32 teams. 64 games. What it all comes down to at the end is one game. One trophy. One winning team. The World Cup final. And yesterday I watched what was perhaps the most heartbreaking 120 minutes of any professional sport I have witnessed. You can probably guess which side I was cheering for.
I'm not going to sit here and say that Argentina was better than Germany. As a matter of fact, throughout the tournament, no team looked quite as well put together as Die Mannschaft. Operating as one unit, completely relaxed, they blew through the group and knockout rounds. Heck, they even became my second favorite team of the tournament. And on that fateful evening, Germany was still top-rate.
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| Photo courtesy of: http://darkroom.baltimoresun.com/2014/07/2014-fifa-world-cup-germany-argentina-final/#1 |
But they also hadn't been really challenged by any team until they met Los Albicelestes. Which is a little crazy to think about because Argentina was a team that struggled to find its rhythm in the group stage, relying mostly on their skipper Lionel Messi to pull them through. But as the tournament progressed, and as Argentina faced teams many thought would take them down (including a formidable Belgium and a tactical Switzerland), the team somehow pulled it together. Perhaps it was the managing of Alejandro Sabella. Or the leadership of Lionel Messi. Maybe it was the hopes and dreams of an entire nation resting on their shoulders. Whatever it was, Argentina started coming together.
And they looked it too. Their defense. Their offense. Their Messi dependency was waning, and they were really looking like true World Cup contenders. Through all that doubt, Argentina managed to silence its critics, winning a spot in the World Cup final for the first time in 24 years. And despite the fact that Germany was a clear favorite to win this final, I would say that Argentina gave them a real run for their money because that was one darn good game.
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Argentina after their penalty win over the Netherlands.
Photo courtesy of: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2124228-argentina-vs-netherlands-live-score-highlights-for-world-cup-2014-semifinals |
It was close, and there were many missed opportunities on both sides. The sad thing is, if Argentina had scored one of their goals and won the game, everyone would be talking about
Germany's many missed opportunities. But it hadn't ended that way, so that's not what everyone's talking about. And Argentina's loss is sure to reflect poorly on the one man who was essential to their climb to the finals. Because whether you believe me or not, there is no way Argentina would have made it as far as they did without Leo Messi. As many reporters have noted, no one, except maybe the Brazilian national team (but note they are a group of 23 since it was the whole team), had more pressure on them in this World Cup then Lionel Messi. I, for one, think that he should be very proud of what he accomplished, and deserved that Golden Ball trophy. Amid all the controversy and angry outcries, let's just put it this way. If not Messi, then who?
Many articles sum it up perfectly. The World Cup is a team award and it went to the best team there, Germany. But the Golden Ball is for an outstanding individual, and Lionel Messi has been more outstanding then many would give him credit for. And the fact that an award for being the best player in the World Cup tournament couldn't rouse him out of the disappointment he felt for letting his team and country down reflect on the type of person he is. He's not just a good player,
he's a good person. It might be too much to ask for the Maradona comparisons to end, but after all that fuss, don't you think it's time to honor Messi as an individual? (Edit:
Maybe it isn't. I guess this is one nation that truly loves their team.)
But hey, I'm just an American girl who only started watching soccer, ahem, football, recently. So what do I know? I guess it's too much for me to ask an entire nation (and I guess the rest of this world too) with a very rich history in this sport to give Messi a break. The past is important. History is important. But if we live forever longing for "the good old days," we will never find our way into the future. Football is a very diverse sport, and in many ways the tactics and playing style have changed throughout the years. And so have its players. You can call me naive or ignorant. You can even call me a Messi fan girl. But at the end of the day, I think everyone should remember that Lionel Messi is a football genius in his own right. He's made an impact on this sport that no one has yet managed to truly accomplish in this generation.
Therefore, it is so important not to forget the amazing contributions he did make to this sport instead of dwelling on what he was unable to do. And actually, that goes for him too, not just his fans.
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| Photo courtesy of: http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/fifa-world-cup-2014/report-fifa-world-cup-2014-lionel-messi-eyes-glory-as-argentina-germany-set-for-world-cup-final-2001817 |
I'm not writing this to diminish the German win at the World Cup. Like I said, Germany is my second favorite team and they deserved their win. That
goal by Mario Gotze was super clutch, and if I was Argentina, I would much rather lose on a beautiful goal like that than something scrappy. Germany is a great team with many great players. They played an outstanding World Cup. So congratulations to Germany, and every team who participated in a wonderful tournament. Somehow you managed to get me hooked on a sport that I used to find utterly boring. But before all of the crazy antics, fan fanatics, and magical moments of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil fade into history, I just wanted to dedicate this post to someone who didn't get the chance to lift the World Cup trophy last night despite being very deserving of it. But hey, there's another one in 4 years right? And a lot can happen in that time. Just look at how far Messi has come since his last World Cup. You never know what the future might hold.
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