# 2010 FIFA World Cup Group B

Group B of the 2010 FIFA World Cup began on 12 June and ended on 22 June 2010. The group consisted of Argentina, Nigeria, South Korea and Greece. It was the third time that Argentina and Nigeria had been drawn together in the same World Cup group, after 1994 (when Greece were also in the same group) and 2002. Argentina had also been paired with South Korea in 1986.
Argentina won all three of their matches, conceding just one goal, and progressed as group winners. South Korea joined them in the knockout stage by virtue of their victory over Greece in the opening match and a draw with Nigeria in the last. That point was the only one Nigeria won, having also lost to Greece in their second match.

## Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Argentina | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | +6 | 9 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | South Korea | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 4 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 3 | Greece | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 3 | |
| 4 | Nigeria | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | −2 | 1 | |
* Argentina advanced to play Mexico (runners-up of Group A) in the round of 16.
* South Korea advanced to play Uruguay (winners of Group A) in the round of 16.

## Matches

All times local (UTC+2)

### South Korea vs Greece

In the seventh minute, Ki Sung-yong's free kick near the left corner was inadvertently flicked on by Kostas Katsouranis, before Lee Jung-soo rushed to the back post to open the scoring. The Koreans' lead was doubled through captain Park Ji-sung, who tackled Loukas Vyntra and sprinted all the way to fire a low shot into the corner of the net as they kept their 2–0 win until the final whistle.
| South Korea | Greece |
| GK | 18 | Jung Sung-ryong |
| RB | 22 | Cha Du-ri |
| CB | 4 | Cho Yong-hyung |
| CB | 14 | Lee Jung-soo |
| LB | 12 | Lee Young-pyo |
| RM | 17 | Lee Chung-yong | 90+1' |
| CM | 16 | Ki Sung-yong | 74' |
| CM | 8 | Kim Jung-woo |
| LM | 7 | Park Ji-sung (c) |
| SS | 19 | Yeom Ki-hun |
| CF | 10 | Park Chu-young | 87' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 5 | Kim Nam-il | 74' |
| FW | 11 | Lee Seung-yeoul | 87' |
| MF | 13 | Kim Jae-sung | 90+1' |
| Manager: ||
| Huh Jung-moo ||
| GK | 12 | Alexandros Tzorvas |
| RB | 15 | Vasilis Torosidis | 56' |
| CB | 8 | Avraam Papadopoulos |
| CB | 11 | Loukas Vyntra |
| LB | 2 | Giourkas Seitaridis |
| RM | 7 | Georgios Samaras | | 59' |
| CM | 6 | Alexandros Tziolis |
| CM | 21 | Kostas Katsouranis |
| LM | 10 | Giorgos Karagounis (c) | | 46' |
| CF | 9 | Angelos Charisteas | | 61' |
| CF | 17 | Theofanis Gekas |
| Substitutions: ||
| DF | 3 | Christos Patsatzoglou | | 46' |
| FW | 14 | Dimitris Salpingidis | | 59' |
| FW | 20 | Pantelis Kapetanos | | 61' |
| Manager: ||
| Otto Rehhagel ||
* Man of the Match:
* Park Ji-sung (South Korea)
* Assistant referees:
* Jan Hendrik Hintz (New Zealand)
* Tevita Makasini (Tonga)
* Fourth official:
* Martín Vázquez (Uruguay)
* Fifth official:
* Carlos Pastorino (Uruguay)

### Argentina vs Nigeria

On six minutes, an unmarked Gabriel Heinze dived forward to head home Juan Sebastián Verón's corner kick and put Argentina 1–0 up. Lionel Messi had numerous chances for Argentina following that, but on each occasion, Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama was able to keep the margin down to one. Enyeama's saves earned him the man of the match award. Post-match, Argentina coach Diego Maradona said he was confident his side would perform well in the future.
| Argentina | Nigeria |
| GK | 22 | Sergio Romero |
| RB | 17 | Jonás Gutiérrez | 41' |
| CB | 2 | Martín Demichelis |
| CB | 13 | Walter Samuel |
| LB | 6 | Gabriel Heinze |
| DM | 14 | Javier Mascherano (c) |
| RM | 8 | Juan Sebastián Verón | | 74' |
| LM | 7 | Ángel Di María | | 85' |
| AM | 10 | Lionel Messi |
| CF | 11 | Carlos Tevez |
| CF | 9 | Gonzalo Higuaín | | 79' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 20 | Maxi Rodríguez | | 74' |
| FW | 19 | Diego Milito | | 79' |
| DF | 4 | Nicolás Burdisso | | 85' |
| Manager: ||
| Diego Maradona ||
| GK | 1 | Vincent Enyeama |
| RB | 17 | Chidi Odiah |
| CB | 2 | Joseph Yobo (c) |
| CB | 6 | Danny Shittu |
| LB | 3 | Taye Taiwo | | 75' |
| CM | 14 | Sani Kaita |
| CM | 20 | Dickson Etuhu |
| CM | 15 | Lukman Haruna | 77' |
| RF | 19 | Chinedu Obasi | | 60' |
| CF | 8 | Yakubu |
| LF | 18 | Victor Obinna | | 52' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 9 | Obafemi Martins | | 52' |
| FW | 11 | Peter Odemwingie | | 60' |
| FW | 12 | Kalu Uche | | 75' |
| Manager: ||
| Lars Lagerbäck ||
* Man of the Match:
* Vincent Enyeama (Nigeria)
* Assistant referees:
* Jan-Hendrik Salver (Germany)
* Mike Pickel (Germany)
* Fourth official:
* Khalil Al Ghamdi (Saudi Arabia)
* Fifth official:
* Hassan Kamranifar (Iran)

### Argentina vs South Korea

Argentina took the lead when Lionel Messi's free kick from the left was turned into the Korean goal by Korean player Park Chu-young. A free kick was awarded on the left, and Messi's cross was headed in by Gonzalo Higuaín. In first half injury time, Korea cut the deficit when Lee Chung-yong tackled Martín Demichelis to score. Two goals from Argentina in the second half sealed a 4–1 win. Messi's shot was first saved by goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong; his second shot hit the post before Higuaín shot the ball into an unguarded net. Higuaín completed his hat-trick by heading in a cross from substitute Sergio Agüero.
| Argentina | South Korea |
| GK | 22 | Sergio Romero |
| RB | 17 | Jonás Gutiérrez | 54' |
| CB | 2 | Martín Demichelis |
| CB | 13 | Walter Samuel | | 23' |
| LB | 6 | Gabriel Heinze | 74' |
| DM | 14 | Javier Mascherano (c) | 55' |
| RM | 20 | Maxi Rodríguez |
| LM | 7 | Ángel Di María |
| AM | 10 | Lionel Messi |
| CF | 9 | Gonzalo Higuaín | | 82' |
| CF | 11 | Carlos Tevez | | 75' |
| Substitutions: ||
| DF | 4 | Nicolás Burdisso | | 23' |
| FW | 16 | Sergio Agüero | | 75' |
| MF | 5 | Mario Bolatti | | 82' |
| Manager: ||
| Diego Maradona ||
| GK | 18 | Jung Sung-ryong |
| RB | 2 | Oh Beom-seok |
| CB | 4 | Cho Yong-hyung |
| CB | 14 | Lee Jung-soo |
| LB | 12 | Lee Young-pyo |
| CM | 16 | Ki Sung-yong | | 46' |
| CM | 8 | Kim Jung-woo |
| RW | 17 | Lee Chung-yong | 34' |
| AM | 7 | Park Ji-sung (c) |
| LW | 19 | Yeom Ki-hun | 10' |
| CF | 10 | Park Chu-young | | 81' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 5 | Kim Nam-il | | 46' |
| FW | 20 | Lee Dong-gook | | 81' |
| Manager: ||
| Huh Jung-moo ||
* Man of the Match:
* Gonzalo Higuaín (Argentina)
* Assistant referees:
* Peter Hermans (Belgium)
* Walter Vromans (Belgium)
* Fourth official:
* Jerome Damon (South Africa)
* Fifth official:
* Céléstin Ntagungira (Rwanda)

### Greece vs Nigeria

| Greece | Nigeria |
| GK | 12 | Alexandros Tzorvas |
| RB | 16 | Sotirios Kyrgiakos |
| CB | 11 | Loukas Vyntra |
| CB | 8 | Avraam Papadopoulos |
| LB | 15 | Vasilis Torosidis |
| DM | 19 | Sokratis Papastathopoulos | 15' | 37' |
| CM | 6 | Alexandros Tziolis | 59' |
| CM | 21 | Kostas Katsouranis |
| RW | 10 | Giorgos Karagounis (c) |
| LW | 14 | Dimitris Salpingidis |
| CF | 17 | Theofanis Gekas | | 79' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 7 | Georgios Samaras | 88' | 37' |
| MF | 18 | Sotiris Ninis | | 79' |
| Manager: ||
| Otto Rehhagel ||
| GK | 1 | Vincent Enyeama |
| RB | 17 | Chidi Odiah |
| CB | 2 | Joseph Yobo (c) |
| CB | 6 | Danny Shittu |
| LB | 3 | Taye Taiwo | | 55' |
| RM | 14 | Sani Kaita | 33' |
| CM | 20 | Dickson Etuhu |
| CM | 15 | Lukman Haruna |
| LW | 12 | Kalu Uche |
| SS | 11 | Peter Odemwingie | | 46' |
| CF | 8 | Yakubu |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 19 | Chinedu Obasi | 89' | 46' |
| DF | 21 | Elderson Echiéjilé | | 55' | 77' |
| DF | 5 | Rabiu Afolabi | | | 77' |
| Manager: ||
| Lars Lagerbäck ||
* Man of the Match:
* Vincent Enyeama (Nigeria)
* Assistant referees:
* Abraham González (Colombia)
* Humberto Clavijo (Colombia)
* Fourth official:
* Joel Aguilar (El Salvador)
* Fifth official:
* William Torres (El Salvador)

### Nigeria vs South Korea

| Nigeria | South Korea |
| GK | 1 | Vincent Enyeama | 31' |
| RB | 17 | Chidi Odiah |
| CB | 2 | Joseph Yobo | | 46' |
| CB | 6 | Danny Shittu |
| LB | 5 | Rabiu Afolabi |
| CM | 13 | Ayila Yussuf | 42' |
| CM | 20 | Dickson Etuhu |
| RW | 19 | Chinedu Obasi | 37' |
| AM | 4 | Nwankwo Kanu (c) | | 57' |
| LW | 12 | Kalu Uche |
| CF | 8 | Yakubu | | 70' |
| Substitutions: ||
| DF | 21 | Elderson Echiéjilé | | 46' |
| FW | 9 | Obafemi Martins | | 57' |
| FW | 18 | Victor Obinna | | 70' |
| Manager: ||
| Lars Lagerbäck ||
| GK | 18 | Jung Sung-ryong |
| RB | 22 | Cha Du-ri |
| CB | 4 | Cho Yong-hyung |
| CB | 14 | Lee Jung-soo |
| LB | 12 | Lee Young-pyo |
| RM | 17 | Lee Chung-yong |
| CM | 16 | Ki Sung-yong | | 87' |
| CM | 8 | Kim Jung-woo |
| LM | 7 | Park Ji-sung (c) |
| SS | 19 | Yeom Ki-hun | | 64' |
| CF | 10 | Park Chu-young | | 90+3' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 5 | Kim Nam-il | 68' | 64' |
| MF | 13 | Kim Jae-sung | | 87' |
| DF | 15 | Kim Dong-jin | | 90+3' |
| Manager: ||
| Huh Jung-moo ||
* Man of the Match:
* Park Ji-sung (South Korea)
* Assistant referees:
* José Cardinal (Portugal)
* Bertino Miranda (Portugal)
* Fourth official:
* Marco Antonio Rodríguez (Mexico)
* Fifth official:
* José Luis Camargo (Mexico)

### Greece vs Argentina

| Greece | Argentina |
| GK | 12 | Alexandros Tzorvas |
| RB | 16 | Sotirios Kyrgiakos |
| CB | 11 | Loukas Vyntra |
| CB | 8 | Avraam Papadopoulos |
| LB | 15 | Vasilis Torosidis | | 55' |
| DM | 5 | Vangelis Moras |
| CM | 19 | Sokratis Papastathopoulos |
| CM | 10 | Giorgos Karagounis (c) | | 46' |
| RW | 6 | Alexandros Tziolis |
| LW | 21 | Kostas Katsouranis | 30' | 54' |
| CF | 7 | Georgios Samaras |
| Substitutions: ||
| DF | 4 | Nikos Spiropoulos | | 46' |
| MF | 18 | Sotiris Ninis | | 54' |
| MF | 3 | Christos Patsatzoglou | | 55' |
| Manager: ||
| Otto Rehhagel ||
| GK | 22 | Sergio Romero |
| RB | 4 | Nicolás Burdisso |
| CB | 2 | Martín Demichelis |
| CB | 15 | Nicolás Otamendi |
| LB | 3 | Clemente Rodríguez |
| DM | 5 | Mario Bolatti | 76' |
| RM | 8 | Juan Sebastián Verón |
| LM | 20 | Maxi Rodríguez | | 63' |
| AM | 10 | Lionel Messi (c) |
| CF | 16 | Sergio Agüero | | 77' |
| CF | 19 | Diego Milito | | 80' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 7 | Ángel Di María | | 63' |
| MF | 23 | Javier Pastore | | 77' |
| FW | 18 | Martín Palermo | | 80' |
| Manager: ||
| Diego Maradona ||
* Man of the Match:
* Lionel Messi (Argentina)
* Assistant referees:
* Rafael Ilyasov (Uzbekistan)
* Bakhadyr Kochkarov (Kyrgyzstan)
* Fourth official:
* Peter O'Leary (New Zealand)
* Fifth official:
* Matthew Taro (Solomon Islands)