AjanleKoko: But seriously now. It seems like Messi is kinda done. He just takes strolls all the time now.
I mean, the genius is there, but the explosion is not. Not by a long shot.

claireshan:

coded01: Messi: Argentina strikers missed chances

The 27-year-old was frustrated by his side's inability to finish chances, while also pointing to the fact it had a day less to recover for the final.

Lionel Messi blamed Argentina's 1-0 World Cup final defeat to Germany on the team's forwards for being wasteful in front of goal.

The 27-year-old was a peripheral figure on the night and fired wide a golden opportunity to give his side the lead in the second half after Gonzalo Higuain had done the same in the opening period, while Rodrigo Palacio also scuppered a great chance.

Argentina was then punished for its failure to convert those chances when Mario Gotze scored a brilliant winner in extra time to take the World Cup back to Germany.

And Messi believes his side deserved better, insisting they should have taken their chances.

"We haven't been in the semifinals for many years and the fact that we played the final and the way we played it it's something to be proud of," Messi said after the game. "But we deserved more and that's why we are sad. The strikers missed the chances we had. It's a bad feeling for all of us because we couldn't win the cup and take it to our people."

Argentina made it to the final after beating the Netherlands on penalties in their semifinal on Wednesday, a day after Germany thrashed Brazil 7-1 in their last-four clash.

And Messi felt the ease at which Joachim Low's side cruised to victory last week, along with the additional 24 hours of rest ahead of the final, was key as the final went into extra time.

"I was OK physically as were the rest of us," he added. "The fact that we played a day after them and that we played extra time against a team that was able to rest in the last minutes of their semifinals affected our finish of the game. A difference of one day is big at this stage."

Messi could take one small crumb of comfort from his evening after being awarded the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament, though he said the prize "meant very little" on a disappointing night.

http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/67/world-cup-2014/2014/07/13/4957722/messi-argentina-strikers-missed-chances?ICID=HP_TS_4

dmcdad:
As much as I cherish and adore Messi, I no gree for that him excuse ooooo. Netherland played Brazil having the same 1-day rest. And what happened? Was the 24 hours difference the reason they failed to convert their chances? Not at all!

They tried, and the World recognises that, but I no wan hear that excuse at all.

A40: So when we say Messi did not deserve the Golden Ball this automatically means we hate Messi. Loool at the logic of these unapologetic ret@rds

AjanleKoko: But seriously now. It seems like Messi is kinda done. He just takes strolls all the time now.
I mean, the genius is there, but the explosion is not. Not by a long shot.

tobiboss: i used to complain about that too, but after watching the final i understood why, he doesn't have the heart for it(literally)

AjanleKoko:

I fear it may be a physical problem.
Recall he had a very tight regimen under Pep. Now he's hosting Argentinian barbecues, and drinking cokes at will.
His body may not just be able to fuel the kind of explosion we saw between 2009 and 2012, frankly speaking.

AjanleKoko:

I fear it may be a physical problem.
Recall he had a very tight regimen under Pep. Now he's hosting Argentinian barbecues, and drinking cokes at will.
His body may not just be able to fuel the kind of explosion we saw between 2009 and 2012, frankly speaking.

dmcdad:
You are right bruv... Now it seems confirmed that that explosion like you stated is no longer there. What keeps him going now is the genius in him. I thought it was a case of him looking forward to the World Cup. I could remember vividly I did complain about this at different times during last season, but the thought at such times were "he was saving himself for the World Cup". Well, I think it's glaring now that he wasn't saving himself then, but was just less explosive than normal. In such regards, the best thing or role he will play for us now is an AM role. Or any other suitable roles as long as it's not the false 9 role.

Maybe the guy who said Messi is no longer passionate about football/playing is partially right. Who knows...?

Mcleo007: Food for thought: Would Germany have won the WC without Muller? Possibility is of the lowest rank, afterall they lost Marco Reus early on. Would Argentina have played at the finals? The answer is a resounding probable NO!

Four man of the match awards, a record highest ever at the WC. NINE dribbling occasions in a single match, smashhing Maradonna's record of seven in 1986. Created the highest goal scoring chances the entire tournament... and many more personal records.

Big question many Penaldo fans fail to point out is how or not he deserves the current WPOTY he won. The entire calendar year, he played second fiddle to Messi in every area but enjoyed 2 phenomenal months on the tail of Messi's injuries, guiding his country through the play offs and everyone thought he deserved it, failing to acknowledge that Messi had qualified his country for the tournament two months prior.

coded01:


The question should be why did FIFA re-open the voting system prior to World cup playoffs? --- Something already closed!


FIFA is as corrupt as every politician out there...

Mcleo007:

To the trolls, the extension is immaterial

coded01:


To you it is!


But why re-open it?

coded01:

I don't expect you to agree with him as far as you aren't playing football...

Mcleo007: Food for thought: Would Germany have won the WC without Muller? Possibility is of the lowest rank, afterall they lost Marco Reus early on. Would Argentina have played at the finals? The answer is a resounding probable NO!

Four man of the match awards, a record highest ever at the WC. NINE dribbling occasions in a single match, smashhing Maradonna's record of seven in 1986. Created the highest goal scoring chances the entire tournament... and many more personal records.

.

A40:
Man of the Match against Bosnia, Iran and Nigeria? Make una apply perspective abeg

Argentina would probably not have made the Finals if it were down to their attack which Messi is a big part of. FACT

Shebi its now that creativity and not goals scored matter to yall ba

Mcleo007: Food for thought: Would Germany have won the WC without Muller? Possibility is of the lowest rank, afterall they lost Marco Reus early on. Would Argentina have played at the finals? The answer is a resounding probable NO!

Four man of the match awards, a record highest ever at the WC. NINE dribbling occasions in a single match, smashhing Maradonna's record of seven in 1986. Created the highest goal scoring chances the entire tournament... and many more personal records.

Big question many Penaldo fans fail to point out is how or not he deserves the current WPOTY he won. The entire calendar year, he played second fiddle to Messi in every area but enjoyed 2 phenomenal months on the tail of Messi's injuries, guiding his country through the play offs and everyone thought he deserved it, failing to acknowledge that Messi had qualified his country for the tournament two months prior.

And finally, those holding Messi to impossible standards just missing out on enjoying a talent they'll likely not experience again. Their loss entirely.

Dhelake: Messi blaming others for the loss, They all had one chance each, he should have converted his nah, he had more of the ball compared to them so no excuse

bykebyke: Am watching a replay of the game now....and ...how dare you people say messi did not play anything...