We asked for goals, Argentina and Gonzalo Higuain duly obliged. In fact, we had 10 goals all together on Day Seven as the South African World Cup sparked into life for the first time.

In a highlights package, though, we have to focus on Diego Maradona’s Argentina. Their second group game pitted them against South Korea and on paper it should have been a walk over for the South Americans. Unfortunately for South Korea, that’s pretty much what it turned out to be.

It did take Argentina a little while to find their feet in the match and South Korea’s energy played a part in that, but once Park Chu-Young had put the ball into his own net attempting to deal with a Lionel Messi cross it was basically one way traffic.

Argentina’s second goal came just after the half hour when Maxi Rodriguez’s cross was nodded on by Burdisso for Higuain to score his first goal with a simple nod in. It was to be the first of a memorable hat trick for Higuain.

For teams and coaches watching on this was a masterclass in pacy attacking football, slick passing and clinical finishing. Yet Argentina still managed to offer up some hope to their future opposition with an almighty blunder just before half time.

Centre back Demichelis dawdled on the ball far too long, allowing Lee Chung-Yong to take the ball off his toes, run and score expertly past the helpless Romero.

It was to be a brief respite for South Korea and they could have done without the half time whistle, but it exposed a weakness in the Argentina side that teams will have to exploit to beat them. Their defence is comparatively weak and prone to lapses in concentration.

The second half saw South Korea press for an equaliser and again Argentina’s defensive weaknesses were exposed as the Koreans came close through Yeom Ki-Hun. He could only put the ball narrowly wide though and Argentina retook control.

Higuain’s hat trick was completed with a tap-in, following up the sublime Messi’s shot which came back off the post, and a header, again following brilliant work by Messi which allowed Aguero to cross for the striker.

It was a thoroughly deserved win for Maradona’s men. It almost felt like they were throwing down the gauntlet to the likes of Germany and Brazil. And what a gauntlet it was.

One post match highlight I have to tell you about. Maradona was holding his press conference when he was asked, in English, about the affection he has for his players and all the hugging and kissing on the cheek. Clearly something was lost in translation as the coach’s eyes widened in surprise and perhaps shock. “No! I like girls!” came his translated reply.

Always entertainment is Maradona.

A moment of madness from Nigeria’s Kaita snatched defeat from the jaws of victory for the Africans and gave Greece their first ever win at a World Cup finals.

Leading through a 16th minute Uche free kick, Nigeria were firmly in control against a lacklustre Greece when Kaita inexplicably kicked out at Torosidis, earning himself the inevitable red card and destroying Nigeria’s grip on the game.

The sending off seemed to wake Greece up for the first time this tournament and a deflected Salpingidis shot pulled them level. When the wronged Torosidis put Greece ahead with 20 minutes to go the writing was on the wall for Nigeria.

Having lost their first match only narrowly to Argentina this was a bit of a shock result, but it leaves the African side’s future in the tournament in serious doubt. They must beat South Korea and hope Argentina claim victory over Greece.

France’s dismal World Cup continued with a 2-0 defeat to Mexico that leaves them effectively out of the World Cup at the first stage. It’s clear that there are serious divisions in the squad which the eccentric and frankly useless Raymond Domenech is powerless to mend.

The players don’t want to play for their coach, barely for each other, and looked glad to just get the match over and get off the pitch. One more match to go and Domenech steps down to make way for Laurent Blanc. Blanc will have his work cut out, that’s for sure.

Mexico, on the other hand, are growing in confidence and a composed goal from new Manchester United striker Hernandez when put clean through gave them the lead before 37 year old substitute Blanco slotted home a penalty after Barrera was tripped by Abidal.

Mexico and Uruguay are now clear favourites to progress from Group A and deservedly so. The Irish will no doubt be revelling in France’s demise.

So we waited a week for some excitement and we finally got it thanks, perhaps unsurprisingly, to Diego Maradona and Argentina.