After all that was said about them in qualification, Argentina topped their group with maximum points and a combined scoreline of 7-1, resting seven members of the side that overcame South Korea. Mexico, whom they meet in the last 16, will almost certainly possess more ambition than Greece, whose chief ambition seemed to be to stop Lionel Messi from playing. Man-marked relentlessly by Avraam Papastathopoulos, Messi still has not scored but managed to create Argentina’s two goals with Martin Demichelis heading home from his corner and Martin Palermo finishing off once Messi’s initial shot had been saved. At 71 it seems the nine-year reign of Otto Rehhagel that brought Greece the European Championship in 2004 is finally over.