Argentina aim to continue their winning spree

Coach Diego Maradona and his Argentina superstars face Greece today with the promise of more World Cup goals and a perfect record going into the second round.

The two-time champions opened with a 1-0 win over Nigeria and soon after thrashed South Korea 4-1 and have secured a berth in the second round.

Argentina features Gonzalo Higuain, who snatched a hat-trick and established himself as early favourite for the Golden Boot award. And despite Maradona’s plans on making seven substitutions to his starting line-up, his star Lionel Messi will also play because benching him would be “sinful”.

Maradona’s side has the luxury of keeping Inter Milan Champions League hero Diego Milito and Sergio Aguera from Atletico Madrid on the bench, but a suspect defence could prove their undoing in the far tougher knockout rounds.

A Martin Demichelis blunder gifted Korea a goal that kept the match in the balance for much of the second half and also revealed a gentler side of the sometimes abrasive Maradona.

Meanwhile, Greece are desperate for points. A draw would suffice if Nigeria defeat South Korea in Durban, otherwise the shock Euro 2004 winners must avenge a four-goal drubbing from the Argentines at the 1994 World Cup and collect maximum points.

Coach Otto Rehhagel seems to fear the worst when a team composed largely of international unknowns tackle one of the favourites to lift the World Cup.

Midfielder Costas Katsouranis offered a slightly more positive spin, “Argentina are very difficult opponents for any team, but we’ll fight and do what we can as long as there is hope.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2010.