2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil

The Flash said:
Messi is willing his team to victories in this competition. They were horrible against Bosnia and were only up because of an own goal, then he scored and put the game into sleep. They were disastrous against Iran then he scored to win the game. Now two goals in an otherwise mediocre display by Argentina. Don't think Argentina is advancing further than the Quarter Finals but Messi is sure shutting up his critics.
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They have said the same about Argentina in 1986 and 1990! And their team was all-around worst than this one.

Sometimes many teams are carried away by only one player. There are many examples.

Besides, Messi's birthday was yesterday. He turned 27. Maradona was 25 in 1986. It's now or never for Messi.
 
So Argentina and Nigeria are through. Nigeria will almost certainly face France, while Argentina will play Switzerland or Equador (or, in the case of some unlikely results, Honduras).
 
No surprise in the Bosnia-Iran game. Iran did their best and scored. Not a bad World Cup for them and they weren't the worst team in the competition.
 
A good, if not great game. Nigeria deserved at least a draw though, and Messi again is Argentina's saviour. Dunno where this Nigeria was against Iran, as they were so poor in that game! They had far more energy and drive in this one, and deserved a point out of it. Another enjoyable game in this world cup. :)
 
Rotam said:
They have said the same about Argentina in 1986 and 1990! And their team was all-around worst than this one.

Sometimes many teams are carried away by only one player. There are many examples.

Besides, Messi's birthday was yesterday. He turned 27. Maradona was 25 in 1986. It's now or never for Messi.
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Barring a major surprise, I don't see Argentina getting too far, really. Not a slap on Messi against Maradona, I feel like it's much tougher these days to carry your team on your shoulders. The average team display has improved drastically, especially from a defensive standpoint.
 
Messi = Argentina in this World Cup. And Argentina is yet to face a real force. It's already been proven that a good defensive tactic can neutralize Messi completely. Iran managed to do it for 91 minutes.
 
Of course, the problem with that is if you make one defensive lapse, Messi gets you. Example: Iran. A better team, however, that can focus on both defense and offense, will likely tear them apart.
 
Or more likely, a team that can pummel Argentina's weak midfield and defence and then afford that one defensive lapse.
 
England fan:
a3Y6Oe5_460s.jpg

:D
 
Let's see in future what Messi can real do and if this is gonna be another World Cup driven by one star or by a power of one full-team. It's debatable; can a super team stop a super player? And there's also the weather conditions and the physical condition of the players. Messi had many stops all over the season and he could be improving to his better form.

Even if agree that overall at defense teams are better now than before, that doesn't mean that those teams put an end to the "magical toes" of players like Messi. The World Cup are the right place for them.

This is something i'm really looking forward to see next few weeks.
 
Rotam said:
Even if agree that overall at defense teams are better now than before, that doesn't mean that those teams put an end to the "magical toes" of players like Messi.
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True. A good defensive system tries to minimize the consequences of player mistakes (which happen). But the very best players - and Messi more than anyone else - are good at spotting the opportunities that arise from such mistakes, however small they may be. Iran didn't do a large mistake when Messi scored - they just gave him a little too much space - but he took the opportunity. However, we have seen in the Champions League that even a top player, like Messi, needs to be at his best if he is to trouble the best teams.
 
Rotam said:
Even if agree that overall at defense teams are better now than before, that doesn't mean that those teams put an end to the "magical toes" of players like Messi. The World Cup are the right place for them.
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Sure. I'm just saying that it's harder to pull off something like that.
 
I saw this picture earlier today and I thought of posting it but then I remembered Flash didn't like looking at such things. :D
 
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