Match Preview: ARGENTINA versus NIGERIA

VERSUS

Match: ARGENTINA versus NIGERIA (Group B)
Date: June 12th 2010
Time: 1600h


Venue: Johannesburg Elis Park Stadium
Capacity: 62567 People

Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany)

Country: Germany
Date of Birth: 20.11.1969
Height: 191 cm
Occupation: Banker
Mother tongue: German
Other languages: English
International since: 1999
First international: Azerbaijan-Moldova (24.03.2001)
Hobbies: Sports
Fondest memory: EURO 2008 Qualifier: Greece v Turkey; Olympic Football Tournament Beijing 2008

Analysis:


Overview: Argentina's passing game should dominate the match, with the fast and physical Nigerians counter-attacking. The Nigerians have a strength advantage but not necessarilly fitness.

Form:
Argentina, off course, after 18 months of terrible play seem to have hit a major high obliderating everything between.
Nigeria have not have as much time since their formidable defense, and useless offense during January’s African Nations Cup with coach Lars Lagerback who as team icon Nwanko Kanu said laughingly “he taught us three things we thought we knew, hard work, teamwork and (chuckling) discipline”


Key Men:

Leo Messi, number 10, will he or won’t he finally play like only Messi knows for his country?

Obafemi Martins, number 9, will he or won’t he show the form he once had with Inter Milan for Nigeria?

Men to watch:

Gonzalo Hugain, number 9, has earned Maradona’s preference over European Champion Diego Milito... its not that surprising will he keep it?

Sani Kaita, 14, will have tall shoes to fill in the absence of John Obi Mikel as a defensive midfielder... will he be able to?

Previous Matches:
The teams have played 4 times, Argentina winning twice with 2 draws Argentina scoring three goals and Nigeria 1 goal.

Most likely scenario:
Argentina take Nigeria 2-0.

A slight surprise would be:
A draw.

A real upset would mean:
A well organized Nigeria surprises an overconfident Argentina 3-0.

Recommended Recipe for your meal to accompany this game:

Asado goes with both cultures so I recommend Asado with Nigerian and Argentine beer

To start I propose Jollof Rice, a Nigerian delicacy to accompany the asado.

This spicy tomato paste rice goes excellenty with Argentina’s grilling techniques.

INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

Makes enough for about 6-8 people.  4 cups (or about 1 liter) white rice  2 tomatoes and 1 bell pepper (without seeds if you don't like things too hot)        OR 8 ounces (or about ¼ liter) canned tomato sauce and 3 ounces (or about 90 milliliters) canned tomato paste  Onion  Salt  Dry Red Pepper (like Cayenne pepper)  Meat broth (about 1 cup or ¼ liters) or Magi cubes (about 4)  Water

Unless the rice is pretty clean, you will want to rinse it before cooking it. Put the rice and about 6 cups (or about 1½ liters) of water into a pot and place on high heat. (Some people prefer to boil the water and add the rice to boiling water. This is fine too.) If you are using fresh ingredients (the tomatoes and pepper) blend them until they are smooth in texture (you can also grind the onion with this mixture). Let the rice cook 10-15 minutes. Add either the tomato/pepper mixture or the tomato sauce and tomato paste. If you have not added the onion, you can slice or dice it now and add to the pot, depending on how large you like your onions. Add enough water to allow the rice to complete cooking (since you will not be draining the rice, it is better to add too little and check up on it often, than to add too much). If you have any meat broth from boiling any meat, you can add it to this as well. Otherwise, unless you are a vegetarian, suggest adding about 4 magi cubes for taste. Add about 2 teaspoons of salt, and about ½ a teaspoon of dry red pepper (as the rice is cooking, or as you are eating the finished product, you can add more of either one of these so I really suggest starting out small, also useful if different people who will be dining have different tastes). Allow the rice to continue cooking until the rice is soft. If it is not dry at this point, then switch the heat to low to allow it to dry the excess water without making the rice much softer. (Also, some people prefer to bake it once they've added the ingredients...I suggest 350 degrees or so.) Once cooked, add more salt or pepper to it if you wish. HINT: Goes GREAT with dodo. and usually eaten with some meat on the side.