shankycricket wrote:Ridiculous decision to give Messi the Golden Ball (as much as I love him). Feels like a consolation prize. Robben, James and Mascherano were comfortably better in the tournament. Had to be Robben really.
Yawn.... Messi had a brilliant game yesterday, save for the goal that never was. It seems people expect him to beat 7 men every attack to be acceptable. His subtle touch, and the quick acceleration of play was behind virtually everything that Argentina did this World Cup, he was really good.
And when he didn't play well, it was because he was treble marked.... when you play alongside Mascherano (no attacking prowess), an injured Aguero and half fit Higuain, Perez and Biglia as your midfield support, you don't have much to back you up.... but think, Holland tore Spain apart, but didn't commit ANYONE forward when Messi was against them... they were scared to leave their own half!!! So he didn't do much that game, but no one would have.... its ok to say German players would have, but then I am sure Messi would have destroyed teams if he had Schurrle/Gotze/Mueller/Ozeil, etc to work with. He setup Di Maria for the winner against Switzerland, and then Di Maria got injured.... after that Sabella even had to go to Aguero, who clearly couldn't move!!
Given half a yard space, in most games he made the difference, and he and Javier dragged what was an immensely average team with key players not fit, and took them to a World Cup final which they should have won.
But hey.... join all the other jealous pundits who are looking for a new tagline because "Messi being brilliant" doesn't sell the papers like "Messi isn't Maradona"........