Motty's day seven preview
Thursday sees Argentina back in action for their second World Cup Group B game as Diego Maradona's side take on South Korea. Both sides have three points, but can South Korea contain Argentina's formidable attacking line-up?
Greece, who have yet to score a World Cup goal in four games in two tournaments, take on Nigeria in Group B's other game, while Raymond Domenech's struggling France side meet Mexico in Group A.
Here's my day seven preview - click on the video below to see my picks.
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South Africa 2010 will be John Motson's 10th World Cup with BBC Sport. John will be filing regular video reports from Cape Town, offering expert insight and opinion as well as recalling his own fond memories of previous tournaments. You can watch World Cup Motty on the BBC Sport website and the Red Button. John will also be using 
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Comments
What is the legal amount of time alloweed for a substitution to be made. When South Africa had the Goalkeeper sent off they took over 5 minutes to bring on a replacement meaning the penalty was delayed for nearly 7 minutes! Surely that can't be legal....can it???
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Motty, if I feed you after midnight, will you multiply?
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He will only multiply if you put water on him!
Looking forward to see what Argentina will do against a side with better structure and who want to go forward. They could cause them a few problems with their pace in the advanced positions of the pitch. Playing with 3/4 centre half’s could leave them a bit weak down the flanks.
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The introduction talks of Argentina's 'impressive start'. Not sure about that. 1-0 was nothing too great,although Messi could have 2-3 more himself but their defence was all over the place and without doubt the Nigerians should have had a couple themselves. The Argentine back-4 were uninspiring to say the least and Jonas was a downright liability. Any team with decent wingers (Holland/France) will run rings around the Argentines. South Korea might not be good enough and the Greeks will not be, but look out in the knockout stages!!
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Trevor #1, it doesn't really matter so long as the referee adds on the time at the end of the match. Usually referees can be seen hurrying up substitutions when there is a possibility of time-wasting, but the goalkeeper's situation is an exceptional one. Besides, South Africa had nothing to gain by wasting time, as they were already one goal behind and were about to be two goals behind. I'm sure there was nothing untoward about it, though the sub goalie should have been prepared!
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I do like these videos John, I still think it would be great to hear you commentating in this World Cup. . .I remember the West Germany v England match, as Gordon Banks suffered a suspicious ailment, which put Peter Bonetti in goal, however Sir Alf Ramsey made a critical mistake by substituting Bobby Charlton when we were 2.0 up, became complacent, which you simply cannot do. . .
As for Nigeria v Argentina, in my opinion the Argentine goal was illegitimate as Samuel fouled a Nigerian defender and thus allowing No.6 Heinze to score. . .However this was their opening game and personally I think they played well below par and naturally with their skilful strikers going forward are ruthless. . .However there are leaks in their defence which other oppositions will manage to exploit. . .Also as for tactics, well need I say more about Maradona, best player in the world to date, but his managerial regime is open to debate. . .
I don’t think South Korea will be able to contain Argentina and as we are now developing into the 2nd group games and as both teams have 3 points a piece, South Korea may defend hoping to draw. . .
Lets concentrate now as the teams are progressing in the tournament and leave the ‘performance’ of the opening games behind. . .
Nigeria also as you rightfully said has an opportunity to keep the spectacular African spirit going on in this tournament. . .
Looking forward to watching all of the matches today. . .
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Argentina v South Korea 3-1 (Messi, Torez, Veron, Park)
Greece v Nigeria 0-2 (Super eagles deliver)
France v Mexico 0-1 (France fizzle out)
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In 1994 Daniel Amokachi scored the goal that took Nigeria to the top of the group & a meeting with Italy....& out!! They will win 2day, Greece do not have the power 2 resist, but mark my words it will be a struggle. France & Argentina will also win. SA will not get out of their group, as I predicted, they are simply not good enough.
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South Korea over Argentina, 1-0
Greece 1 Nigeria 2
France 0 Mexico 0
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"Not available in your area" overlays the clip. What about a text summary for the many of us in the far reaches of the world who aren't deemed worthy of the full monty?
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I was just wondering Mr Motson if you found out whether the reason FIFA issued for not allowing Domenech to replace his back-up keeper was that the squad already contained a 4th keeper, hence situation normal remained in force??
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If they are interested in getting the game to flow and stop the idiotic timewasting that goes on in the last 5-10 minutes of a game why not change the substitution rule.
With the 4th official now in place could he not control substitutions.
Substitutions can be made at any time, including when the ball is in play.
If a team wishes to make a substitution the 4th official is informed and indicates the change on the board in the current way. The player being removed makes his way to the touchline. Once he has left the field of play the new player enters the field of play when authorized by the 4th official. The 4th official informs the referee of the change via the radio link.
The 4th official would presumably have time to manage this situation even though he is already utilised keeping the managers apart.
It would be interesting to see the change in the number of last minute substitutions now that the team winning would not gain advantge by wasting time but lose advantage being down to 10 men for the time taken to make the substitution.
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I hope France get spanked. Raymond Domenech is a total idiot and doesn't deserve to be managing the quality of players that he has at his disposal.
I'm still trying to get over him trying to break the deadlock against a resolute Uruguay defence by playing their tallest forward (Gignac) on the wing...
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I was able to watch these clips for the past few days but not today...why is it suddenly not available in my area??
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What a shame about the hosts. Poor old South Africa. I hope this won't deflate the world cup. As it is always good for the hosts to get out of the group for the tournament.
Still a little stat for them to hold onto... USA drew their first game and then lost their second requiring a victory against their final opponents Colombia. Thanks to an own goal from the ill fated Escobar they got through. Will South Africa have that bit of luck against the France or has the ill fated person ie South Africa's goalie already occurred...
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Keepers get longer to enter the game because their inclusion is unexpected. Their kit is not ready, for one, and they are not loosened up as well. In contrast, standard subs are stretched, ready to play and waiting by the 4th official. This should be common sense.
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Mexico wins then conspires with Uruguay for a draw. French disaster. Half the team retires. Mass hysteria!
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Its up tyo the descretion of the referee involved.
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Reply to 16.
Huge uproar also in South Africa even though they lose to France. Due to huge controversy over Uruguay and Mexico game both are then eliminated and South Africa and France reinstated.
South Africa go onto lose to Argentina. Its 0-0 coming upto the 90 then Maradona comes on and bangs in a mysterious goal which looks like it comes off his hand... Surely not.
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Well France don't deserve to be at the world cup after their cheating at the expense of Ireland. Let them crash and burn.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Argentina 4. South Korea 1
The fireworks have commenced! The second group games have arrived. . .South Korea could not contain the ruthlessness of the Argentine defence, but they showed they are prone to error with their defence. . .I can name 6 teams in this World Cup that will be able to beat them . . .
This is great news for Nigeria who now know they can make it the last 16, and keep that African spirit and hopefully the atmosphere spectacular. . .
Maradona’s team and tactics will be closer to scrutiny when they reach the last 16, and you could see the frustration at half time, but let’s face it, South Korea are not exactly World Class. . .
So now 2 more games to watch for today. . .
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Greece playing well now at last. What was Sani Kaita thinking kicking out at someone. Has let his side down badly.
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Greece Lightening! I bet you weren’t expecting that ;)
Greece 2. Nigeria 1
Nigeria will be absolutely kicking themselves in the dressing room, they had a perfect chance to win this match, but the Discipline of Nigeria resulting in a red card sums it all up. . .(Note for other countries). . .I feel as a continent though Nigeria need to go through in the hope that the atmosphere and spectacle of this tournament will keep the South African’s smiles on their faces. . .
But at least now with the 2nd group games, we are getting more goals and more action. This result has made this group far more exciting, (who said this World Cup was boring?) Final group game South Korea v Nigeria!!!! If Nigeria continue this lack of composure and Discipline this will thus mean a draw for South Korea will secure their place in the last 16. . .South Korea are not World Class, and their weakness is set pieces. . .So watch this space the last match will be interesting. . .
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Repeat after me "We are better than the Mexicans, we are better than the Mexicans." If only we had Mike Bassett and not a foreign manager who makes about as much sense as the pundits on the tv. Maradona has realised the skill to being a successful manager, have good players. The rest is all nonsense.
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Mexico 2. France 0
Lack of discipline, divisions amongst the team, not unified, not motivated and a French Manager who quite clearly has not recovered from that 2006 World Cup Final spot kick defeat against Italy. . .
France showed no ambition and rarely even made efforts to score. . .Now we could see a repeat of the 2006 World Cup 2nd Round (knockout stages) between Mexico v Argentina. . .
If a team are not united then quite clearly there are problems. . .But I am sure in Ireland the cheers will be loud, as did France really deserve to qualify for this tournament?
Although Mexico played satisfactory football and quite rightfully deserved to win, I would hardly rate them World Class, especially when they faced the performance of the team they did today. . .You always know your options are limited when you have to bring on 37 year old striker who wasn’t even warranted good enough to play in the World Cup in 2006. . .
So tomorrow is the big day! Imperative matches. . .
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Totally agree with holy-moley,Maradona (greatest player )probably doesn't have great tactical knowledge but relies on the players abillity and just adds the PASSION !-something that a foreign manager for England can not possibly give.Sven had passion ,but unfortunatly not for footy (just for the ladies !!).Secondly could we possibly have subtitles for when Emanual Adebayor is on the telly .Can anyone tell what he's saying-apart from people from Togo !!
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@ 24 and @26. . .I am surprised that people praise Maradona's Managerial abilities. . .This is a team that lost 6.1 to Bolivia in qualification, had to wait until the last match against Uruguay in which they only just narrowly won 1.0 to finish as the last placed qualified team in their group. . .
Passion for the game is important, too much passion can make players too rash at times thus creating mistakes. .Not only has Maradona been criticised in his own country but his team have hardly played the World’s best teams yet. . .I concur that some of the forward players he has at his disposal are oozing with talent and are up there as the best, but their defence look shaky. Also remember Brazil in the World Cup 1982? Zico, Socrates etc. Everyone expected them to win. . .They had flair, style, passion and skill, cruised through the group beating Scotland 4.1, Russia (USSR) 2.1 and New Zealand 4.0. .
They had the best players in the tournament but did not win the World Cup. . .Even with those flattering scores they had a better Manager than Maradona but were outwitted by the tactics of Italy and did not progress to the Semi Finals. . .And if my memory serves me correctly, tell me a World Cup tournament where Maradona has not cheated? In 1982 he was sent off with a red card, we all know about 1986, even in 1990 he prevented a Russian goal with his hand on the defence line, again apparently unnoticed by the referee, and in 1994 was taken off the pitch in disgrace, would you install trust in his Managerial skills?
Managers are as pivotal to success as the players. . .During the knockout stages and they go down a goal, I wonder how he will tactically address the game, as to date his team have not been behind on goals yet. . .
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Hi Motty
It would have been good to hear your emblematic voice in football commentary and your fair comment again. Hope you come back soon.
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England...... what a joke!! They clearly can not handle the pressure. If I did my job as badly as them I would be sacked. As a nation we should stop expecting so much from our players as they are not good enough and this has been proven over the years in tournament football. Give us something to cheer about lads, because at the moment Im sure I am not the only one losing faith.
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