World Cup Thread.

[Ivan]

He helped push a dull team through a terrible group. That is not dominating. Dominating would have been raise the performance of the whole team and actually dominate every team they played in the group. Argentina got by on tough defending while waiting for a Messi moment. 1 Moment in each game does not equal domination unless you credit Messi for the Argentinian defense also. Anyone who says that Argentina is a one man team either don't know what they are talking about or they have a pro Messi-ah agenda to cloud their judgement.
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I'm really not sure how much more Messi could have done given that he was constantly marked by multiple players and they had no one getting the ball to him. The one thing he could have done would have been to finish a couple of his good chances in the final, but he didn't and that's on him, when you are the best player on earth you are expected to show it in that forum and he unfortunately didn't get it done. he had chances to put Argentina up and missed them, and he will have to live with that, by the look on his face at the end that won't be easy, maybe Argentina will field a better team in 2018 and he will get another shot, much the same as i am hoping for Brady to get at least one more shot at a lombardi before he hangs them up, and if we are lucky it will be more than one.

 

[AzorianPats]

As much as I disagree with Messi winning the Golden Ball, anything that comes out of Maradona's mouth should go into one ear and out of the other. He is a bit of an idiot. Great player in his time but not someone whose opinion I would value.

Ohh I don't value his opinion, I just so happen to agree with him on this.

Either or, the seed has been planted. Messi will win his record 5th Balon D'or in January so congrats to him.

 

[Ivan]

Anyone know where the Red Sox Forum is? I really need to go tell some folks there how much baseball suuuuuucks, what a bunch of ****ies baseball players are and wonder how some lard ass can get paid to play such a dull suuuuuuuucky sport...................................

 

[Ivan]

Ohh I don't value his opinion, I just so happen to agree with him on this.

Either or, the seed has been planted. Messi will win his record 5th Balon D'or in January so congrats to him.

So the award goes to the undeserving?

just want to be sure about this........................

 

[AzorianPats]

So the award goes to the undeserving?

just want to be sure about this........................

Going by his club form this past January -May, and his WC performance. Yes it would be undeserving.

 

[BritPat]

I have Messi in my team of the tournament, but Mascherano, James Rodriguez, Muller and maybe Robben probably deserved the award ahead of him, certainly the first two. He carried them through the group, but has looked shattered and his performances have slowed down. Mascherano should have been the player of the tournament, if it wasn't going to be one of the German lads.

 

[AzorianPats]

Anyone know where the Red Sox Forum is? I really need to go tell some folks there how much baseball suuuuuucks, what a bunch of ****ies baseball players are and wonder how some lard ass can get paid to play such a dull suuuuuuuucky sport...................................

Never understood the hate for soccer, but love for basebored. Thank God that sorry ass pathetic sport is dying a painful death!

 

[Ivan]

Going by his club form this past January -May, and his WC performance. Yes it would be undeserving.

So I guess when Ronaldo and Figo won it was undeserving as well, especially given both of their inability to get Portugal anywhere in their World Cups.

I like and respect you Az but it cuts both ways.

 

[AzorianPats]

So I guess when Ronaldo and Figo won it was undeserving as well, especially given both of their inability to get Portugal anywhere in their World Cups.

I like and respect you Az but it cuts both ways.

Ivan, neither Ronaldo or Figo won the award in a year after the WC. The WC is usually detrimental on who usually wins the award. See Fabio Cannavaro.

Regarding Ronaldo, this was his third WC. He was excellent in 06, average in 2010, and Portugal being knocked out in the group stages everyone was disappointing.

I don't think Ronaldo will win the Balon D'or in the new year. In my opinion, if I had to choose right now, I'd probably give it to Robben unfortunately.

 

[Ivan]

I thought Ronaldo won it in January of this year?

At any rate my point was that the award is either given out justly or not, it isn't unjust when Messi wins it and just when Figo and Ronaldo win it. You can decide for yourself which it is Az but it can't be both. Imo it has good track record of going to the greatest player's.

 

[Ivan]

Never understood the hate for soccer, but love for basebored. Thank God that sorry ass pathetic sport is dying a painful death!

The same people who trash soccer as boring watch baseball and golf, and it is doesn't get more boring than that. And don't get me started on basketball, which absolutely sucks ass.

 

[AzorianPats]

I thought Ronaldo won it in January of this year?

At any rate my point was that the award is either given out justly or not, it isn't unjust when Messi wins it and just when Figo and Ronaldo win it. You can decide for yourself which it is Az but it can't be both. Imo it has good track record of going to the greatest player's.

Ronaldo did win it in January.

I think your mixing up my words Ivan. Messi is a 4 time winner. Deservedly so. He's a great player. I don't think he deserved to be awarded the best player this WC, and if he wins the Balon D'or this coming January, unless if he absolutely explodes for Barca in the fall. I don't think it would be merited. I do think there is a lot of politics in FIFA.

 

[AzorianPats]

And regarding Figo. He was a great player, but I'm pretty sure something happened to Zidane that year, where he missed a boat load of games which lead to Figo winning that award.

That was all great, but realistically everyone always knew Figo wasn't in the same class as Zidane.

 

[Ivan]

Ronaldo did win it in January.

I think your mixing up my words Ivan. Messi is a 4 time winner. Deservedly so. He's a great player. I don't think he deserved to be awarded the best player this WC, and if he wins the Balon D'or this coming January, unless if he absolutely explodes for Barca in the fall. I don't think it would be merited. I do think there is a lot of politics in FIFA.

Fair enough, i think Messi had a better WC than some others do I just think he faded at the end, i would have given the award to Rodriquez. I think FIFA is as corrupt as they get but when you look at the winners of the Balon D'or they tend to get it right. Blatter has to go, he's a skunk.

 

[AzorianPats]

Fair enough, i think Messi had a better WC than some others do I just think he faded at the end, i would have given the award to Rodriquez. I think FIFA is as corrupt as they get but when you look at the winners of the Balon D'or they tend to get it right. Blatter has to go, he's a skunk.

Blatter is horrible.

He was asked a question last fall during a Q & A in Oxford university (I think) about who he prefers Messi or Ronaldo. He proceeded to make fun of CR7 and pretty much said he likes Messi more because he's a good boy thst you can bring home to your parents.

Now I know that's music to some people's ears if you love Messi and hate CR7, but it's unprofessional. Especially considering both guys are globally superstars, and great representatives of the game.

Just imagine if Goodell was asked that same question about Brady or Manning and he dogged Brady? We'd have his ass on a stick.

 

[AzorianPats]

The same people who trash soccer as boring watch baseball and golf, and it is doesn't get more boring than that. And don't get me started on basketball, which absolutely sucks ass.

Ive grown out of basketball, but at least I can respect the athleticism of the game.

Baseball is an embarrassment. Too slow and boring. It gives fat, out of shape people hope that they can one day be a professional athlete.

 

[Ivan]

Ive grown out of basketball, but at least I can respect the athleticism of the game.

Baseball is an embarrassment. Too slow and boring. It gives fat, out of shape people hope that they can one day be a professional athlete.

I agree that basketball players are great athletes but the game is as boring as it gets.

 

[Major **********]

For those who were watching the German defense play so high up the field this should explain the reason why anyone in their right mind would even attempt it. Against Algeria that line played higher up the field than some teams midfielders did in this tournament. Against better opposition (France and Argentina) they toned it down a bit but still played higher than most teams would ever dare to do.

This is the reason Neuer is considered the best keeper in the world. He is a bit like the Gronk of Keepers. Are there faster TE out there? Yep. Are there better blocking TE in the league? Possibly. Better hands? Maybe. Anyone else that has all those tools at an elite level? Nope!

 

[SeymourTrophies]

And regarding Figo. He was a great player, but I'm pretty sure something happened to Zidane that year, where he missed a boat load of games which lead to Figo winning that award.

That was all great, but realistically everyone always knew Figo wasn't in the same class as Zidane.

I think Figo won the World Player award in 2000 or 2001 after he put Portugal on his back in the Euros and started to make a real name for himself at Barca, then made that controversial jump to Real Madrid. Zidane's club performances weren't elite until he jumped to Real Madrid. Most Juventini sneer at the memory of Zidane with Juve because France Zizou and Juve Zizou were very different.That award is a popularity contest anyway though.

On the final, I actually thought Argentina would get ripped, because Germany were better at 10 out of 11 positions. Argentina fought much harder than I thought they were capable of. Sucks for them that Di Maria wasn't good to go. Loew's tactics all World Cup were super arrogant, but hey, so were Del Bosque's in 2010. It works when you've got the best squad.

 

[AzorianPats]

I think Figo won the World Player award in 2000 or 2001 after he put Portugal on his back in the Euros and started to make a real name for himself at Barca, then made that controversial jump to Real Madrid. Zidane's club performances weren't elite until he jumped to Real Madrid. Most Juventini sneer at the memory of Zidane with Juve because France Zizou and Juve Zizou were very different.That award is a popularity contest anyway though.

On the final, I actually thought Argentina would get ripped, because Germany were better at 10 out of 11 positions. Argentina fought much harder than I thought they were capable of. Sucks for them that Di Maria wasn't good to go. Loew's tactics all World Cup were super arrogant, but hey, so were Del Bosque's in 2010. It works when you've got the best squad.

Yea, at that time I think Figo, years after being in the shadow of Ronaldo and Rivaldo at Barca finally stepped out and became the #1 guy at Barca..Then right after the Euro 00 he was trying to use Real as leverage to get a pay bump in Barca, Barca called his bluff, and he ended up signing with Real. His introduction to Real was awkward. He never wanted to leave Barca. I think if you were to ask him now, he'd tell you that was his biggest mistake.

I wouldn't say Figo carried Portugal that tournament. He was our best player, but we were loaded at that time. Figo, Rui Costa, Paulo Sousa, Sergio Conceicao, Joao Pinto, and Nuno Gomes caught fire that tournament. A shame that team never won a damn thing.

Didn't Zizou his last year at Juve head butt another player? I could imagine in Italy, people have much different opinions on him. Either or, if you were to ask me who are the 5 greatest players I've ever seen, in no order it would be Zidane, Ronaldo, Maldini, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Messi.