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World Cup: SBI’s Group B Preview

Javier Mascherano 1 (Getty Images)

By FRANCO PANIZO

Despite its struggles in qualifying, Argentina enters Group B as the favorite, with a plethora of attacking options, including Carlos Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain and FIFA Player of the Year Lionel Messi. If any team is going to outdo Argentina in the group, however, it will likely be Nigeria.

Nigeria has one of the more talented African sides at the World Cup, while also having somewhat of a home-field advantage. The Nigerians also enter the tournament with experienced Swedish head coach Lars Lagerback, who helped Sweden to a surprising 1-1 draw that knocked Argentina out of group play in 2002.

Greece isn't the most aesthetically pleasing team to watch, but its hard-nosed defensive style has been able to produce results. Just look at Euro 2004.

South Korea also lacks the individual star power that Argentina and Nigeria possess, but it does boast its share of attacking flair with Bolton Wanderers' Lee Chung-Yong and Park Ji-Sung of Manchester United.

Here is SBI's take on Group B:

WORLD CUP GROUP B

Top Players to Watch

Lionel Messi, Argentina

Javier Mascherano, Argentina

Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Greece

Obafemi Martins, Nigeria

Danny Shittu, Nigeria

Park Ji-Sung, South Korea

Young Players to Watch

Gonzalo Higuain, Argentina

Angel Di Maria, Argentina

Sotiris Ninis, Greece

Victor Obinna, Nigeria

Lee Chung-Yong, South Korea

SBI's Predicted Order of Finish

1. Argentina

2. Nigeria

3. South Korea 

4. Greece

Argentina should win the group with all its quality options in attack, although Nigeria might be able to stun Diego Maradona's troubled side and finish first. South Korea and Greece won't be easy opponents, but they are both destined for early exits.

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How do you see Group B panning out? Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. It’s a tough group to call in some ways. However I don’t see ARG not making it through. They are so stacked with professionals at the top of their game and the competition, while very good will need something incredibly special to keep them down.

    I mean, other than the keeper position just try to show me the weak spot in this lineup!

    Andujar
    Heinze Samuel Demechelis Burdisso
    DiMaria Masherano Rodriguez
    Higuan Tevez Messi

    subs: Millito, Aguero, Pastore, Rodriguez,

    The rest of the group will be a sprint to the finish. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the most entertaining and suspenseful matches will come from this group.

    To me, the real guesswork over ARG happens once we get into the elimination round.

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  2. Don’t bet on it. Crazy Diego’s side is actually pretty settled with Higuain, Messi, and Di Maria. Tevez, Kun, and Milito off the bench.

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  3. The fans are only one aspect. I’m sure many of the SBI readers played the sport, and some at a high level. The “not in our house” mentality is a powerful motivator. For many of the African teams the meme becomes not on our soil (African). Surely the readers that played at a high level can recall beating ‘superior’ teams because of that mentality. I realize it’s a HUGE continent, but thats just my 2 cents

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  4. What I want to know is: In which groups/games do red cards significantly affect the outcome of the group?

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  5. I think the home field advantage comes for the country’s fans having more access to the games. Seeing as South Africa and FIFA completely blew hard when it came to African ticket allocations – this isn’t the case here.

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  6. Agree Nigeria are a very poor team at the moment whereas the Koreans are flying high, very organized, and offer a decent attacking threat.

    The disorganization and key missing players will be Nigeria’s downfall.

    I’d say Argentina, Korea, Nigeria, Greece.

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  7. I don’t see Argentina finishing anywhere but on top of this group. I do think the contest for second as wide open. While Nigeria definitely are the better of the remaining three on paper, I think South Korea will advance with the Nigerians losing to Greece 1-0.

    1. Argentina
    2. South Korea
    3. Greece
    4. Nigeria

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  8. Let me help you here:

    World Cups in Europe historically favor Euro nations chances of going deep, likewise when in South America presumed favorites are Argentina. South Korea’s run when it co-hosted we can also note.

    Only nation that doesn’t seem to care where it plays is Brazil.

    Anyway, yeah Africa is a big continent, so what. Nigeria, Cameroon etc are also from Africa and it’s ok if some think their odds of making a run in this Cup are helped a bit by Cup being played in South Africa.

    If only because FIFA’s refs will make it so ; )

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  9. +1 Totally totally agree. SKorea gets out of this group. No African sides are getting out of their groups. Looking forward to watching Odemwingie, but otherwise Nigeria have looked the way they always do, very talented but very disorganized.

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  10. Not sure why you included Martins in your players to watch. He barely played at Wolfsburg and does not even start on a regular basis for Nigeria.

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  11. Nigeria will put up a fight, but Argentina is just loaded offensively, simply LOADED. I can’t remember who I have coming in second, but I had Argentina with 7 points in first place.

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  12. Saw that one a while ago. Not sure this is a new commercial for this Cup (think it might have been for Euro ’08), but still great nonetheless

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  13. I’m all in favor of good defending, but unless you really want Greece to advance I can’t imagine that Argentina v. Greece will be that interesting. Greece will bolt the door and Argentina will try to break it down.

    The most interesting thing will be what sort of antics Maradonna gets up to.

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  14. I know it doesn’t make a lot of sense, but I can’t help but believe that the continent of Africa will all feel a huge sense of pride being able to have this tournament on their continent. All of the teams will want to play well and the atmosphere will be more akin to what they are used to than what the Koreans or the Greeks are used to. Call me crazy, but I see Nigeria playing extremely physical with Argentina and sneaking out the draw. From there, I think they will know they can beat the other teams and play confident and strong. The Greeks are the weakest team here, despite their “organization”.

    Ives was right on the money with this group. This tournament will be a showcase for Messi and Co. Do you really need to be concerned with the defense? These guys could easily score 3 or 4 goals per game in this group.

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  15. ??? Nigeria have Danny Shittu and Yobo Healthy at center back. Were the problem there? There main problem is finding a constant goal treat because Martins and Yakubu tend to fade at times and the rest of there stirkers on the roster are eitherbetter of playing a withdrawn role, attacking mid or as Wingers in a 4-3-3

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  16. Im of Nigerian origin and I tell you Obi Mikel was never the midfield engine. He more or less brought the team down and refuse to show up to practice on time on top of it it he never listened to the coach. With him out of the picture the should find more of a blend a be stronger going forwad

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  17. I don’t understand this whole “African Continent Boost” for the African teams.

    Of course South Africa get’s a boost, but as someone already pointed out, the distance separated by South Africa from Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Nigeria is immense. The only thing these countries have in common is that they’re black and happen to be on the same continent. We need to stop seeing Africa as presumed nation and instead what it really is, a continent with a plethora of diverse peoples, many of whom want to kill each other too.

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  18. that and they’re just not a great team. They had one fantastic, unbelievable run through Euros but that was more akin to the US in the confeds than say, Spain’s run through the Euro 08

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  19. Obi Mikel was the midfield engine, with him out I really see them struggling to link from back to front.

    But, they have lots of speed, a great front 3, and the most underrated goalkeeper in the world.

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  20. Karagounis or Gekas are definately the players to watch for Greece..wouldn’t be surprised to see them get out o the group in 1st or 2nd because their style of play matches up against the opponents very well..Nigeria are often disorganized and South Korea can’t defend set pieces which the Greeks are very good at.. Argentina v. Greece will be very interesting to watch

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  21. How on earth does Nigeria have any kind of home field advantage? Lagos is about twice as far from Cape Town as Paris is from Moscow. The people are different, the climate is different, everything is different.

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  22. South Korea and Nigeria advance. Argentina will tank and the world will be rid of maraddona once and for all.

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  23. Sotirios Kyrgiakos is a notable player to watch from Greece? Seriously Ives? Just because he plays for Liverpool doesn’t make him the one to watch. The Greek squad will surprise! Ninis, Karagounis, Samaras, Salpigidis, Gekas can all score and look good doing it.

    People, this is NOT the same squad as 2004! They scored plenty of goals in qualifying. They can get out of this group and beat the French in the next round!

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  24. +1

    Nigeria appears to be in prime position to go the farthest of all the African teams despite the loss of Mikel.

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  25. Agreed completely. The South Koreans problems have always been offense and set piece defense. They have the skill in attack now, but there’s not much they’re going to do on set pieces against teams like Greece. As long as they don’t give up a weak goal to the Greeks and can take 3 there, I like them against Nigeria.

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  26. arg should put messi and tevez out wide. give them freedom a la demps and donovan.

    milito and higuain up top. with el kun and di maria as your sparks off the bench

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  27. My picks for Group B:

    1) Argentina
    2) South Korea
    3) Nigeria
    4) Greece

    Argentina, we all know that Maradonna is nuts, but he’s fallen a$$-backwards into a good side and finally has them playing some football. They have too much talent not to make noise in this tournament. They have a good young goalkeeper, a good, albeit not great backline (I’m not a big Demichelis fan and they lack pace with the 4 CB alignment), a very strong midfield with Mascherano as the destroyer and Veron as the classic #10 and some enviously amazing corp of forwards.

    South Korea, I think people are starting to really look at this Korean side and realize how potent they are. They lack any superstars but are fit, organized, a great work-rate and have dynamic attacking midfielders in Park Ji-Sung and Lee Chung-Yong. They will take advantage of the bunkering Greeks and disorganized Nigerians.

    Nigeria, I don’t see what everyone else sees with this side. I really think people are picking these African sides ONLY because the tournament is in Africa (and at the same time completely dismiss South Africa themselves). They have good attacking fullbacks, but their centerbacks are very inconsistent, they have some solid holding midfielders, but are now missing Obi Mikel (whom never played well for The Super Eagles anyway) and have some big name strikers, but not necessarily in form or merit the fame. They will put together some exciting moments in their football but will be exposed against organized sides like South Korea and Argentina.

    Greece, they are still hanging on to the success of 6 years ago, and play style that teams have had plenty of time to study. They barely got out of a weak qualifying group and have looked poor in their pre-WC buildup. I’m not a fan of this side. They are organized, but not much else.

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  28. Nigeria may open with the first upset of the tournament by defeating Argentina. write this Africans off at your own peril and USA beware of algerie

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  29. I don’t have a lot of faith in Nigeria. i wouldn’t be shocked to see the Koreans make it out of this group.

    If Mexico wins their group I think they will finally be through to the quarters. They should be able to take care of any of the teams in this group not named Argentina.

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