Greece coach Otto Rehhagel knew his team would probably require a victory to progress but he again stuck with the defensive tactics that he feels he must use if his side is to succeed against technically superior opponents.

His plan of keeping it tight against Argentina and striking on the counter-attack unravelled when Martin Demichelis smashed home the opening goal of a largely forgettable contest with 13 minutes left.

The Bayern Munich defender pounced after his initial header had struck Diego Milito and rebounded invitingly – and he crashed the ball into the roof of the net from the edge of the six-yard box.

Lionel Messi, skippering his side in the absence of the rested Javier Mascherano, had a frustrating evening as he received close attention from his opponents but he almost struck a second after a jinking run ended with a thunderous strike that crashed against the post.

But the second goal did come when another Messi strike was palmed into the path of substitute striker Martin Palermo, who slotted home with his right foot.

Exactly 24 years after scoring his infamous “Hand of God” goal against England at the 1986 World Cup, coach Diego Maradona, leapt for joy in his technical area.

His team will play Mexico on Sunday in the round of 16, with South Korea qualifying from second place in Group B.

But the legendary Argentine had cut a frustrated figure for most of the evening as his team dominated territory and possession but often struggled to break down well-organised opponents.

Sotirios Papastathopoulos man-marked Messi, following him faithfully all over the park as the Argentine skipper tried to find some space from which to exert an influence on the game.

It was a tactic that spoiled the contest as a spectacle but saw Rehhagel’s team successfully reach the interval on level terms.

Argentina, with seven changes from the side that defeated South Korea 4-1, stroked the ball around with ease in the middle of the park but did not really threaten Tzorvas’s goal until striker Sergio Aguero drew a save with a crisp strike from a wide position after 18 minutes.

Tzorvas tipped over long-range strikes from fit-again Juan Sebastian Veron and Messi, while Maxi Rodriguez was denied from 14 yards and Loukas Vyntra blocked from Diego Milito.

But as the opening half wore on there were signs that Greece’s negativity, combined with their willingness to break up play by fouling the opposition, was starting to frustrate Argentina.

And there had been the occasional indication that Greece could trouble the Albiceleste’s backline, with two long-range passes in particular catching Demichelis out of position.

Even so, Greece, who lost 4-0 to Argentina at the 1994 World Cup in a match that saw Maradona score his 34th and final international goal, had not mustered an effort at goal by the interval and the superb atmosphere at kick-off had waned considerably.

Unfortunately, the contest somehow managed to deteriorate further in the opening minutes of the second half, although Greece did at least get a shot at goal.

Demichelis again found himself isolated after another long ball towards Georgios Samaras, who looked set to pounce after a slip by the Bayern Munich defender but the Greek forward shot wide.

There was a continued lack of urgency to the contest, although virtually everything of worth came from Maradona’s side, with Tzorvas palming a Messi free-kick around the post and saving a header from defensive midfielder Mario Bolatti.

For all Greece’s defensive exploits they almost gifted their opponents a goal with a piece of comical defending when Tzorvas smashed a clearance into Vangelis Moras and was slightly fortunate to see the ball fly wide of his goal.

But after Argentina opened the scoring, the Greek side fell away.

Reflecting on their second World Cup campaign, they will have to be content with having registered their first World Cup win, having beaten Nigeria on Thursday.

The Barcelona maestro plys his trade in Spain’s Primera Liga, but reckons the strength of the Premier League could put England among the leading contenders to succeed in South Africa.

Spain and Brazil are favourites with many people to win the tournament, but the 22-year-old forward puts Fabio Capello’s side in the same category.

“I think that right now, the strongest sides going into the World Cup are Spain, England and Brazil,” he told CNN International.

“They had a strong, easy qualifying and are very tough.”

Messi was coy about his own side’s chances, despite a strike force that boasts Carlos Tevez, Sergio Aguero and Diego Milito.

“Hopefully, it will be my World Cup, Argentina’s World Cup and that we hit the ground running and play up to people’s expectations and win the World Cup,” he said.

Messi has had another stellar season with Barcelona, winning another Primera Division title under Pep Guardiola and playing at a consistently high level which has seen him hailed as one of the greatest players in history.

There is still a feeling in Argentina, however, that he does not reproduce that form at international level.

“People have an opinion and I respect it,” he said. “I’m the first person who wants to do well with my national team and perform like I do with Barcelona.

“I know that this is a really good opportunity for me and I’m going to try to do it.”

He continued: “At Barcelona, Guardiola decided to use me more in the middle and that’s when I had more touches on the ball and played more around the front of the area.

“And well, I’ve had the luck to be able to score more goals.”

Where the two teams meet in the Champions League many times, but it did not take great advantage of Barcelona. Prior to this season, the two sides each won three games. Among them, Kiev last time at home against Barcelona was 12 years ago that, when they beat three opponents the ball, but met for the first time this season, with goals from Lionel Messi and Pedro, they win 2-0.

The game, sending the strongest team Barcelona, Iniesta, and Messi lead the striker Ibrahimovic, while the Kiev Shevchenko iconic figure is, in addition to goalkeeper Bischoff has participated in Minkowski 12 years of competition, but the team is very severe injuries after the games, so that Yusuf could only retreat to play halfback.

Start of the race the first 2 minutes, breaking the left Jamaud Lenko create a free kick. Shevchenko direct shot Milevschi Yiceng change direction and disposed of Valdez net smash the ball rolled from his armpit into the net nest ,1-0, Kiev ahead. (Click to view replays of the goals) 4 minutes, Keita Zhise, Chauvenet Minkowski attack the ball to be. 7 minutes, earning a corner Busquets, Messi quickly opened, but not a threat. The first 13 minutes, Chauvenet Minkowski siege mistakes, Messi after the high-speed breaking ball, but his final shot was saved. The first 14 minutes, Messi has a right Michalik Diego action, but the referee did not express.

The first 19 minutes, Alves right-sided pass, but no collusion Road. The first 24 minutes, Ibrahimovic left hand side of a note Cuochu pass the ball, but did not daunt Bischoff Tarkovsky. The first 28 minutes, Messi left hand side after the break-point shot, Zlatan restricted area before the shot, but the play was too positive. 32 minutes, after the fast break steal Magelang Unfortunately, his last big Zhise a little.

The first 33 minutes, Barca played with fluency. Messi points edge, Abidal biography, Harvey 5 meters at Chan She broke ,1-1. Barca point rate as high as 77%, the first 35 minutes, Vukojevic injury, temporary suspension of play. Barca began to frequent Daojiao the game down the rhythm down, Kiev Ningkeweiqi and Hu Cerf began to warm up. The first 45 minutes, Pique Milevschi pass defense when handball, Weber showed him a yellow card.

Start the second half, Ibrahimovic the left clever passing, Iniesta rebate pass near the baseline, the Beita Ao ball siege. The first 51 minutes, Vukojevic tackles the ball fell to the ground at the foot of the Massey, but his injury appears to be intensifying. After Almeida and Vukojevic continuous booked.

The first 59 minutes, a long pass from Magelang, Puyol missing bits, but Kiev has been offside. The first 61 minutes, Harvey out a free kick, Ibrahimovic broke Pique header ferry, but the Swede has been blown offside invalid. 67 minutes, magland pass in the left hand side after the break Alves, Abidal before the break in time for the Jamaud Lenko. 72 minutes, Messi shot after the break he denied being Beita Ao, Alves he missed an important qualification.

74 minutes, magland was Ningkeweiqi replaced, which is a kicked up on the Harvey. The two sides began to get angry, the first 77 minutes, Ibrahim Yusuf revenge eat yellow card, 1 minutes later, Iniesta is also booked because of violations of Michalik. The first 86 minutes, Messi breakthrough, Michalik foul. Messi own direct shot, the ball over the wall, base plate a moment in the beam breaking ball ,2-1. 89 minutes, Pique was replaced Max. The first 90 minutes, Harvey Zhisai, Meixi Li reached the restricted area with the speed, but he Tui She too is being saved.

Barcelona (433): 1 – Valdes / 2 – Alves, 3 – Pick (89’5-Max), 5 – Puyol, 22 – Abidal / 15 – Keita, 16 – Vitebsk Deutsch, 6 – Harvey / 8 – Iniesta (82’17-Pedro), 9 – Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 10 – Lionel Messi

Dynamo Kiev (433): 1 – Chauve Minkowski / 11 – ere the door Branch, 3 – Beita Ao, 25 – Yusuf, 21 – magland (74’36-Ningkeweiqi) / 44 — Almeida, 17 – Michalik, 5 – Vukojevic / 7 – Andriy Shevchenko, 10 – m Levski, 70 – Jamaud Lenko

December 10 reported that: Due to injury, Messi was unable to attend the 2006 Club World Cup, Barca also lost the final to Brazil international. Now, injuries again enveloped in the shadow of the head of the fleas. As a battle against Dynamo Kiev was kicked before the whistle, Barcelona’s Lionel Messi has been on the injured list.

In accordance with Barca’s official website saying Messi sprained right ankle, injuries ranging from a level of between 2. Three days later in Barcelona in the derby at home against Espanyol, Messi able to participate in this race is unknown. Barcelona will set off next week’s World Club Cup, Messi is still no injury if at that time, then maybe turn flea Living Club Championship trip turned into a cup.

For the injured Lionel Messi, of course we have to condemn, under the Leandro Blackfoot – Almeida, who had fleas behind Feichan to end the game early, which is obviously a lack of professional ethics of a malicious foul. Overall competition, a total of nine times Messi Dynamo Kiev player has been tipped over, he was the highest number of audience violations player.

But Messi’s injury, but also from their own irrational fleas. In fact, Barcelona has already qualified the final stage of the game, full of red and blue army can pass depletion race time, Macy plays a game of personal breakthrough, which made him become the home team player vent anger objects.

Exist only in the final 10 minutes, Messi on the opponent from behind three times uprooting the last of this foul eventually led to catastrophe, which is directly derived from fleas unnecessary force the ball. Injury is always the biggest enemy of professional players, on how to protect themselves on this issue, Messi There is clearly much to learn.

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