikaël Silvestre's: "Yakubu has played well, trying to bring the wingers into play. It will really be a good to if another goal keeper is tested today in lieu of Ezenwa who has not given many Nigerians enough confidence in the goal keeping department. Argentina have been dominant - but they still look susceptible at the back. "All the mystery of Fabio Capello's line-up will be solved in a couple of hours, with the latest whisper suggesting Robert Green will be in goal. Lionel Messi jinks past one challenge in his first action of the game, but his ball to Carlos Tevez enables Nigeria to clear their lines. ", "Messi showed how good he is - every time he got the ball something happened. Great look for him though, isn't it? Five days later, Maradona was thrown out of the tournament by Fifa after failing a drugs test. Tevez waits and waits and tees up Lionel Messi, but he can only curl a left-foot shot wide from 16 yards. Argentina South Korea's comfortable 2-0 win over Greece in Group B's other fixture on Saturday means the winner of next Thursday's match between them and Argentina will be in pole position to qualify for the last 16.

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