Sunday, June 20, 2010

For anyone that can't access espn3.com, you can watch the games live here. Commentary is in Spanish, but the picture is excellent and it rarely times out.

Tomorrow is a big day!

Score Update:

Honduras v Chile 0-1
Spain v Switzerland 0-1
Republic of South Africa v Uruguay 0-3

Now for today's matches.

Argentina v South Korea 4-1

Argentina won the World Cup in 1978 and in 1986 but only made it as far as the quarter-finals in 2006. Coach Diego Armando Maradona was a star on the 1986 team for Argentina and is considered by many to be one of the finest footballers of all time.

SERGIO AGUERO #16, Forward, debuted as Argentina's youngest player at the age of 15 years, one month and three days. In 2005 and 2007, Aguero helped his team to victory in the FIFA U-20 World Cup, collecting the adidas Golden Ball as the tournament’s top player in 2007. Also a member of the 2008 Olympic gold medal team, scoring 2 goals in the semi-finals.



South Korea (Korea Republic) are Asia's most successful team in the World Cup to date. In fact, this is South Korea's 7th consecutive qualification for the tournament. They have yet, however, to win a World Cup.

LEE CHUNG YOUNG #17, Midfielder, name translates to the Blue Dragon. Made professional debut in his fourth season. Took part in the 2008 Olympic Football Tournament in Beijing. Lee moved to the English Premier League to play for the Bolton Wanderers in summer 2009.



Greece v Nigeria 2-0

This is only Greece's 2nd appearance in the World Cup and first victory ever in the finals. Coached since 2001 by German Otto Rehhagel, they won the 2004 UEFA EURO championship.

ALEXANDROS TZORVAS #12, Goalkeeper, played for Pana as a youth and, due to playing behind an exceptional goalkeeper (Antonis Nikopolidis), was lent out to several teams before being called up in 2008. Tzorvas secured the #1 spot after Nikopolidis' retirement.


Nigeria was once considered to be the strongest African team for a World Cup, but lately expectations have diminished. They are strong in other international competitions, having won the 1985, 1993 and 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup as well as the 1996 Olympic Football Tournament.

JOHN UTAKA #7, Forward, made his international debut at age 16 with Egyptian club Arab Contractors. Since then, Utaka has played for 6 teams in 4 different countries. He is one of the remaining Nigerians to have played in the nation's last World Cup finals appearance in 2002.



France v Mexico 0-2

France has now qualified for their fourth consecutive World Cup finals appearance. They have been one of the world's leading football teams since the late 1990s. France won Confederation Cups in 2001 and 2003 and won the UEFA European Championships in 1986 and 2000. They won the World Cup in 1998 and lost out on penalties to Italy in 2006.

THIERRY HENRY #12, Forward, World champion, European champion and France’s all-time leading goalscorer, and unofficial King of France. Enough said.



Mexico has qualified for 14 FIFA World Cup finals, more than any other team in the CONCACAF Zone. This is their fifth finals in a row. As hosts of the World Cup in both 1970 and 1986, they made it as far as the last 8. Four of Mexico's 2010 players were part of the team who won the FIFA U-17 World Cup Peru 2005.

HECTOR MORENO #15, Defender,



-Laura

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