6, Wing-back has enjoyed stellar tournament and went in strong on Müller. Lionel Messi was unable to give us the fitting finale as his Argentina side were beaten by Germany in the World Cup final, but Adam Bate argues the case for his greatness nevertheless. World Cup final 2014: Lionel Messi faces day of destiny for Argentina vs Germany World's best player would merit a place alongside Diego Maradona and Pele in the game's trinity of immortals if … And in 2014, one wonders how quickly ‘not his best’ will be regarded as simply ‘bad’. Maradona was a genuinely astonishing player, tiny but incredibly strong. If Messi helps Argentina to become world champions, the 27-year-old rightly deserves to be hailed alongside Pele and Diego Maradona as the three greats of the game. Germany vs Argentina World Cup final 2014: Joachim Low challenged Mario Gotze to prove 'he was better than Lionel Messi' before his World Cup-winning goal Bayner Munich midfielder … But a middle-aged TV presenter was never going to win this Golden Ball and Messi continues to stand above his contemporaries. He trains, he plays, he goes home. Could England have won the 1986 World Cup? He gave us more – a lot more – completed dribbles than any other player with his tally of 46 taking him well clear of Robben’s 29. Messi has graced the modern game, scoring unbelievable goals, but to re-work the Barcelona mantra, Messi is more than a player. After the game, Messi posted a tribute to the Argentine journalist, Jorge López, who died in a car-crash in Brazil. Yes, the Netherlands put a man on him like everybody else does, but he was very easy to mark. Defences have become parsimonious. But there is no question in my mind that the Barcelona forward has become quite static on the pitch in this tournament. He had been cramped there, his every touch prompting Oranje opponents to swarm around him to snuff out his threat. Photograph: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images, ionel Messi had stood, hands on hips and shoulders slightly hunched, for almost two minutes while Bastian Schweinsteiger received treatment at his feet. Joachim Low inspired Mario Gotze to win the World Cup for Germany by telling him to show the world he was better than Argentina's Lionel Messi. The fact that they had just broken from a wall does not detract from the power of the photograph; Maradona was closely marked and won the World Cup that Mexican summer. Can he outmanoeuvre the numerous patrols guarding against him? Messi set the nerveless tone for the kicks of Ezequiel Garay, Sergio Agüero and Maxi Rodríguez. Messi should not be judged on Brazil 2014, or its final. For many analysts, the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ was the best of all time, and not without good reason. He must now escape Kroos, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira in that central thicket in the Maracana. He calmly took six steps and swept his penalty at speed past Jasper Cillessen. Shrugging more like, numbed as we are by his brilliance. Gelson Fernandes came on to shadow him. The only time he touched the ball in their box was when he scored a penalty in the shootout. I know he is always able to decide a match and he's scored a great winner. His greatness is voiced by the words of rivals. 6, Brought in after Khedira’s warm-up injury and was then hurt himself when caught by Garay. The best anybody did was three, with a massive sprint at the end.". “I didn’t realise the crowd were chanting my name in the previous move,” Messi said of his first goal in the competition. Used strength to hold off Higuain. They were the better side and they had Maradona, but we will never know. Even great players like Zico and Michel Platini - their jaws dropped when he walked into our dressing room. Seemingly weighed down by history, a nation’s expectations and a body drained by a long season, Messi has resembled a marathon runner who begins powerfully and then encounters difficulties as the race progresses. "It's indescribable, you are having a party with the team, with the country, the dream has become a reality. Argentina won, and went on to win that World Cup but Ruggeri did not get his bonus. Admittedly, he would have been affected by the death of Jorge Lopez, a journalist killed in a car crash on the eve of the semi-final and, briefly, the young Messi’s flatmate in Barcelona. I have watched him for years and he always scores a lot of poacher's goals by darting into the box late. You can also choose to be emailed when someone replies to your comment. Micro-blogging fans were obsessed. I did not even know he was there.If we had gone to extra time against Argentina, I am not sure we would have won. Germany erupts with long-awaited joy updated 7:32 AM EDT, Tue July 15, 2014 One fan found an artistic barber who razored an image of Messi into his hair. He does not dive. Thomas Muller is Germany's leading scorer and looking to become the first player to win two Golden Boots. For all the lauding of Messi, it needs emphasising that an accomplished player is actually not having a great World Cup. Pace gave Germany food for thought before early departure. Fine ball through to Messi came to nothing. There was a moment in the second half when Ron Vlaar tackled Messi with his “wrong” foot, going in with his left when he should have challenged with his right. The winner of the adidas Golden Ball accepted our invitation during a visit to Zurich and gave his take on five key moments from the finals. Argentina’s captain, catalyst and No 10 has actually not experienced the most dominant of tournaments. He was body-checked twice by Bruno Martins Indi, who was taken off by Van Gaal at the break. Or, indeed, the irresistible form which had yielded four goals in the group stage. I am the Argentina captain's biggest fan and he is the most wonderfully gifted player since Diego Maradona but, here in Brazil, I have been disappointed with what I have seen. "We are proud to win it here in Brazil, the footballing country par excellence, and to be the first European team to win in Latin America.". Up stuttered the man on whom a nation’s hopes had always rested to plant his right foot, swing with his left and send the ball arcing up over the wall but, excruciatingly for the Albiceleste, harmlessly into the crowd. How fit is he? Watch the World Cup final live and uninterrupted on BBC One on Sunday, with Gary Lineker presenting Match of the Day Live from 19:00 BST. And how about top scorer James Rodriguez or the unique gifts of Arjen Robben being rewarded? First published on Sun 13 Jul 2014 19.00 EDT. Messi created more chances than anybody at the 2014 World Cup and only Andrea Pirlo played as many through-balls. Lionel Messi had stood, hands on hips and shoulders slightly hunched, for almost two minutes while Bastian Schweinsteiger received treatment at his feet. Messi is also chased all over Brazilian pitches. Last season had been disrupted by hamstring problems and, with his body crying out for rest, his movement had become even more conservative. His greatness is found already in numbers. Actually, it encapsulated his tournament ever since that scintillating first-half display against Belgium in Brasília when he was billed as the inspiration sweeping this team to this trophy for the first time in 28 years. Attempted to stay on but taken off after half an hour. Only two players scored more than him in Brazil, but four goals still felt like a modest return for a man who once scored 73 of them in a single season. It was a moment that summed up Messi’s World Cup final. 6, Content to drop back when required and also helped engineer attacks. 6, First player to go in the book after light challenge on Lavezzi. Veteran looked a little off the pace, failing to trouble with header or shot. Compassion can be found in his actions. There are obvious similarities with Messi in the way they could both beat people and are both predominantly left-footed, Maradona even more so because he hardly even touched it with his right. There is something not quite right with Lionel Messi at this World Cup. Our journalists will try to respond by joining the threads when they can to create a true meeting of independent Premium. 7, Last season’s Monaco reserve keeper excelled again. Nigel de Jong got very close but never illegally before Jordy Clasie ran on to shadow Messi. This was his moment and he failed to win the World Cup. You might be as surprised as the Rosario-born star was after watching each of them. 6, Shot across goal and sent effort wide when presented with Kroos header. The existing Open Comments threads will continue to exist for those who do not subscribe to Independent Premium. But every time Argentina did attack down the flanks against the Dutch, he did not even try to get anywhere near the area. There are massive advantages to playing now, which is why we are seeing goalscoring records being set all over the place. "The players have a marvellous technical ability and the will-power to carry it out.
The Importance Of Muhammad Ali,
Ansu Fati Age,
Noises Off 123movies,
The Guess Who Lead Singer,
Boardwalk Empire Streaming,
Torres Del Paine Chile,
The Seven Ravens Pdf,
Jak Se Budí Princezny,
Tony Bellew Creed,
Mexico Vs Costa Rica 2020,
Pittsburgh Penguins Stats,
All That She Wants Wiki,
The Green Dragon Ephrata Events,