Another Fine Mess(i)

Second game of the day features Argentina versus Nigeria. The question has been whether Lionel Messi will finally duplicate the glory he accumulates playing with Barcelona into his play on the international stage. For whatever reason--and there have been many suggested, most prominently and dramatically being that Diego Maradona, Argentina's coach, is consciously or subconsciously subverting Messi by not making the best use of him, tactically, in order to prevent any player from matching or surpassing Maradona's own stature in the annals of Argentine soccer legend.

Nigeria is always considered a contender, but this is not their strongest side.

ORIGINAL PREDICTION: ARGENTINA 3-1

FANTASY UPDATE: CARLOS TEVEZ starts up top for Argentina.

Argentina is starting Messi, Tevez, and Higuain upfront. Definitely has the potential for many goals. The first attack in the 4th minute features a great surging run by Messi into the heart of the defense, but Higuain misses badly off of a simple layoff pass.

WITHIN 6 MINUTES, ARGENTINA IS UP 1-0. After Messi leads three straight blistering attacks, the last forcing a great save, Gabriel Heinze converts the ensuing corner kick with a diving header. Nigeria is in serious trouble, as Messi has chewed their defense up already.

Nigeria survives further flurries, and earns a corner kick in the 11th minute, which is easily cleared. They are showing life, and enough talent and speed to be able to avoid a rout, but they aren't showing enough yet to make me reconsider my original pick.

Messi makes another brilliant run and nearly gets on the end of a great long ball from Veron. The keeper comes out well to collect. I've liked what I've seen from Messi so far.

Another great shot by Messi draws a strong parry by the Nigerian keeper Enyeama, who will be hoping his defenders stop letting Messi get the ball near the 18.

In the 21st minute, a Tevez-Higuain pass sets up the Madrid man for another shot, and Enyeama comes through again with the save. Nigeria is allowing way too much possession to Argentina in the final third. And it looks like Enyeama is now shaken up.

Nigeria has a great chance to score against the run of play, but the cross is not good enough across the face of goal.

In the 35th minute, Romero, the Argentinian goalie, needs to come off his line strongly to collect a lofted ball. Nigeria has made a couple more chances here and there, and Argentina has lost a little momentum, perhaps.

Messi orchestrates a great give and go off a free kick, rips a great shot that forces a corner kick. He is very entertaining to watch, and you feel that more goals are inevitable.

The longer Nigeria can go without conceding a second goal, the more they will grow in confidence, and Argentina will start to get frustrated. Yellow card to Jonas Gutierrez for a bad challenge.

Another run by Messi draws a free kick at the left corner of the penalty area. He has been everywhere.

HALFTIME arrives with Nigeria having staved off further punishment. Changes to their defending will be needed for the second half.

Messi never seems to stop running. Great give and go almost sees him tuck the ball away, but it just goes wide.

There have been moments, here and there, where Nigeria has snuck into a scoring opportunity. Argentina must not get complacent in looking for a second goal.

Nigeria wastes a free kick in a dangerous spot in the 63rd minute, but they are still only a goal down. They have time to steal a point.

Tevez leads a breakaway, and Messi misses again, and is frustrated, rightly so. That could have killed the game off.

Right after that, Argentina threatens again, and once more, Enyeama makes a big save. So far he is man of the match. Nevertheless, I'm starting to feel that Argentina's finishing is leaving something to be desired. That something, just to be clear, is a handful of additional goals.

Messi almost scores again. That is shaping up to the be the headline of the game: "Messi Almost Scores."

Diego Milito, on as a sub, does not execute well on a breakaway. Argentina seems a little unfocused at this point, and I could see Nigeria finding an equalizing goal. That would be devastating for Argentina, who seem to be tiring, and seem to be telegraphing some passes now.

Argentina was looking dominant in the first ten minutes, but I am not convinced by their performance today. Against weak defending, they have lacked the killer instinct. They have such exciting potential in that starting trio of attackers, but they need sharper finishing.

On this form, Nigeria will have trouble getting past South Korea to advance to the knockout stages.

Argentina holds on for a 1-0 win.