Defeated both teams in their first contact with the World Cup, Greece and Nigeria risked their survival and, despite the outcome, the two still alive in the tournament.
The German Otto Rehhagel, coach of Greece, introduced three new developments with regard to the match against Korea, replacing Samaras by Salpingidis and ignoring the captain Angelos Charisteas, while Sweden's Lars Lagerback, coach of Nigeria, ranked output and Kalu Peter Odemwingie Uche, who against Argentina had left in the second half.