Game 3: South Korea vs. Greece

South Korea 2 - 0 Greece

In the Nelson Mandela Stadium, which was half full, it was as loud as ever, thank again to the................(you guessed it) Vuvelzas. Truth be told, I wasn't looking forward to watch this and I was right fr a reason. This was not an example in ball retention, perhaps even the polar opposite to Barcelona.

South Korea was busy, frantic and pressuring like much Asian sides. Greece had a piss-poor defence, in contrast to the winning Euro 2004 team. They were clearly looking for a set piece to make something happen, but it was the South Koreans who scored from a set piece in the 7th minute when Ki crossed it to the poorly marked centre backJung Soo Lee who headed it in.

Greece then started to slowly come into the come midway through the first half. They kept looking for the long over the top effort, but this new ball doesn't suit that game. South Korea had a good game plans with their spritely wingers.

The game plodded along til half time. After the interval, in the 53rd minute Park Ji Sung seized upon the hopeless Vynta's error and doubled Korea's lead. From the 60th minute onwards, the game petered out big time, with both teams tired!

Player Ratings:

South Korea:

GK 13 Jung - 6.5 - Took charge when needed, Not much to do.

RB 22 Cha - 6.5 - Bald, Quiet, tested at start against Samaras, made few runs up the right.

LB 12 Young-Pyo Lee - 6 - Quieter then counterparts, but solid.

CB 14 Jung-Soo Lee - 8 - Got early goal from free kick, and handy at centre back aswell. Man of the match.

CB 4 Cho - 6 - Not tested. Lost position a small bit.

RM 17 Chung Yong Lee - 7 - Very busy like the rest of the South Korean midfield, drew a yellow card from Torosodis.

LM 7 Ji Sung Park - 7 - The captain was not his busy self in the first half, but seized upon Vyntra's error, rode a couple of chances and had a well taken goal in the second half.

CM 8 Jung Woo Kim - 7 - Kept midfield ticking over. Subbed.

CM 16 Ki - 6.5 - Had assist for first goal, got tired as match went on.

SS 19 Yeom - 7.5 - Great runs from industrious striker. Hard to mark, played in the hole.

CF 10 Chu Young Park - 6 - Spurned a few chances, smart movement!

Subs:

CM 5 Kim Nam Il - 6 - Disciplined Job in central midfield.

CM 13 Kim Jae Sung - N/A - Time wasting sub.

Greece:

GK 12 Tzorvas - 5.5 - Made a good save in the 22nd, but not as good as his George Clooney lookalike predecessor.

RB 15 Torosidis - 5 - Got a yellow card in second half and did not much else.

LB 2 Seitaridis - 5 - Dragged around too easily, yet tried in vain!

CB 8 Papadopolous - 6.5 - Tried to be solid but let down but his centre back partner!

CB 11 Vyntra - 4 - Shite-est player on the pitch by far. Sole cause for second goal.

RM 7 Samaras - 6 - Good in first half, didnt even look like the useless Celtic / Man.City player, soon reverted to that, but giving ball away ALOT. Was subbed in second half.

LM 10 Karagounous - 6 - Perhaps the system didn't suit him, had to drop deep to receive ball.

CM 21 Katsouranis - 4.5 - Didn't even see him to be honest.

CM 6 Tziolis - 5 - Didn't see him either.

CF 17 Gekas - 5.5 - Tried but is horrendously slow.

CF 9 Charisteas - 5.5 - A frustrated figure, eventually subbed.

Subs:

CM 3 Patsatzoglou - 5 - Featured as much as the man he replaced.

CF 20 Kapetonas - 6.5 - Tried alot, but surrounded by ineptitude. Spurned Greece's best chance late on.