Group A
In today's only match, Mexico used two late goals off the bench to edge France 2-0. Javier Fernandez finished coolly in the 64th minute, breaking in and around the helpless French goalkeeper. Blanco pumped in a goal from the penalty spot with 19 minutes to go.
France will be without Jeremy Toulalan and Mexico will be without Efrain Juarez in the Group A finales on Tuesday after each picked up a yellow card in a second straight match.
More interestingly, the table now sees Mexico and Uruguay on four points each and South Africa and France on one each (three for a win, one for a draw). With Mexico to play Uruguay on Tuesday, a draw would suit both countries, freezing out the French and the hopeless South Africans. Typically, betting markets would put a draw at +225 to +250; this bad boy is currently floating about at -150.
Lots of people are betting lots of cash that the fix is in. I'm among them. In theory, Mexico and Uruguay would each like to win to likely avoid Argentina. In practice, a draw will do both sides nicely. Instead of betting the draw straight out, what I'm trying to do is oppose both sides to win. Take a long look.
Group B
Argentina 4, South Korea 1
A Gonzalo Higuain hat trick powered Argentina to a convincing victory. Diego Maradona's men sit atop Group B with two wins from two matches and have qualified for the knockout phase.
Argentina had all of the play in the first half and most of the play in the second. The only thing that makes this a "B+" performance for the Argentines instead of something better was that the defence looked suspect at times. Korea got their only goal on the stroke of halftime when Argie centre-back Martin Demichelis lazily coughed up the cheapest of balls to Lee Chung-Yong who chipped the goalkeeper. Korea had several other half-chances but lacked the quality to put them away. A more opportunistic team, such as a Germany, a Uruguay, or even a Switzerland would have gotten a result.
Selection headaches for Maradona might start to mount as Demichelis' partner in the heart of defense, Walter Samuel, left after 23 minutes with an undisclosed injury. Juan Sebastian Veron was held out of this one in what was called a precaution, but it could be more than that. .Jonas Gutierrez picked up a yellow for the second time in two games and will miss the reasonably unimportant group stage finale next week against Greece through suspension.
Greece 2, Nigeria 1
Greece came from behind to defeat 10-man Nigeria and throw the race for the second and final knockout spot in Group B wide open.
Nigeria looked comfortable in the first half hour and Kalu Uche put the Africans ahead from an atrociously defended free kick on 16 minutes. The match turned on its head in the 34th minute when Sani Kaita was sent off for driving his studs into a Greek thigh while the ball was out of play. Greek manager Otto Rehhagel's tactical substitutions paid dividends as the Greeks took control. Dimitrios Salpingidis scored just before halftime and Vasilios Torosidis notched the winner on 72 minutes. The last goal was soft, but Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama had made several fine saves to hold his team in the match before he spilled the eventual winner.
South Korea and Greece now sit on three points each with Nigeria on zero. If Greece falls to Argentina, and Nigeria beats South Korea, the Nigerians squeak into second place and the knockout round based on goal difference. Any other combination would see Greece or South Korea in the knockouts. South Korea and Greece are currently level on -1 goal differential; South Korea leads the second tiebreaker, goals scored, 3-2.
Sani Kaita is certainly out for Nigeria in the clash with South Korea, and will likely face a longer suspension at a disciplinary hearing.
Injury Bits
Spain got some welcome news as Andres Iniesta (thigh) and Sergio Ramos (ribs) should both be fit to face Honduras on Monday. Fernando Torres and Cesc Fabregas should also be able to start. Cesc did not feature against Switzerland; Torres played the last half hour and Spain looked better once he arrived.
Tim Cahill, sent off against Germany, will only face a one-game suspension.
Gianluigi Buffon (sciatic nerve) will be unavailable between the sticks for Italy's second game against New Zealand. Federico Marchetti will continue to deputize.