POLOKWANE (Reuters) Lionel Messi, who turns 23 on Thursday, captained his country for the first time on Tuesday and gave another virtuoso performance as Argentina beat Greece 2-0 to reach the second round of the World Cup. While his team mates may give him presents on Thursday, Messi presented his coach Diego Maradona with a gift-wrapped one of his own the prize of first place in Group B after three successive wins over Nigeria, South Korea and Greece. Argentina now face Mexico in the second round, a repeat of their meeting in 2006 when Argentina won 2-1. I am going to use the best players I have for that match because it is qualify or die, thats the truth, Maradona told reporters after the game. Thats why I rested Mascherano and Gabriel Heinze, Carlos Tevez and Gonzalo Higuain tonight. Greece coach Otto Rehhagel saw his team outplayed by a rejigged Argentina side after Maradona rested key players and had Jonas Gutierrez suspended. But even with the changes Argentina were in control and Messi was named the Man of the Match. What can you do against the best team here? said Rehhagel. They deserved to win. The only thing lacking for Messi, the little attacking schemer who became his countrys youngest World Cup captain in place of rested skipper Javier Mascherano, was a goal. He was denied by the width of a post after 86 minutes when he sent a scorching drive clattering against Greek goalkeeper Alexandros Tzorvass right-hand upright. Three minutes later he forced Tzorvas to make the last of a series of brilliant saves. Sadly for Tzorvas, the ball bounced into the path of substitute Martin Palermo, who lashed it home to crush any lingering hopes Greece may have had of surviving. I was only on for 10 minutes, but there were 10 great minutes, Palermo told reporters afterwards. We showed we have some real strength in the squad tonight and we are just getting stronger. We are moving forward, we are improving and it was a great win for us tonight. Greece had resisted Argentinas advances until the 77th minute when Martin Demichelis smashed the ball in from a metre out following a corner. The Greeks could have no complaints about their fate after playing too defensively for most of the match when attack would have been their best policy. Messi kept the Greek defenders on their toes almost from the kickoff and was instrumental in setting up chances for Diego Milito and Maxi Rodriguez as Argentina totally dominated the first half. He also performed one exquisite piece of skill when he trapped a high ball on his foot and turned away from defender Vassilis Torosidis in one movement. Maradona, almost as involved in the action as the players, danced a jig of delight on the touchline and there was plenty more from both Messi and his side to delight him on a cold night at the Peter Mokaba Stadium. Maradona, who seems to hug and kiss everyone he comes across at this World Cup, also gave Tzorvas an embrace after the final whistle in recognition of his outstanding performance that kept Greece in the game for as long as they were. He saved twice from Messi, twice from Sergio Aguero and once from Juan Sebastian Veron whose thunderbolt seemed goalbound until Tzorvas palmed it over the bar. He also stopped an effort from point-blank range by midfielder Mario Bolatti at a corner with 21 minutes to go. Messi was man-marked by Socratis Papastathopoulos at first and although he was rarely able to show off his skills initially, he eventually became the key figure in the match as he so often does. The Greeks simply found him unplayable. Rehhagels side did have a few chances but wasted most of them with striker Giorgos Samaras the most profligate, firing high wide and everywhere else except the back of the net. Meanwhile, South Korea drew 2-2 in a tense Group B match with Nigeria to advance to the second round of the World Cup on Tuesday. World Cup 2010 Nigeria opened the scoring in the 12th minute when Kalu Uche nipped in front of Cha Du-ri to latch onto a cross from Chidi Odiah and shot into the corner of the goal. But the Super Eagles again threw away an early lead as they did against Greece. South Korea equalised in the 38th minute when Ki Sung-yong curled a freekick from just outside the penalty area across goal and Lee Jung-soo stole in behind Rabiu Afolabi to fire low past the keeper at the back post. Four minutes into the second half, Park Chu-young gave South Korea the lead, firing another freekick on the edge of the area around the Nigerian wall and into the far corner past a flailing and misplaced Vincent Enyeama. In the 69th minute Yakubu Aiyegbeni atoned for wasting two golden chances by calmly slotting home a penalty to level the scores. Seven minutes earlier he had somehow skewed the ball wide while alone four metres in front of an open goal. The Koreans should have taken the lead after just two minutes. Lee Chung yung intercepted a poor clearance from Rabiu Afolabi, played the ball out wide and was then sent clean through on goal, but scuffed his shot wide. While the Super Eagles bossed the middle of the field for much of the first half, winning the high balls and snapping neat short passes through to the front line, their defence fouled the Koreans time and time again in dangerous areas. The West Africans certainly had chances to win their first World Cup game in seven matches. Just before missing from four years out, Yakuba was clean through on goal but cut the ball back and became entangled with a defender. Mostly I feel disappointed and sad. Its the results that count so there is not much to say, I can only congratulate the South Koreans, Nigeria coach Lars Lagerback said after the match. I was a little bit sorry about all the timewasting. I dont think its fair play. Its very disappointing and I think the (Nigeria) players have done really well.