Higuain hat-trick star as Argentina triumph

Real Madrid star Gonzalo Higuain became the third Argentina footballer to score a World Cup hat-trick as the former champions overpowered South Korea 4-1 Thursday.

The 22-year-old followed in the footsteps of Gabriel Batistuta, who claimed hat-tricks in the 1994 and 1998 tournaments, and 1930 star Guillermo Stabile.

Higuain struck three goals less than a day after Diego Forlan of Uruguay grabbed a brace following 16 earlier matches in which no footballer managed more than one.

Former champions Argentina will become the first qualifiers for the last-16 phase if Nigeria defeat or draw with Greece in Bloemfontein later on day seven of the quadrennial international football showcase.

After Park Chu-young conceded an own goal, Higuain headed his first goal on 32 minutes, tapped the ball over the line on 76 minutes and completed his treble with another header 10 minutes from full-time.

Lee Chung-yong was the Korean marksman in first-half stoppage time and they squandered a great chance to equalise midway through the second half at Soccer City before the late collapse.

“I think we fought well against a side who boast several stars and we have learnt a lot. Our next match against Nigeria is extremely important and will decide whether we reach the round of 16,” said Korean coach Huh Jung-moo.

Greek coach Otto Rehhagel has no intention of abandoning his defensive strategy although only a win will suffice against Nigeria at a Free State Stadium that organisers hope will be fuller than when Japan beat Cameroon.

“Maybe one day when we have Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka and Lionel Messi in the team, then we can certainly play attacking football,” said the German, who will forever be idolised in Greece after guiding them to a surprise Euro 2004 title.

Nigeria coach Lars Lagerback was given a second chance – as a replacement for the sacked Shaibu Amodu – to be at the World Cup after failing to get his native Sweden through.

He accepts the must-win challenge facing the “Super Eagles” who need three points to retain a realistic chance of making the second round for the third time in four appearances.

“I’m really looking forward to it even as it is… probably a must-win to go through to the second round. I see it as a positive challenge and I think having talked to the players they look upon it the same,” Lagerback said.

Tradition strongly favours France ahead of a Group A showdown with Mexico in the northern city of Polokwane as “Les Bleus” have won five of six previous encounters and drawn the other.

But a French team held goalless by Uruguay six days ago must be wary of rivals seeking to make it into the second round for the fifth consecutive tournament.

Uruguay soared to the top of the group Wednesday with a surprisingly easy 3-0 triumph over a toothless South African team set to become the first World Cup hosts not to reach the second round.