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Copa América Centenario |OT| featuring Messi, James, Suárez and $110 mil in bribes
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Oveja Negra
Member
Call me crazy, but I still don't see Argentina winning this Copa.
Ecuador and Colombia are way stronger teams, IMO.
Pretty much. They're a beatable team if Messi isn't on the field, but with him there aren't many teams in the world that can beat them.
Overall, probably. But neither of them have someone on Messi's level. If you're going to beat Argentina it starts with finding a way to limit Messi's time on the ball.
Tragicomedy
Member
Messi is the leading goal scorer in the tournament after 30 minutes played...
GTP_Daverytimes
Member
Colombia especially, but yea, going to be tough for them.
Corronchilejano
Member
Jesus
And there will always be people who think he's not all that.
WonkyPanda
Member
lest you doubt his holiness
He is tied with Coutinho. Anyway, this is the never ending history of Messi scoring to no-name National Teams and then doing jack shit on playoff and Argentina once again winning nothing.
Tragicomedy
Member
I lived in Argentina for over twelve years and am heavily biased, but if you don't have him on your greatest of all time list, you are insane. What he has accomplished in his career is nothing short of spectacular. He's the greatest player in the world when futbol/soccer is being played at its highest level in history.
GOAT. Folks who detract from him because no World Cup victories fail to realize that it's tougher to win the UEFA Cup.
Oveja Negra
Member
It's true, there is not another player like Messi in this tournament. The thing is, those teams have super strong defenders, you can bet they will "destroy" Messi from a physical point of view.
For sure there are some exciting games ahead.
Overall, this has been a super entertaining Copa
DirtyManos
Member
Why did Messi's beard look orange on TV?
thats messis super sayian god form of his beard.
It's true, there is not another player like Messi in this tournament. The thing is, those teams have super strong defenders, you can bet they will "destroy" Messi from a physical point of view.
For sure there are some exciting games ahead.
Overall, this has been a super entertaining Copa
The problem is if you give him an inch he'll turn it into a chance, those defenders are going to be sweating bullets from the mental pressure alone. The question is can they have perfect games for 90 straight minutes?
What I'm saying is this is going to be one hell of a tournament to watch.
Tragicomedy
Member
Hot take. Completely wrong on many levels, but hot take nonetheless. Did we watch the same last two WCs? He was involved in basically every goal and took his team to the final. If that's how you define "jack shit," more power to you.
It is. Do you think beating Venezuela and Mexico is tougher than beating Real Madrid and Bayern? Because it's not. The teams that make it to the late stages of UEFA are filled with the best players in the world, regardless of nationality. They have better overall talent than most national teams.
The last two World Cups were essentially won by a Spanish side that was largely Barcelona players, and a German side that was essentially Bayern Munich.
MegaSackman
Member
Pep Guardiola
Member
But he didn't score in the final!
lmao there will always be doubters, gotta accept it
For me, he's the greatest along with Maradona.
Oveja Negra
Member
Yeah, I know, one single mistake and probably they will be done.
My team (Chile) managed to pretty much erase Messi from the field during the last Copa América. I think both Ecuador & Colombia have stronger, faster defenders than Chile, so I think it's totally doable for them.
But I agree they will need to be perfect at the task.
Last two WC? In South Africa, Argentina were eliminated in quarter finals by Germany. In Brazil he was involved directly in one goal on the playoff. He was an embarrassment in Argentina 2011, didn't do much in Chile 2015 or in Venezuela 2007.
Tragicomedy
Member
But he didn't score in the final!
lmao there will always be doubters, gotta accept it
For me, he's the greatest along with Maradona.
Argentina lost because they were missing their best two strikers to injury, with di Maria and Aguero out. They barely lost without those two. Messi and company played Germany almost to extra time, with one defensive lapse costing them the cup.
Germany was amazing, full credit to them. But to argue that Messi choked or was less than stellar is hilarious to me.
R10Neymarfan
Member
I feel like everybody forgets that Higuain flubbed the most obvious scoring chance in that game, but that doesn't fit the "Messi can't win one for Argentina" narrative so yeah.
If Messi loved Argentina enough he would have taken control of Higuain's body with his magical powers and scored the goal himself.
MRrogermoore
Member
Why is Aguero not ahead od Higuain? I feel hes so much better on the ball and can also drift wide.
MegaSackman
Member
And Palacio... and well, Messi failed his own chance too.
Statistically is way harder to win a WC than a UEFA Champions League that is not even funny. Basically, if you are not Brazilian, Italian or German you already have a ultra slim chance to win World Cup.
Tragicomedy
Member
Messi has scored 69 goals for Argentina in 131 games. He has 33 goals in 69 FIFA appearances. He has led his teams to an under-20 World Cup championship, an Olympic gold medal, and runner up this last World Cup.
He scored 5 goals last World Cup. Your qualifier of "playoff" goals is hilarious, as the while tournament is a playoff. A goal that secures your team a win and advancement is valuable.
Messi has NEVER embarrassed Argentina
It's from this infomercial
Also first comment:
Brasil: Le decía Okey suficiente, suficiente. Lo miraba y decía: No, de nuevo no!!
Alemania: No de nuevo decia!!
lmao
Moon Presence
Member
Messi is the greatest player of all time. Hope that he finally delivers with Argentina and grabs a so much deserved national team trophy.
Tragicomedy
Member
That only makes sense if you completely ignore the fact that one tournament happens annually, and the other every four years. Naturally, one will have a larger pool of victors to choose from.
Doesn't change the fact that the overall talent and competition level in the UEFA Cup is higher than in the World Cup. Literally, the best players in the world play there, regardless of nationality. There are world class rosters with players who don't even appear in the WC, because their home nations aren't soccer powerhouses.
Look at a team like Barcelona. They have the three greatest goal scorers from South America on their front line. Their midfield, defense, and goalkeeper are all world class and play for their national teams. That's a team that would steamroll through a WC. They didn't even make the UEFA finals.
Messi got his vengeance because of the Panama Papers.
Meh, don't care. Knew we would lose anyways.
I agree with you that Messi is great, and he don't need to win a World Cup to prove that he is one of the best players of all time (top 5 easily IMO)
But c'mon man, There's no way that the Champions is harder than the World Cup, this is nonsense.
And Barcelona lost to Atletico, a team thousand times worst (if you just compare the players)
So you can't say that he would steamroll at the WC. And you can't just look to the squads to say that the Champions is harder
Tragicomedy
Member
What is your counter argument to that belief?
The best players in the world face each other in that tournament, and the top teams are stacked beyond belief. More so than any World Cup squad, as there are no national requirements.
my name is ed
Banned
Not to mention champions league sides are significantly better organized defensively
The level of play at the later stages of play is just absurd. You also have to play your way through the CL while you compete in your domestic league and cups
Tragicomedy
Member
I've watched soccer since the 80s and played competitively. Even as a World Cup fanatic (most fun tournament in sports for me), the level of play is a step lower.
This year runner-up had Griezman (ok) and freaking Fernando Torres on attack
The runner-up of the year before had Tevez and Morata
Real Madrid and Barcelona are better than all the teams of last WC. But you can't say the same of the other teams of the Champions
Even Bayern is worst than Germany IMO
Ganzlinger
Member
Messi the God
And yet will live in Maradona's shadow for the rest of his days. No world cup nor Copa. I saw Maradona first time as a kid in the 80s the impact he made on me and many kids back then is still huge. One is charismatic and one of the greatest players ever and the other just plays at Barcelona.
Tragicomedy
Member
He doesn't, though. Most of us love both. Messi is more talented.
I like them both too, but let's face it. Maradona didn't have Alves, lniesta, Xavi, Pique, Poyul,and the likes around. Those are amazing players who made Messi look good. You only need to look at the Argentina team to realize that.
Maybe but not more succesful, the same with Cristiano Ronaldo
Tragicomedy
Member
Messi would have shredded the 1986 World Cup competition. Let's be real. Diego dominated his competition, but everything from talent to training to fitness is worlds better today.
I'm confused with the Ronaldo part. You mean he's also more talented but not as successful?
You don't rate Careca?
He is considered alongside Messi as the best football player around but they have yet to win something with their selections
It's not easy to compare players from different generations. We had Pelè era, Cruyff era, Maradona era , Ronaldo era and now we have Messi era. All of them ( and others like Eusebio, Di stefano etc) are incredible players. In my opinion Ronnie in his prime was really something else . He was playing on another level in Barcelona/ Inter and Brazil.
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