Argentina's biggest battle since Mount Tumbledown and the French connection

Before we look ahead, a quick word of praise for Iran and Morocco who gave their all against Portugal and Spain as I said they would. They had us, the fans, on the edge of our seats as the outcome of the games and thus the group positions was not decided until the dying seconds in both games.

First up today, are the final matches in group C, they being Australia v Peru and France v Denmark.

As usual those whinging Aussies are complaining that the French should never have been awarded a penalty in the game between them. This would have meant the game ended in a draw in the parallel universe that Australia exists in where everything, as we know is upside down. That being the case the Australians would not be on the brink of elimination, which is where they are back in this universe.

Tough call against the Aussies, What do you think ?

They are up against a Peru side who have lost both their games despite playing well and who will want to finish on a high note and that is bad news for the Aussies who need to win and hope that Denmark lose to France. In that scenario, Australia will advance, otherwise its pack your bags time.

More worryingly for the sheep dipping lovers is that they have only managed to score two goals to date in the tournament both from penalties taken by their captain Jedinak who looks like he could do with a shear and dip.

Baa

France and Denmark only need to play out a draw to ensure they both qualify and world cup history is littered with instances of where this has happened as both sides rest players, don't try to hard, and settle for the point.

The French true to form as I wrote in the preview for this group have been like a dish in a restaurant specializing in nouvelle cuisine, not much substance with a few flashes of genius here and there, to merely whet the appetite but leaving the diner still hungry for more at the end of the meal.

For Denmark, also as predicted, Loki who has assumed the form of one Christian Eriksen has been up to his tricks and entertained us immensely.

France and Denmark to advance.

Now we come to Group D which is living up to its mantle as the group of death.

I received a question, from, let's call them Anonymous from Gauteng, (which some of you may remember as Transvaal) something to the effect of why does the world cup matter, what is all the fuss about ?  The standard of club football is of a much higher quality, for example in the champions league. I started to pen them a detailed answer with historical socioeconomic reasons, but realized that there is no need.

The answer is in what this game means to the Argentinian players including Messi. What it means to the Argentinian nation as a whole. They will be mouthing Ave Maria as they are glued to whatever screen they will be watching on experiencing the whole gamut of emotions from ecstasy to despair in the space of ninety minutes.

It matters because club football is mercenary, players go where ever they can get more money there is no loyalty, but to play for the national team, to kiss the national badge on their shirt. That is every players dream, the pinnacle of their career, to bring glory to the homeland and that is why Messi et al will be straining every sinew, every fibre in their bodies to try and ensure Argentina win.

The problem for the Argies is that they have been so bad until now that even winning this game, will not guarantee them a place in the last sixteen as their fate rests on the outcome of the game between Croatia and Iceland which we will get to shortly.

The Argies are in disarray, the coach is being ignored, he was marching up and down the sidelines in the debacle against Croatia like a man possessed by a demon, radiating panic, not the sort of behaviour you want to see from the teams supposed leader.

A dressing room Putsch has occurred. The players are supposedly going to decide who will play and we know that the goalkeeper against Croatia will probably never play for Argentina again after his horrendous error.

All three goals against the Argies and some great faces of anguish and disbelief


The fat drug addict Maradona is crying in the stands as we saw in the clip and is now demanding to talk to the players before the game today to try and evoke the ghost of Evita to somehow inspire this useless shower of misfits.

Let it be stated, it will be very difficult for the Argies against an excellent Nigerian side who have a good chance of going up with just a draw and therefore will also be playing to the best of their ability.

As I wrote in the group preview Nigeria have always given Argentina a run for their money and tonight is too close to call. This will be a game not too be missed, just because of what is at stake not necessarily because the level will be so good.

Croatia who have already qualified face Iceland and Croatia have already made it clear that they are going to rest their main stars and also players who have picked up a yellow card to ensure they do not receive another one and thus incur a suspension.

If Iceland win and Nigeria draw, Iceland will need to win by three goals to overtake Nigeria on goal difference as in the head to head between them, Nigeria have the advantage.

If Iceland win and Argentina win, then Argentina would need to score two more goals than Iceland to go up. There may be other permutations but it would be far too complicated to list them here.

Let the action begin and the Argies be sent packing back to the pampas with their tails between their legs.