Argentina vs Nigeria

Group B. Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Argentina 1-0 Nigeria

There were more people wearing Argentinean T-shirts featuring Maradona more than ones featuring Messi. He is just so interesting. Maradona is a legend and I want to see him getting frustrated and smirking at the press like their nothing. And he makes training rather exciting.

In those very first few minutes of play Magical Messi spun the world star struck as he weaved in and out of the Nigerian players, making it look oh so easy. I don’t know who can beat him; he draws with that ball. He is a painter; the ground is his canvas and the ball his brush, leaving extraordinary luminous colours behind. The ball never leaves his feet, and then it is somewhere near the goals. Always near the goals.

The goal by Heinz, I didn’t expect. See, I didn’t think there was anybody else in the team that could score except Messi. They are huge footballers, playing in clubs of much precedence, but I sought of forgot about them. So, when that neat header came in, and the dances around Nigeria’s end kept coming, I felt sorry for Nigeria. They were going to be hit 1000-nil, and would shuffle around, while the Argentineans made them look sorry.

Messi is the most capable of winning the golden boot, he is simply brilliant and there is no other player who is of his calibre. Every few minutes there he was, somewhere near the net, but not in it. Then he falls down. The guy falls every five minutes, it is a wonder his face is not blue. He tried, twisted, turned, shredding the Nigerian confidence as soon as they’d built it, only to not get a goal.

I didn’t think the Nigerians would be able to hold the Argentineans back, but goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama put up a worthy performance, saving balls from some of the world’s best strikers. He rescued the Super Eagles time and again, and kept his nerves steady. The strength and stamina of the Nigerians was a force to be reckoned with. They kept running, dribbling, defending, attacking, and going on and on. I thought they could have continued the match for another 20 minutes. They should be proud; restricting Argentina to a one goal win took some mighty effort.

Maradona’s boys play soccer. They don’t just go and work at it, thumping the ball here and there, but they entertain. I want to see them go right till the end, because the world cup is about watching beautiful play and not just winning.