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Running the preview in chronological order was the natural way to compile the players, although Group A is the polar opposite of a “group of death”.

Nevertheless here are my five players who could stand out in Group A.

Alan Dzagoev – Russia

Dzagoev currently plays his domestic football for CSKA Moscow. The little attacking midfielder has already played just under 100 games for CSKA and is still only 21.

Dzaoev has the pace and vision to sit in behind Pavlyuchenko and create the goals to see Russia into the Quarter Finals.

If Dzaoev plays to his potential expect a host of top European clubs to be in line for his signature.

Kyriakos Papadopoulos – Greece

One of many Papadopoulos’ in and around the Greek team. This one Kyriakos is a strong defender who is equally adept in playing as a holding midfielder. Kyriakos signed for Schalke last Summer from Olympiakos

Currently not yet a permanent fixture in the Greek squad but should he be called up he will be one to look out for.

Petr Cech – Czech Republic

An easy option I know, but in a group where games will be tight you need a goalkeeper you can rely on and Cech is a great keeper.

Not in the best of form this season for Chelsea but a lot of that lies to the poor defensive displays from André Villas-Boas’ men.

If Czech Republic are to progress from the group they will need their big players like Cech, Milan Baros and Tomas Rosicky to stand up and be counted.

Robert Lewandowski – Poland

The Borussia Dortmund forward, still only 23, is a goalscorer. I would put my mortgage on Lewandowski being Poland’s top scorer in the tournament.

Quick, strong and a cool finisher, the Polish forward has a cracking record in international football.

A goal every three games can’t be argued with.

Igor Akinfeev – Russia

Any Football Manager player will know the Russian ‘keeper. Whether you bought him, tried to lure him to your club or sworn at him when he has had a blinder against your side, Akinfeev had a FM reputation.

Akinfeev is a brilliant shot-stopper and commands his box well. In a group Russia should really win, they have a good backbone of the side in Akinfeev, Vasali Berezutskiy, Yuri Zhirkov and Andrei Arshavin and should they all perform they will no doubt be in the Quarter-Finals.

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Georgia 1-0 Greece (Targamadze)

Γεωργ?α – Ελλ?δα / Γκολ για την Γεωργ?α (1-0) by koukos_81

Georgia 1-1 Greece (Fotakis)

Γεωργ?α – Ελλ?δα / Γκολ Φωτ?κη (1-1) by koukos_81

Georgia 1-2 Greece (Charisteas)

Γεωργ?α – Ελλ?δα / Γκολ Χαριστ?α (2-1) by geokleo

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Nearly 70 people have been named in Greece in connection with an alleged football match-fixing scandal.

They include two Super League club presidents, club owners, players, referees and a chief of police.

They are charged with a variety of offences including illegal gambling, fraud, extortion and money laundering.

The deputy culture minister, Giorgos Nikitiadis, described the alleged scandal as “the darkest page in the history of Greek football”.

He promised the investigation to clean up the sport would go “as deep and as high as necessary”.

Ten suspects were arrested and detained earlier in the week.

The investigation began after European football’s governing body Uefa published a list of 41 match results from 2009-10 which they believe to be suspicious.

Among the 68 suspects named by judicial authorities on Friday were Vangelis Marinakis, Greece’s top football league official and chairman of champion club Olympiakos Piraeus, and Avraam Papadopoulos, national team and Olympiakos defender.

Late on Friday, a court order banned all 68 from leaving the country.

SOURCE: BBC Sport

Greece of course has it’s fair share of problems at present, not least that the bankrupt country is having to decide it’s future within the European Union, and the last thing they would have needed is a shed load of allegations that there football league that is ridden with corruption.

Apparently the evidence being put forward for this investigation is incredibly damning and is sure to come to the interest of UEFA and FIFA as well as the Greek FA. The fact that as many as 68 people have been named as suspects, illustrates the breadth of the allegations.

This news comes hot on the heels of a myriad of similar charges being investigated in Finland, Italy and South Korea among others. FIFA are also taking a close look at the suspicious events that took place during Nigeria’s 4-1 win over Argentina in a friendly last month.

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malta ellada 0-1 torosidis by panklo

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Diego Maradona’s pre match press conference

Greece 0-1 Argentina (Demichelis)

Greece 0-2 Argentina (Palermo)

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Argentina playmaker Juan Veron is available after recovering from a calf problem, while defender Walter Samuel may not be risked despite overcoming a thigh strain.
Newcastle’s Jonas Gutierrez is suspended so Nicolas Otamendi could deputise at right-back. Back-up strikers Diego Milito and Sergio Aguero may also feature.
Greece are likely to stick with the side that beat Nigeria in their last game, with Dimitrios Salpingidis partnering Theofanis Gekas up front.
One booking from suspension: Papastathopoulos, Samaras, Torosidis, Tziolis (Greece); Mascherano, Heinze (Argentina) (BBC Sport)

Highlights of this match will be posted on this site as soon as the final whistle is blown. You can also see every World Cup goal that is scored the moment its up online and you can do that by CLICKING HERE.

Group B is still very open and all four nations can still theoretically progress but Argentina should have too much about them to see off the challenge of Greece in Polokwane. Diego Maradona’s side completed a morale boosting thumping of South Korea in their last game and are more than capable of doing likewise to a Greek side who know that they must get something from this match in order to make it to the knock out stages.

Highlights of World Cup group games these two have already taken part in.

Argentina 4-1 South Korea

Argentina 4-1 South Korea

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Greece 2-1 Nigeria

Greece v Nigeria

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Greece 0-1 Nigeria (Uche)

Greece 1-1 Nigeria (Salpingidis)

Greece 2-1 Nigeria (Torosidis)

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Left-back Taye Taiwo is available for Nigeria despite stubbing his toe in the defeat to Argentina. Lars Lagerback could opt to recall winger Peter Odemwingie, who surprisingly started on the bench on Saturday.
Centre-back Sotirios Kyrgiakos was a shock omission for Greece’s opening game but should return against the Super Eagles.
Defender Vangelis Moras is also available after recovering from injury. Forward Dimitrios Salpingidis could also feature after impressing off the bench against the Koreans.
One booking from suspension: Torosidis (Greece), Haruna (Nigeria) (BBC Sport)

The Highlights for this match will appear on this site the moment the final whistle is blown, just visit the homepage when the game finishes. Every World Cup goal as and when it is scored can be viewed by CLICKING HERE to our special World Cup goal page.

Having seen Nigeria indebted to keeper Vincent Enyeama for keeping the score down against Argentina one wonders if Greece will have anything like the firepower to register a goal in this Bloemfontein encounter. Otto Rehhagel are a fairly poor prospect and only managed two shots on target against South Korea so one imagines that this game is up for grabs if Lars Lagerbeck can get his side firing on all cylinders.

Highlights from previous World Cup group games.

South Korea 2-0 Greece

Argentina 1-0 Nigeria

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South Korea 1-0 Greece (Lee)

South Korea 2-0 Greece (Park)

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