Digicel’s John Barnes shares his thoughts on yesterday’s World Cup matches

Jun 23, 2010 Sports

We saw two African teams go out today (yesterday) which was very disappointing. Nigeria’s game, which resulted in a 2-2 draw against South Korea, was not enough to put them through.

It was an unusual group because all Nigeria needed to do was win 1-0 to go through to the final sixteen, but unfortunately they couldn’t manage it.

John Barnes

However, there was a lot of pressure on the African teams to go far in this tournament – which I think was unrealistic. Nigeria were expected to get through to the semis – despite being ranked 21st in the world – so it was unfair to have expected them to go that far.

Host nation South Africa also went out despite their 2-1 win over France. France were down to ten men when Yoann Gourcuff was rather harshly sent off, but I’m happy for South Africa to have won nonetheless, leaving France bottom of the group and on their way home after a very disappointing World Cup.

There are three African teams left in the tournament now, but the Ivory Coast are in a very tough group with two of the best teams in the world – Brazil and Portugal – and need to score seven or eight goals to go through. Cameroon are bottom of their group and play group leaders the Netherlands on Thursday. Ghana are currently top of their group and have a good chance to make it through and become the only African team in the last sixteen.

Almost all the South American teams are likely to go through with Mexico, Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil guaranteed a place already. Chile are also likely to advance from their group.

The South American teams have once again proven to be the superior sides when compared with European teams, none of whom have made much of an impression on the tournament so far.

Once we get down to the last 16, anything can happen and that’s when it gets exciting. The match between Mexico and Uruguay today (yesterday) saw both sides play an attacking game. One suspect both were trying to avoid meeting Argentina in the knock-out stages. Uruguay’s win sees them progress to play South Korea on Saturday with Mexico facing Argentina on Sunday.

Greece did well to lose by just the two goals against an Argentinean side that were well below their best. We also saw South Korea making it through to the last sixteen for the first time on foreign soil.

They’ve done very well, as have Japan who will also progress to the next round if they beat Denmark on Thursday. The Asian teams have good discipline and a strong work ethic which is why I expect both teams to progress.

England needs to win or have a high scoring draw – depending on the outcome of the USA game tomorrow (today) – to go through. The USA also needs to win to go through, as a point won’t be good enough for them. Once we’re through to the last sixteen, anything can happen and that’s when it gets really interesting.