Is it right that Mascherano gave himself an anus injury making that ace tackle to block Robben? The man's a warrior.
Messi player of the tournament is an absolute joke
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Heard the name "Messi" a thousand times before but never watched him play. Can't quite believe all the pre-tournament hype I've heard about this guy as he was distinctly "Mr Average" and definitely not deserving of any award.
Knowing FIFA, I bet his name was on the award before the game even started.
Knowing FIFA, I bet his name was on the award before the game even started.
Originally Posted by Xela M:
“Messi wasn't even Argentina's best player. Mascherano was.”
“Messi wasn't even Argentina's best player. Mascherano was.”
Yes, I agree.
To be fair, even Messi looked embarrassed. A ridiculous decision.
Originally Posted by celesti:
“Is it right that Mascherano gave himself an anus injury making that ace tackle to block Robben? The man's a warrior.”
“Is it right that Mascherano gave himself an anus injury making that ace tackle to block Robben? The man's a warrior.”
I think it was his encounter with Gotze that caused that.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/f...n-9599527.html
Tore his anus apparently. That's not the kind of thing I'd be playing football after three days later, blimey.
Tore his anus apparently. That's not the kind of thing I'd be playing football after three days later, blimey.
Originally Posted by heiker:
“Heard the name "Messi" a thousand times before but never watched him play. Can't quite believe all the pre-tournament hype I've heard about this guy as he was distinctly "Mr Average" and definitely not deserving of any award.
Knowing FIFA, I bet his name was on the award before the game even started.”
“Heard the name "Messi" a thousand times before but never watched him play. Can't quite believe all the pre-tournament hype I've heard about this guy as he was distinctly "Mr Average" and definitely not deserving of any award.
Knowing FIFA, I bet his name was on the award before the game even started.”
I felt the same before first seeing him play
C. Ronaldo was my number one when i kept hearing of this Messi.
He SCRAPED his team through. Shocking performance and no way deserving of the award.
As most have suggested Messi wasn't even the best player in the Argentina team, that was Mascherano who is South American, was on the field and was a genuine candidate for player of the tournament. Just don't understand that award.
Originally Posted by Shadout:
“No calls for Lahm as player of the tournament? Holding midfielder or Full-back, I don't think I saw a performance from him that was less than an 8/10. I have to admit, I adore the man, he's been the best full back in the world for the past four or five years, but not received the recognition he deserves because he actually plays as a full-back rather than a winger (such as Alves, Marcelo, Alba etc).
The likes of Lahm and Zabaleta are never considered for the Ballon d'Or because they play in pretty much the most unglamorous position on the pitch - but both of them for me would be ahead of Messi for the 'Player of the Tournament' title.”
“No calls for Lahm as player of the tournament? Holding midfielder or Full-back, I don't think I saw a performance from him that was less than an 8/10. I have to admit, I adore the man, he's been the best full back in the world for the past four or five years, but not received the recognition he deserves because he actually plays as a full-back rather than a winger (such as Alves, Marcelo, Alba etc).
The likes of Lahm and Zabaleta are never considered for the Ballon d'Or because they play in pretty much the most unglamorous position on the pitch - but both of them for me would be ahead of Messi for the 'Player of the Tournament' title.”
In 2006, Zidane got player of the tournament on the strength of a couple of good games when Cannavaro had been vastly superior from the first game to the final. Defenders rarely get recognised.
Originally Posted by FrankieFixer:
“Rodriguez couldn't even perform against the worst Brazilian side ever. Robben was the player of the tournament followed by about 3 Germans.”
“Rodriguez couldn't even perform against the worst Brazilian side ever. Robben was the player of the tournament followed by about 3 Germans.”
Slightly skewed view of Rodriguez's contribution there - the referee pretty much let Brazil kick him out of the game in the match you're referring to - and he still managed to get on the scoresheet in spite of that!
Originally Posted by Get Den Watts:
“In 2006, Zidane got player of the tournament on the strength of a couple of good games when Cannavaro had been vastly superior from the first game to the final. Defenders rarely get recognised.”
“In 2006, Zidane got player of the tournament on the strength of a couple of good games when Cannavaro had been vastly superior from the first game to the final. Defenders rarely get recognised.”
Cannavaro did win the Ballon d'Or that year though, only the third (I think) defender ever to win it.
The last World Cup appears to be the only occasion the Golden Ball went to someone who didn't reach the final in Forlan.
Originally Posted by Shadout:
“Cannavaro did win the Ballon d'Or that year though, only the third (I think) defender ever to win it.”
“Cannavaro did win the Ballon d'Or that year though, only the third (I think) defender ever to win it.”
This. I have never seen a defender carry a team on his shoulders to the World Cup title like Cannavaro did in 2006 and I will never forget his magnificent performance, but it was recognised and rewarded by the Ballon d'Or.
It's a difficult one between Cannavaro and Zidane because I had a feeling that if Zidane hadn't been sent off he would have cracked the Italian defence, he was so close. Player of the tournament is usually not given to a player from the winning team anyway (at least not for the past few World Cups). Oliver Khan got it in 2002 and although I agree he carried Germany to the final, he did make a mistake in that final (a little bit like Zidane
). I think this award means nothing anyway. A player would much rather win the cup than be player of the tournament but lose.
Originally Posted by heiker:
“Heard the name "Messi" a thousand times before but never watched him play. Can't quite believe all the pre-tournament hype I've heard about this guy as he was distinctly "Mr Average" and definitely not deserving of any award.
Knowing FIFA, I bet his name was on the award before the game even started.”
“Heard the name "Messi" a thousand times before but never watched him play. Can't quite believe all the pre-tournament hype I've heard about this guy as he was distinctly "Mr Average" and definitely not deserving of any award.
Knowing FIFA, I bet his name was on the award before the game even started.”
Or even before the tournament started!
Originally Posted by Shadout:
“Slightly skewed view of Rodriguez's contribution there - the referee pretty much let Brazil kick him out of the game in the match you're referring to - and he still managed to get on the scoresheet in spite of that!”
“Slightly skewed view of Rodriguez's contribution there - the referee pretty much let Brazil kick him out of the game in the match you're referring to - and he still managed to get on the scoresheet in spite of that!”
Brazil were tactically fouling every team and Rodriguez scored a consolation penalty which isn't that difficult. South American teams kicking each other and rolling about is as old as the game itself over there. Rodriguez and Colombia didn't get out of the quarter finals even against the worst Brazilian side ever. David Luiz in defence was ripped apart by the European teams. Look at what Robben or Muller did to that hapless Brazil defence.
Originally Posted by heiker:
“Heard the name "Messi" a thousand times before but never watched him play. Can't quite believe all the pre-tournament hype I've heard about this guy as he was distinctly "Mr Average" and definitely not deserving of any award.
Knowing FIFA, I bet his name was on the award before the game even started.”
“Heard the name "Messi" a thousand times before but never watched him play. Can't quite believe all the pre-tournament hype I've heard about this guy as he was distinctly "Mr Average" and definitely not deserving of any award.
Knowing FIFA, I bet his name was on the award before the game even started.”
Watch more football.
Messi's had a club career like no other, here are some statistics he'll probably finish with:
- Most goals ever in Champions league history (a record that will probably stand for a lifetime)
- Most goals ever in La Liga history (making Alan Shearer's record in this country look mediocre)
- Most goals ever in a calender year (91 goals)
He's already won 3 European Cups, at the age of only 27. To dismiss his entire career based on 120 minutes of football is very wrony in my opinion. Sure the best ever tag is a bit much, but surely he's as good as Maradona or Pele. How many European cups did those guys win? IMO the Champions League is stronger than the World Cup.
I know he's played alongside some of the greatest Spanish players of all time (3 international tournaments in a row remember) which has undoubtedly helped, Maradona won titles with Napoli, their only titles, against one of the best club sides of all time (the Milan side of 89-90). But Messi's club record should not, and will not be forgotten.
- Most goals ever in Champions league history (a record that will probably stand for a lifetime)
- Most goals ever in La Liga history (making Alan Shearer's record in this country look mediocre)
- Most goals ever in a calender year (91 goals)
He's already won 3 European Cups, at the age of only 27. To dismiss his entire career based on 120 minutes of football is very wrony in my opinion. Sure the best ever tag is a bit much, but surely he's as good as Maradona or Pele. How many European cups did those guys win? IMO the Champions League is stronger than the World Cup.
I know he's played alongside some of the greatest Spanish players of all time (3 international tournaments in a row remember) which has undoubtedly helped, Maradona won titles with Napoli, their only titles, against one of the best club sides of all time (the Milan side of 89-90). But Messi's club record should not, and will not be forgotten.
I want to know how much Messi's sponsors were paying the BBC to mention his name, they kept on and on, even though he had only 2 decent offerings last night. Even when he was just walking back to his own half instead of running, they had to praise him.
Originally Posted by FrankieFixer:
“Brazil were tactically fouling every team and Rodriguez scored a consolation penalty which isn't that difficult. South American teams kicking each other and rolling about is as old as the game itself over there. Rodriguez and Colombia didn't get out of the quarter finals even against the worst Brazilian side ever. David Luiz in defence was ripped apart by the European teams. Look at what Robben or Muller did to that hapless Brazil defence.”
“Brazil were tactically fouling every team and Rodriguez scored a consolation penalty which isn't that difficult. South American teams kicking each other and rolling about is as old as the game itself over there. Rodriguez and Colombia didn't get out of the quarter finals even against the worst Brazilian side ever. David Luiz in defence was ripped apart by the European teams. Look at what Robben or Muller did to that hapless Brazil defence.”
There's tactical / rotational fouling, and then there's targeted fouling that the referee does absolutely nothing about - Brazil's treatment of Rodriguez definitely fell into the latter category for me.
Without wanting people to think that I spend most of my days wearing a tin-foil hat, I can't help but think that pressure had been put on referees to make sure that Brazil went a long way in the tournament (either for commercial reasons, or to make sure that the Brazilian populace was kept happy throughout). The Brazilian players did seem to go about smashing Rodriguez with gay abandon, almost as though they were safe in the knowledge that they wouldn't be censured for it.
Robben and Muller did both have a field day against them, but Germany were simply irresistible in that semi-final. Against Colombia because their Golden Boy was still around and they were still full of confidence, so the game was much much closer.
By the time the 3rd place game arrived, Brazil's players had lost their heads completely - it's a game that no-one wants to be playing in, they were mentally in Tomas Cook booking their holidays by that point.
It's sad they did this as it's left a stain on things. There's not way he was player of the tournament.
This award is very little regarded anyway, or at least used to be. The Golden Boot is the big one, and that can't be fixed.
This award is very little regarded anyway, or at least used to be. The Golden Boot is the big one, and that can't be fixed.
Neuer completed more passes than Messi...
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/statist...h229397a228912
Neuer 244
Messi 242
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/statist...h229397a228912
Neuer 244
Messi 242
Originally Posted by DangerBrother:
“Messi should have got the award for most underwhelming player.”
“Messi should have got the award for most underwhelming player.”
Miss all three of Englands games ?
Originally Posted by FrankieFixer:
“Robben was the player* of the tournament”
“Robben was the player* of the tournament”
*Diver
Maradonna agrees with everyone. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28294339
It's a fix to keep Barcelonia supporters at fifa happier.
It's a fix to keep Barcelonia supporters at fifa happier.
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