Big guns, watch out!

Salute to minnows. Rank outsiders Iran and Ghana played like champions to offer football buffs a night to remember. Two nail-biting, grinding matches in which biggies nearly bit the dust! They gave their much vaunted opponents Argentina and Germany a good run for their money.  

Argentina, holders of two World Cups, barely edged past Iran 1-0, minutes before the final whistle and Germany clawed back from a defeat to clinch a 2-2 draw against Ghana. The way Argentina and Germany were pushed on the ropes football pundits almost forgot that these two teams indeed shared 5 World Cup trophies among them.

Argentina were predicted to have been racking in goals against Iran. But prediction itself was in for a drubbing. Quite expectedly, strategy of the two teams were opposite, with Argentina possessing and attacking, and Iran defending and counter-attacking. The match record showed Argentina's ball possession was 70% and Iran's 30%. Argentina took shots on target nine times and Iran's four.

Iran not only held off their mighty opponents until the first minute of stoppage time but also came very close to scoring two times had not Argentine goalkeeper managed to parry off those shots. It took a brilliant bit of play from Lionel Messi, whose curling left-footer floated above heads of a few defenders and eluded the outstretched hands of Iran custodian before kissing the far end of the right side net. A gem of a goal from the little magician once again saved the day for Argentina and ensured them a place in the next round.  Messi soon became the toast of his huffing and puffing teammates. But, to me, the real hero on the day for Argentina was goalkeeper Romero, who saved two sure goals. 

Argentina are not impressive yet. Their too much dependence on Messi may be too costly in the knock out phase of the World Cup.

Meanwhile, Ghana could have been the deserving winner against Germany. Ghana just outpaced their opponents, taking shots on target 20 times, 9 more than the Germany. Coach Joachim Low owed one big Thank You to Miroslav Klose for saving German blushes. Old dog Klose equalled Ronaldo's 15 World Cup goals in the most appropriate manner, by scoring from a header and rescuing the game as well.

But minnows are certainly growing in confidence. Big guns, watch out!