Player Ratings: Argentina 1-0 Nigeria
Who were top and who were flops in the Albiceleste's triumph over the Super Eagles?
By Kris Voakes
Jun 12, 2010 5:13:00 PM
ARGENTINA
Romero: 6 – Not overly tested, but didn’t deal particularly well with Martins’ thunderbolt effort. Looked ok under crosses, but will be tested more later in the tournament.
Gutierrez: 5.5 – Struggled throughout the first half, allowing Obasi to create a couple of good chances. Less exposed thereafter, but he will have to improve to be assured of a berth later on in the finals.
Demichelis: 6 – Looked far from comfortable whenever Nigeria got to run at him and once clashed with his own colleague when he and Gutierrez failed to deal with Veron’s hurried clearance. Dealt with danger on the ground fairly well, but Nigeria would have hoped to put him under greater scrutiny.
Samuel: 6.5 – His slip allowed Obinna to get in behind, but he recovered well. Was the rock of the defence as all around him flapped and flailed.
Heinze: 7 – Excellent header gave Argentina the victory and he oozed calm on the ball. Not always as convincing off the ball, but more than did his job for the day.
Veron: 7 – Set up the winning goal and played a magnificent pass forward for Messi which could have resulted in an excellent second. His distribution was often at the base of Argentina’s good work and they relied on the counter-attack much more after his withdrawal.
Mascherano: 7 – Made it difficult for Nigeria to get any kind of a foothold in the game. Dictated the pace of the play for the most part, but seemed to suffer a little after Veron’s substitution.
Di Maria: 5 – Hardly had a kick as he struggled to have any influence on the game. Another display like that and his World Cup future will come under huge scrutiny.
Messi: 7.5 – Majestic on the ball at times, and asked countless questions of Enyeama. He was too often able to pick his way through the hole between Nigeria’s defence and midfield, and the Super Eagles had their 'keeper to thank for him not making them pay more heavily.
Higuain: 5.5 – Missed a sitter in the first half and was denied by Enyeama on two other occasions. He’ll be disappointed not to have taken at least one of his chances.
Tevez: 7 – Part of some fantastic link-up play with Messi in the first half and set the No. 10 up for a great chance on the break in the second half. Not his greatest game, but clearly a key member of this Albiceleste side.
Subs:
Maxi: 6 – Came on for Veron but had little chance to stamp his imprint on the game.
Milito: NA
Burdisso: NA
NIGERIA
Enyeama: 8.5 – Several fantastic saves, including one in particular late in the first half from Messi’s shot. He became something of a one-man wall, denying Messi three or four times and Higuain twice amongst a series of superb pieces of goalkeeping.
Odiah: 6 – Showed a tendency to dwell on the ball which put his side under pressure a couple of times, but looked fairly got in the air.
Yobo: 6.5 – Never got close enough to Higuain or Messi as Argentina created chances at will in the first half. Made one superb tackle on Higuain early in the second period and looked to shake off early uncertainty as the game developed.
Shittu: 5.5 – Came to pick up Messi too rarely as the Balon d’Or winner found holes in front of the back four too easy to find. Was strong in the air, but Argentina’s style of play demanded greater anticipation from the centre-back.
Taiwo: 5.5 – His long throws proved a headache for Argentina, but his defending wasn’t always as impressive. Picked up a knock and was replaced by Uche.
Kaita: 5 – Very poor marking nearly gifted Samuel a goal. His decision-making when in good positions regularly let his side down, and he could have done better with a late chance.
Etuhu: 6 – Provided some solidity but little real creativity as Nigeria lost out by some decision in the midfield scramble.
Haruna: 5.5 – Failed to get close to the roaming Messi and allowed Veron too many opportunities to pick his passes.
Obasi: 6 – Attacked Gutierrez with some success early on, but his effectiveness died out as the game wore on and he was replaced on the hour mark.
Yakubu: 6 – Did well when he dropped onto the full-backs, but too often went through the motions in the centre of attack.
Obinna: 5 – Pounced on Walter Samuel’s slip early on, but couldn’t get his cross into the danger area. Thereafter he found it difficult to make inroads against the more belligerent half of the Argentine back four.
Subs:
Martins: 6 – Came on for Obinna and provided a new urgency in attack, but – one thunderbolt apart – didn’t have an awful lot of chances.
Odemwingie: 5.5 – Panicked on the ball a couple of times and once took far too long to get a cross in as he struggled to come to terms with the pace of the game.
Uche: NA
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http://igchuka.blogspot.com/2010/06/player-ratings-argentina-1-0-nigeria.html
Who were top and who were flops in the Albiceleste's triumph over the Super Eagles?
By Kris Voakes
Jun 12, 2010 5:13:00 PM
ARGENTINA
Romero: 6 – Not overly tested, but didn’t deal particularly well with Martins’ thunderbolt effort. Looked ok under crosses, but will be tested more later in the tournament.
Gutierrez: 5.5 – Struggled throughout the first half, allowing Obasi to create a couple of good chances. Less exposed thereafter, but he will have to improve to be assured of a berth later on in the finals.
Demichelis: 6 – Looked far from comfortable whenever Nigeria got to run at him and once clashed with his own colleague when he and Gutierrez failed to deal with Veron’s hurried clearance. Dealt with danger on the ground fairly well, but Nigeria would have hoped to put him under greater scrutiny.
Samuel: 6.5 – His slip allowed Obinna to get in behind, but he recovered well. Was the rock of the defence as all around him flapped and flailed.
Heinze: 7 – Excellent header gave Argentina the victory and he oozed calm on the ball. Not always as convincing off the ball, but more than did his job for the day.
Veron: 7 – Set up the winning goal and played a magnificent pass forward for Messi which could have resulted in an excellent second. His distribution was often at the base of Argentina’s good work and they relied on the counter-attack much more after his withdrawal.
Mascherano: 7 – Made it difficult for Nigeria to get any kind of a foothold in the game. Dictated the pace of the play for the most part, but seemed to suffer a little after Veron’s substitution.
Di Maria: 5 – Hardly had a kick as he struggled to have any influence on the game. Another display like that and his World Cup future will come under huge scrutiny.
Messi: 7.5 – Majestic on the ball at times, and asked countless questions of Enyeama. He was too often able to pick his way through the hole between Nigeria’s defence and midfield, and the Super Eagles had their 'keeper to thank for him not making them pay more heavily.
Higuain: 5.5 – Missed a sitter in the first half and was denied by Enyeama on two other occasions. He’ll be disappointed not to have taken at least one of his chances.
Tevez: 7 – Part of some fantastic link-up play with Messi in the first half and set the No. 10 up for a great chance on the break in the second half. Not his greatest game, but clearly a key member of this Albiceleste side.
Subs:
Maxi: 6 – Came on for Veron but had little chance to stamp his imprint on the game.
Milito: NA
Burdisso: NA
NIGERIA
Enyeama: 8.5 – Several fantastic saves, including one in particular late in the first half from Messi’s shot. He became something of a one-man wall, denying Messi three or four times and Higuain twice amongst a series of superb pieces of goalkeeping.
Odiah: 6 – Showed a tendency to dwell on the ball which put his side under pressure a couple of times, but looked fairly got in the air.
Yobo: 6.5 – Never got close enough to Higuain or Messi as Argentina created chances at will in the first half. Made one superb tackle on Higuain early in the second period and looked to shake off early uncertainty as the game developed.
Shittu: 5.5 – Came to pick up Messi too rarely as the Balon d’Or winner found holes in front of the back four too easy to find. Was strong in the air, but Argentina’s style of play demanded greater anticipation from the centre-back.
Taiwo: 5.5 – His long throws proved a headache for Argentina, but his defending wasn’t always as impressive. Picked up a knock and was replaced by Uche.
Kaita: 5 – Very poor marking nearly gifted Samuel a goal. His decision-making when in good positions regularly let his side down, and he could have done better with a late chance.
Etuhu: 6 – Provided some solidity but little real creativity as Nigeria lost out by some decision in the midfield scramble.
Haruna: 5.5 – Failed to get close to the roaming Messi and allowed Veron too many opportunities to pick his passes.
Obasi: 6 – Attacked Gutierrez with some success early on, but his effectiveness died out as the game wore on and he was replaced on the hour mark.
Yakubu: 6 – Did well when he dropped onto the full-backs, but too often went through the motions in the centre of attack.
Obinna: 5 – Pounced on Walter Samuel’s slip early on, but couldn’t get his cross into the danger area. Thereafter he found it difficult to make inroads against the more belligerent half of the Argentine back four.
Subs:
Martins: 6 – Came on for Obinna and provided a new urgency in attack, but – one thunderbolt apart – didn’t have an awful lot of chances.
Odemwingie: 5.5 – Panicked on the ball a couple of times and once took far too long to get a cross in as he struggled to come to terms with the pace of the game.
Uche: NA
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2. http://igchuka.blogspot.com/2010/06/player-ratings-argentina-1-0-nigeria.html
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