Martin Palermo and Martin Demichelis scored second-half goals to help Argentina beat Greece 2-0 at the World Cup. Greece has been eliminated, while on Sunday Argentina will play Mexico in the round 16. In the 77th minute on Tuesday night Demichelis scored from short range after his header bounced off Diego Milito and back into his path.
In the 89th Palermo doubled the score from a rebound after Greece goalkeeper Alexandros Tzorvas. Messi’s hard left-foot shot hit the near post, just minutes earlier. Greece coach Otto Rehhagel said, “A well-deserved victory, no doubt about that.”
He said, “We wanted to avoid an early goal, we managed to do that, but of course Argentina has more class and that earned them the win.”
To the lineup that beat South Korea 4-1 five days earlier, Argentina coach Diego Maradona made seven changes in the squad. Striker Carlos Tevez and Gonzalo Hinguain and Captain Javier Mascherano were all benched. However, for the first time Messi did start and he was given the captain’s armband. It made Messi, the youngest Argentina captain ever, who turns 23 on Thursday.
With a right-calf injury Midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron returned after missing the previous game. Only Messi, midfielder Maxi Rodriguez, Demichelis and goalkeeper Sergio Romero have been in the team for all three of Argentina’s games. Maradona said of Mexico, “They deserve a lot of respect.” “Even though they lost, they have their identity.”
The game took place in 45,000 – capacity Peter Mokaba Stadium, where Argentina fans outnumbered their Greek counterparts. Rehhagel said, “My players played with their hearts and with excitement.” “But it was just not enough to cause Argentina much trouble.” In the 18th minute the first shot on goal came when Sergio Aguero picked up a pass by Veron and dribbed past two Greece defenders before his left-foot shot forced Tzorvas into a diving save.
To get a result against Argentina Rehhagel had urged his players to produce the “match of their lives.”
