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

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

Lionel Messi and Juan Sebastian Veron discuss tactics as they look to earn a third straight win
Photograph: Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters

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

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

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

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

And runs off to celebrate with the boss, who's too short to give him a proper hug
Photograph: Enrique Marcarian/Reuters

In the same group, South Korea and Nigeria both go into their final game hoping to finish second
Photograph: Mike Hutchings/Reuters

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

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

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

South Korea's Park Ji-sung brings the ball down in front of Nigeria's Chidi Odiah
Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA

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

Here's Yakubu, about to score Nigeria's second goal with a two-yard tap-in ...
Photograph: Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

... Spoke too soon! Yakubu somehow skews it wide
Photograph: Yves Herman/Reuters

Yakubu's team-mates can't believe it. The words 'you', 'absolute' and 'carthorse' spring to mind
Photograph: Daniel Dal Zennaro/EPA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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