South Africa 2010 - Group B

World Cup 2010, South Africa, Group B
Argentina
Nigeria
South Korea
Greece

A mixed bag of talent, crazy hairstyles, international disquiet and failing economies.

Argentina
Population: 40,134,425
Capital: Buenos Aires
National Dish: Parilla - Liver, Kidney, Intestine... basically offal, cooked on a grill.
National Dress: Gaucho Costume - Think Strictly Come Dancing and a camp matador
Greatest Invention: The ballpoint pen
Most Famous Supporter: Eva Peron

She is no Anne Widdcombe

Nickname: La Albiceleste (White and Sky Blue)
Most famous player: Diego Maradona (and the Hand of God!)
World Cup Record: Winners '78 and '86
Prediction: Sr Maradona has picked a player (4 caps - including one for a charity match for Haiti) on the fact that he was the only recognisable face in a dream lifting the trophy. They will either limp out in the group stage or win the cup. Who knows?


Nigeria

Population: 154,729,000
Capital: Abuja
National Dish: Nigeria is a bit of a smorgasboard of different cultures. Too many dishes to mention one.
National Dress: Outlandish pyjamas
Greatest Invention: Jay Jay Okocha

Flair!

Most Famous Supporter: Ben Okri
Nickname: The Eagles
Most famous player: Rashidi Yekini
World Cup Record: 2nd Round '94 and '98
Prediction: Second in the group but bowing out in the second round again, this time against France.



South Korea

Population: 50,062,000
Capital: Seoul
National Dish: Pickled cabbage or man's best friend

Woof! Woof!

National Dress: Hanbok - Think Elizabethan England, but with a lot more colour.
Greatest Invention: Thundersticks - Inflatable sticks that are banged together to make a racket - Thanks!
Most Famous Supporter: Park Ji-Sung
Nickname: Taeguek Jeonosa (Taeguek Warriors!)
Most famous player: Park Ji-Sung (Captain and Man Utd stalwart)World Cup Record: 4th Place '02
Prediction: A struggle to overhaul Nigeria for the second spot, but they did surprise us in 2002.


Greece

Population: 11,306,183 (of which 2% pay any tax)
Capital: Athens

It is not just their economy that has crumbled

National Dish: Moussaka - de....licious!
National Dress: Think Oompa-lumpa
Greatest Invention: The Olympics
Most Famous Supporter: Plato, Aristotle, Archimedes? Ok, someone more recent... Penelope Spheeris
Nickname: Phalanx
Most famous player: Theodoris Zaograkis (Once of Leicester City)
World Cup Record: Group Stage!
Prediction: No improvement. A limp exit to confound their current economic misery.


Quote of the Day: "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle"- Plato - a long time ago

Word of the Day: Gastropher - a person skilled in matters of eating