World Cup 2010: Pictures of the decisive games in Groups A and B

The sun sets over the Peter Mokaba Stadium where Group B leaders Argentina are looking to book their place in the second round of the World Cup. Tonight they face Greece, who also harbour ambitions of a last 16 place Photograph: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images Photograph: Stuart Franklin/guardian.co.uk The two coaches find time for a little dance before kick-off. Otto Rehhagel seems to be swinging Diego Maradona round like a child. The Argentinan looks like he's enjoying it Photograph: Martin Rose/Getty Images Photograph: Martin Rose/guardian.co.uk Lionel Messi and Juan Sebastian Veron discuss tactics as they look to earn a third straight win Photograph: Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters Photograph: Amr Abdallah Dalsh/guardian.co.uk But it's the Greek tactics that Messi ought to be most concerned about. He's being man-marked (and quite effectively too), taking much of the fun out of this encounter Photograph: Michael Sohn/AP Photograph: Michael Sohn/guardian.co.uk The unadventurous Greeks need to win this match but they are punished for their lack of ambition when Martin Demichelis stabs home from close range in the 77th minute Photograph: Ian Walton/Getty Images Photograph: Ian Walton/guardian.co.uk Remember USA '94 when Maradona went berserk? That was against Greece, too. Nice to see he's keeping a lid on his emotions these days Photograph: Paul Gilham - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images Photograph: Paul Gilham - FIFA/guardian.co.uk The 36-year-old Martin Palermo adds a second goal one minute from time with a confident side-foot finish from an awkward rebound Photograph: Phil Cole/Getty Images Photograph: Phil Cole/guardian.co.uk And runs off to celebrate with the boss, who's too short to give him a proper hug Photograph: Enrique Marcarian/Reuters Photograph: Enrique Marcarian/guardian.co.uk In the same group, South Korea and Nigeria both go into their final game hoping to finish second Photograph: Mike Hutchings/Reuters Photograph: Mike Hutchings/guardian.co.uk Only 12 minutes are on the clock when Kalu Uche skips in front of his marker and gives Nigeria the lead. And he almost makes it 2-0 with a rasping drive which cannons off the post Photograph: Jamie McDonald/Getty Images Photograph: Jamie McDonald/guardian.co.uk But Lee Jung-soo bundles home an equaliser. Initially, he stooped to head the ball but ultimately poked it home with his foot (the decisive touch looked inadvertent, but we'll give him the benefit of the doubt) Photograph: Roberto Candia/AP Photograph: Roberto Candia/guardian.co.uk The Nigerian team huddle at the end of the first half, realising that this scoreline, if it remains the same, will end their participation at the World Cup Photograph: Yves Herman/Reuters Photograph: Yves Herman/guardian.co.uk South Korea's Park Ji-sung brings the ball down in front of Nigeria's Chidi Odiah Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA Photograph: Andy Rain/guardian.co.uk Bad news for Nigeria ... Park Chu-young's low free-kick finds the far corner to make it 2-1 to South Korea Photograph: Jamie McDonald/Getty Images Photograph: Jamie McDonald/guardian.co.uk Here's Yakubu, about to score Nigeria's second goal with a two-yard tap-in ... Photograph: Jamie McDonald/Getty Images Photograph: Jamie McDonald/guardian.co.uk ... Spoke too soon! Yakubu somehow skews it wide Photograph: Yves Herman/Reuters Photograph: Yves Herman/guardian.co.uk Yakubu's team-mates can't believe it. The words 'you', 'absolute' and 'carthorse' spring to mind Photograph: Daniel Dal Zennaro/EPA Photograph: Daniel Dal Zennaro/guardian.co.uk A couple of minute's later, Yakubu scores a tame penalty to make it 2-2, but it's not enough for the Nigerians. South Korea are through and they look thrilled at the prospect of playing Uruguay in the last 16 Photograph: Paul Hanna/Reuters Photograph: Paul Hanna/guardian.co.uk In Group A, the French captain Patrice Evra has paid the price for leading the protest against training on Sunday. He's been dropped for today's match with South Africa and the captain's armband will be given to Alou Diarra Photograph: Shaun Botterill/FIFA via Getty Images Photograph: Shaun Botterill/guardian.co.uk French coach Raymond Domenech cuts an isolated figure on the pitch before the match. Even a win today may not be enough for his side to progress to the last 16 Photograph: Peter Steffen/EPA Photograph: Peter Steffen/guardian.co.uk South Africa need to win by a hatful of goals and hope Uruguay beat Mexico in order to qualify. If they fail, this will be the first time that the host nation of a World Cup hasn't reached the knock-out round. Aware that this may be Bafana Bafana's last match, this fan is recording the day for posterity Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images Photograph: Michael Steele/guardian.co.uk Les Bleus start well, but South Africa take a shock lead in the 20th minute courtesy of some sloppy defending and a flapping goalkeeper. Siphiwe Tshabalala swings in a corner which Hugo Lloris comes for but completely misses, leaving Bongani Khumalo free to nod in at the far post. South Africa are starting to believe they can achieve the impossible ... Photograph: PETER STEFFEN/EPA Photograph: PETER STEFFEN/guardian.co.uk That belief gets stronger five minutes later when France are reduced to 10 men after Yoann Gourcuff is sent off. He goes up up for a header with Macbeth Sibaya and catches the South African player in the face with his forearm. It looks like a harsh decision as it seems Gourcuff was simply using his arm for leverage rather than attempting a malicious forearm smash Photograph: Yuri Kochetkov/EPA Photograph: Yuri Kochetkov/guardian.co.uk Katlego Mphela makes it 2-0 eight minutes before half-time when he bundles the ball home after more comical French defending. The chance came when Abou Diaby's spooned clearance was whipped back into the danger area. The ball then became entwined in Gael Clichy's legs, allowing Mphela to tap it into the net Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images Photograph: Clive Mason/guardian.co.uk Thierry Henry gives the ball to Mphela after Florent Malouda pulls a goal back for France - a goal which effectively ends South Africa's hopes of making it through to the next round. It was a nicely worked goal with Bacary Sagna splitting the hosts' defence with a magnificent ball to Franck Ribery who then fed Malouda Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters Photograph: Adnan Abidi/guardian.co.uk And so it ends. Djibril Cisse and Diaby can't believe it - France are out of the competition (having finished bottom of the group) Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images Photograph: Cameron Spencer/guardian.co.uk In Rustenburg, Mexico and Uruguay know a draw will take them both through to the last 16, regardless of the result between France and South Africa Photograph: Mike Hewitt - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images Photograph: Mike Hewitt - FIFA/guardian.co.uk But Uruguay's Luis Suarez isn't in conspiratorial mood. He scores a header in the 43rd minute to give Uruguay the advantage and leave Mexico in a perilous position Photograph: Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Photograph: Marcio Jose Sanchez/guardian.co.uk Suarez and Rafael Marquez challenge for the ball as Mexico threaten to equalise. They hit the bar and see a header from Francisco Rodriguez go wide, but can't find the net Photograph: Mike Hewitt - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images Photograph: Mike Hewitt - FIFA/guardian.co.uk It ends 1-0. A great result for Uruguay, who top the group, and a decent result for Mexico too, who also go through as runners-up and will face Argentina Photograph: Carl Recine/Action Images Photograph: Carl Recine/guardian.co.uk