Messi - best player...?

[Khorkalba]

Unbelievable.

Rodriguez should have won it, but if they didn't want to mess up the award ceremony, then there were at least 5 players in the final who have had better tournaments than Messi.

[badtzmaru]

I thought James had won something because the commentators kept mentioning him, so I was surprised when Messi got the Golden Ball. I've only seen each player play twice in this World Cup, but from the games I've seen James did do a better job than Messi. Messi didn't look too happy receiving the award; wonder if it's because his team just lost or because he knows he didn't play well. emotion_8c

[annakratos]

I feel like it was a consolation prize. Messi's great, no doubt, but he definitely wasn't top dog this go around.

[Khorkalba]

badtzmaru

I thought James had won something because the commentators kept mentioning him, so I was surprised when Messi got the Golden Ball. I've only seen each player play twice in this World Cup, but from the games I've seen James did do a better job than Messi. Messi didn't look too happy receiving the award; wonder if it's because his team just lost or because he knows he didn't play well. emotion_8c

Rodriguez won the Golden Boot award for scoring the most goals, but I think he should also be named best player. If not him, then Mascherano or maybe Muller.

Hell, even Manuel Neuer has had a better tournament than Messi. It wouldn't be the first time a goalkeeper has won both the Golden Glove and the Golden Ball.

[badtzmaru]

Ohh, thanks. I'm glad James won something. whee Though I think Klose deserves some kind of award as well for his record.

I haven't watched enough of the World Cup or know enough about soccer to determine who played the best, but there was so much hype about this World Cup being Messi's and so his playing just underwhelmed me. I still think he's a great player and person, but just wish he played better this time.

[Sleepyartist1123]

Bastian Schweinsteiger should have gotten the gold ball

[Negations]

go_2_hell123

Bastian Schweinsteiger should have gotten the gold ball

100% agreed.
Schweini kept getting up after getting fouled. Was no keeping him down.
Had some fantastic clearances as well as great offensive actions.
Possibly the most well-mannered guy on the field as well.

[Mai potat0]

He didn't really deserve it tbh
but Argentina deserved to win

[Negations]

Mai Shark

He didn't really deserve it tbh
but Argentina deserved to win

Both teams deserved to win. Unfortunately only one can take home the cup.
Aguero and Mascherano should have both seen a second yellow card.
Especially Aguero after his hit to the face on Schweini.
Although Höwedes should be happy he didn't see red for his action in the first half.
All in all it was an intense world cup. c:

[Mai potat0]

NegativeIy

Mai Shark

He didn't really deserve it tbh
but Argentina deserved to win

Both teams deserved to win. Unfortunately only one can take home the cup.
Aguero and Mascherano should have both seen a second yellow card.
Especially Aguero after his hit to the face on Schweini.
Although Höwedes should be happy he didn't see red for his action in the first half.
All in all it was an intense world cup. c:

yes true true
they both did amazing
but also they deserved a penalty there
Higuain got hitted really hard on his head
and the referee did nothing about it

[Negations]

Mai Shark

yes true true
they both did amazing
but also they deserved a penalty there
Higuain got hitted really hard on his head
and the referee did nothing about it

Agreed.
If we look at "they deserved a penalty" you could also look at the action pulled against Kramer, #23 where he was knocked out by rough play.
Anywho, here's why I disagree with the whole Neuer vs Higuain should have been a penalty, and here's a really good explanation why.
-Neuer lead with his hands and played the ball.
-Neuer was in his box.
-It was Higuain who made contact with Neuer's thigh.

Keepers are taught to always keep a raised thigh between themselves and an attacker when going for a high ball. This is because it protects against hard hits and gives the most stability.
Also this occurred within the box, where protecting the goalkeeper is one of the largest priorities in the game.
Higuain knew what he was getting into when he tried to challenge Neuer for the high ball.

Here's a link to a gif showing two angles of the action which should help show the points brought up. Link

[Devicious]

NegativeIy

Mai Shark

yes true true
they both did amazing
but also they deserved a penalty there
Higuain got hitted really hard on his head
and the referee did nothing about it

Agreed.
If we look at "they deserved a penalty" you could also look at the action pulled against Kramer, #23 where he was knocked out by rough play.
Anywho, here's why I disagree with the whole Neuer vs Higuain should have been a penalty, and here's a really good explanation why.
-Neuer lead with his hands and played the ball.
-Neuer was in his box.
-It was Higuain who made contact with Neuer's thigh.

Keepers are taught to always keep a raised thigh between themselves and an attacker when going for a high ball. This is because it protects against hard hits and gives the most stability.
Also this occurred within the box, where protecting the goalkeeper is one of the largest priorities in the game.
Higuain knew what he was getting into when he tried to challenge Neuer for the high ball.

Here's a link to a gif showing two angles of the action which should help show the points brought up. Link

Well said. I watched the game with a friend, and my friend said it was definitely a clean play. Despite the fact that she's an Argentina fan, but she knew it was clean. Like you said, how the keepers were taught. It's very unfortunate that he was in the way, but I do hope he'll be okay in the long run.

Speaking of a brutal hit, nobody mentioned anything about Christoph Kramer... He took a bad hit to the face, and was eventually escorted off the field due to suspected concussion. Man, I hope that guy's okay.

[Negations]

Devicious

Well said. I watched the game with a friend, and my friend said it was definitely a clean play. Despite the fact that she's an Argentina fan, but she knew it was clean. Like you said, how the keepers were taught. It's very unfortunate that he was in the way, but I do hope he'll be okay in the long run.

Speaking of a brutal hit, nobody mentioned anything about Christoph Kramer... He took a bad hit to the face, and was eventually escorted off the field due to suspected concussion. Man, I hope that guy's okay.

He was in for a quick interview with Podolski and Schweinsteiger after the game. Poor guy doesn't remember anything.
All he knows is that they won.

Couldn't find a gif of the event, but here's a quick snapshot. You can see his head going flying backwards. link

[Devicious]

NegativeIy

Devicious

Well said. I watched the game with a friend, and my friend said it was definitely a clean play. Despite the fact that she's an Argentina fan, but she knew it was clean. Like you said, how the keepers were taught. It's very unfortunate that he was in the way, but I do hope he'll be okay in the long run.

Speaking of a brutal hit, nobody mentioned anything about Christoph Kramer... He took a bad hit to the face, and was eventually escorted off the field due to suspected concussion. Man, I hope that guy's okay.

He was in for a quick interview with Podolski and Schweinsteiger after the game. Poor guy doesn't remember anything.
All he knows is that they won.

Couldn't find a gif of the event, but here's a quick snapshot. You can see his head going flying backwards. link

Crap... That doesn't sound very good at all. He definitely looked extremely dazed when they escorted him off. Yeah I saw the game, hell, I had to rewind my live TV to see that play again. It was pretty bad.

Still no gif, so I tried looking too, but yeah... There's that picture.

[Negations]

Devicious

Crap... That doesn't sound very good at all. He definitely looked extremely dazed when they escorted him off. Yeah I saw the game, hell, I had to rewind my live TV to see that play again. It was pretty bad.

Still no gif, so I tried looking too, but yeah... There's that picture.

Found the gif.
Looks like Demichelis pushes Kramer into the shoulder of Garay.
Link