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World Cup Final - Match Thread: Germany v Argentina

ShaunL84

Well-Known Member
Jan 3, 2013
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Has he?

He has had some good moments but his great moments came against Iran, Nigeria and Bosnia, as well an assist against Switzerland.

Hardly great meanwhile Muller, Kroos and Schweinsteiger who has been struggling with fitness have put in some great performance not to mention Rodriguez

Also the voting is done at half time.

I think it's all subjective, put Messi in that Germany side and he would be the best player of the tournament and by a mile; for me, Muller, Kroos and Schweinsteiger are not even 1/3 as good as Messi and I would have Messi in my team over those 3 anyday.

Muller, Kroos and Schweinsteiger are made to look good by the German system and the sum of the parts; individually and as a candidate for the Golden Ball, they hold no candle to the magic of Leo Messi.
 

Lufti

Well-Known Member
Jan 3, 2013
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I think it's all subjective, put Messi in that Germany side and he would be the best player of the tournament and by a mile; for me, Muller, Kroos and Schweinsteiger are not even 1/3 as good as Messi and I would have Messi in my team over those 3 anyday.

Muller, Kroos and Schweinsteiger are made to look good by the German system and the sum of the parts; individually and as a candidate for the Golden Ball, they hold no candle to the magic of Leo Messi.

You mean the system which is based around them?
 

mattyspurs

It is what it is
Jan 31, 2005
15,280
9,893
I think it's all subjective, put Messi in that Germany side and he would be the best player of the tournament and by a mile; for me, Muller, Kroos and Schweinsteiger are not even 1/3 as good as Messi and I would have Messi in my team over those 3 anyday.

Muller, Kroos and Schweinsteiger are made to look good by the German system and the sum of the parts; individually and as a candidate for the Golden Ball, they hold no candle to the magic of Leo Messi.
You know mate, it's great to have a favourite player in this day and age, but don't worry, you are allowed to knock them once in a while. No one will judge you for it ;)
 

King of Otters

Well-Known Member
Jun 11, 2012
10,751
36,093
Why ? Why shouldn't a DM et a golden ball, or a goalkeeper why should it be limited to attacking players ?

Because there are a number of players who can run hard, tackle strongly, and pass simply. There are very few, however, who can do what Hamez did in this tournament. I know you disagree, but, for me, it's players like that who make football worth watching.
 

beats1

Well-Known Member
Feb 22, 2010
30,006
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We interrupt the German celebrations to tell you the latest spurs transfer news:
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Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
39,837
50,713
Because there are a number of players who can run hard, tackle strongly, and pass simply. There are very few, however, who can do what Hamez did in this tournament. I know you disagree, but, for me, it's players like that who make football worth watching.

It's all of them for me. And not anyone can do what the likes of Mascherano and Schweinsteiger did, to the quality they did it. Their teams advanced in this tournament and their flair players were given the platform because of the excellence of these players.

Rodriguez was good, but did he have the same effect on his teams ability to progress that Mascherano and Schweinsteiger did ? Very hard to quantify.
 

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
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I think it's all subjective, put Messi in that Germany side and he would be the best player of the tournament and by a mile; for me, Muller, Kroos and Schweinsteiger are not even 1/3 as good as Messi and I would have Messi in my team over those 3 anyday.

Muller, Kroos and Schweinsteiger are made to look good by the German system and the sum of the parts; individually and as a candidate for the Golden Ball, they hold no candle to the magic of Leo Messi.


Messi looked lazy and disinterested half the time. I don't know if he's burnt out (but I doubt it as he's looked like that for Barca quite a lot this year), sulking because he's not being played as a CF, thinks he's too good to close down and press (which would be forgivable if he was getting more involved on the ball), or what but there is no way he deserved that award. He's a great little player but he's looked like someone who is not enjoying life for quite a while.
 

Amo

Well-Known Member
Aug 22, 2013
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31,480
SocialRMadrid ‏@SocialRMadrid 28s
Official World Cup 2014 XI: Neuer; Lahm, Hummels, David Luiz, Rojo; Schweinsteiger, Kroos, Robben; James Rodríguez, Messi, Müller.



Luiz.




















No.







Full retard achieved by FIFA.

To be fair, he was unlucky not to be selected after his brilliant game for Germany in the semi-final.

Honest mistake.

edit: Ops, I thought it was the Germany team selection for the final that they mistakenly included Luiz on. THAT would have just been pisstake.

Honest mistake.
 

Wrenchy

Well-Known Member
Aug 16, 2011
116
441
I think it's all subjective, put Messi in that Germany side and he would be the best player of the tournament and by a mile; for me, Muller, Kroos and Schweinsteiger are not even 1/3 as good as Messi and I would have Messi in my team over those 3 anyday.

Muller, Kroos and Schweinsteiger are made to look good by the German system and the sum of the parts; individually and as a candidate for the Golden Ball, they hold no candle to the magic of Leo Messi.

I have so many problems with this I don't know where to start.

1. If he was the best 'individual' player of the tournament, surely it doesn't matter who he is playing with? As an individual his offering was of Paulinho levels.

2. Schweinsteiger put his body on the line for Germany and his work rate was phenomenal. Messi was absolutely anonymous, standing around, letting the rest of the Argentinian team do all the work. If he was injured, then he was being selfish by staying out there, and if he wasnt, then he was just plain lazy. He let the game pass by (like previous knockout stage games) and waited for 'moments', and when his 'moment' arrived, he couldn't even force Neuer into a save.

3. Muller, Kroos and Schweinsteiger are not made to look good by the German system, they actively contribute TO the good german system. You might as well say Messi is made to look good by the Barcelona system. Messi was carried by his Argentinian teammates, and not the other way round as the media narrative has been pushing.

4. I think you mean 'reputation', and not 'magic'.
 

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,886
32,512
Messi has played like that for seasons at Barca whenever I have watched them. He will stand around and conserve his energy and only press when really needed to. There have been discussions about it for years, I read once they tolerate it because it allows him to do maximum damage with the ball and meant he could play for 90 mins most games. Personally I think he has always had problems with stamina and endurance, maybe to do with his growth deficiencies as a kid, and now they seem to be affecting him more... For the last year I have thought he has lost some of his explosiveness and some speed endurance. Maybe its an injury, maybe he is burnt out, who knows.

Hopefully he rediscovers top form, he hasn't done badly at all overall but it is a shame that he hasn't fired on all cylinders this tournament.
 

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
39,837
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The best team won, and that has been a healthy feature of this world cup.

The first half Germany dominated the ball but Argentina had the better (break) chances. The best phase of the game was the second half in which the game seemed to get very even, no quarter given and few chances allowed but a really good tussle between two very good teams.

Throughout the 90 it was Argentina who had the better chances, what few there were, but these were hopelessly wasted by the likes of Higuain, Messi and that twat Palacio. Further chances to punish Germany in extra time were wasted by the same players plus the incredibly disappointing Aguero.

Argentina noticeably wilted in the final 30 and Germany, ever a positive team, kept on trying to win it and were by far the better team in that final phase. Where Sabella's changes once again seemed to weaken Argentina, Low's changes improved Germany.

This German team are good for football. They play with real attacking intent, have some great players all over the pitch but also work so hard for each other on and off the ball.

I've already mentioned the excellent Mascherano but I also think Demichelis was superb in this tournament, time and time again he reads danger and snuffs it out before it gets ignited, a real gift, his footballing brain is keeping him at the top of this game, best CB in the tournament along with the superb Hummels and Garay. Boeteng had his best game of the tournament today as well.

There's been some good football played at this WC and some very decent individual performances, Rodriguez of course showed some real quality as did Robben as ever. Messi had the odd moment. But for me this was the world cup of the team. The best team won, and it was a real collective effort from goalie, to CB's, to full backs, to attackers but at the hub of the team covering every blade of grass, kicking ass but playing a bit too was Schweinsteiger. My MVP.
 
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