Uruguay Top Group, France Go Home In Shame, Argentina Breach Stubborn Greek Defence, Nigeria Miss Out

Game 33: Mexico 0-1 Uruguay

I thought this would end up as a draw since both teams needed it to go through but this result didn't change anything and proved that South American teams are the ones to beat this year. In my opinion, Uruguay's top spot in Group A is well deserved as they were clearly the best team in the group and it showed against the Mexicans. Credit to the Mexicans as they are not far behind in terms of quality. Having said that, they are up against Argentina and it could be tough to hold the most impressive team in the tournament so far. Uruguay are up against South Korea and that could be an interesting game with the Koreans putting more emphasis on scoring goals themselves rather than not conceding goals.

Game 34: France 1-2 South Africa

Well done, hosts! Finally a win for them and it was deserved although France were bogged by getting a man sent off relatively early in the match. But then again, France have been absolutely poor and nowhere near the team that got to the final in 2006. Disharmony in the team and poor form from star player Franck Ribery led them to achieve only a point and score a single goal. Awful. For South Africa, they shouldn't be disheartened and with a little more luck they would have qualified for the knockout stage. They should build on this and the main goal now is to be in Brazil in 2014. Man of the Match: Katlego Mphela (finally showed what he can do on the pitch after much being said about him before the tournament, scored a goal and was unlucky not to score another and was lively throughout)

Game 35: Greece 0-2 Argentina

Argentina showed that they cannot be stopped even when there's a team with 6 or 7 defenders playing against them unlike Spain who couldn't break down a stubborn and organized defence. But I'm absolutely clueless about Greece's aim to defend when they actually needed to win to progress. I just can't understand why they had no ambition whatsoever to score. Were they really hoping to draw their match and hope that Nigeria win against South Korea? But even then, when South Korea were leading, Greece never showed any intent to score. Unbelievable. Argentina face Mexico next and should win since some of their starters are fresh from getting a good rest. Greece now aim to qualify for Euro 2012 but I wish for them NOT to qualify because they are by far the most boring and defensive team in this World Cup - Switzerland doesn't even come close. Man of the Match: Clemente Rodriguez (given a start and took the advantage to shine with a more than decent performance - providing width down the left, cutting infield when having the ball and provided an option when the team was going forward)

Game 36: Nigeria 2-2 South Korea

A good match although I didn't really watch the whole of it. Both teams set out on scoring goals and didn't sit back. Nigeria have only themselves to blame for getting an unnecessary sending off in the previous match when they were leading and missing chance after chance in this game. Yakubu, in my opinion, had the miss of all time. With a gaping goal from four yards out, he missed. Had that gone in, they would have qualified since Greece lost. The Koreans, meanwhile, need to tighten up at the back against Uruguay, who have a decent attacking lineup, or else they are going home after the Secound Round.