Whilst Villa are my second team so you might expect me to say this, I have absolutely no issue whatsoever with what Martinez did. A bit of mind games a la Martinez, or the crazy legs of the Australian keeper in their play off match, are a legitimate form of psychological pressure. If the French, or Dutch, or Columbian players facing him couldn't hack it then that's their problem, not his.
Not sure if anyone has already pointed this out, but all the hyperbole around this cementing Messi as the greatest is ridiculous. He either already is or already isn't (I think that he is), and winning the WC or not does not change his quality, though it is a great bookend.
Put it this way - by the thinking behind the hype:
Argentina win penalty shoot out: Messi is the greatest of all time.
Argentina lose the shoot out: Messi is not the greatest of all time.
This thinking make no sense at all, as Messi's career status rests on three or four other penalty takers.
Rant over - I just find that kind of hype ridiculous. It's not a bad trophy to have on the mantle, but it does not define a player's career - some greats never had or never will have the chance to win one simply because of the country they belong to (George Best, Haaland, Mehmeti etc.)
It is a lovely pinnacle for Messi, but it does not change the player he has been or will be.
Not quite, they won it for him and wouldn't have been close without him, they know, they don't care. He cast a big shadow over the team and nearly quit, they built round him and he delivered.
I agree, although the fact that he has now one the World Cup (as well as the Copa America, four Champions League titles, endless Spanish titles and soon two French ones) will help in the historic appreciation of him, in the same way that George Best tends to get lost in such 'greatest of all time' discussions. Surely if Hungary had held on against West Germany in 1954 then Puskas would be regarded in the same breath as Pele?
Comments
Wrong country!
Amazing that a game that was dull for 80 minutes ended up a classic.
Worth saying that the referee - an ex pro player - has been superb. Best reason why we should fast track ex pros into the ref system.
Turned into a great game in the end.
Wonderful that Mbappe got his hat-trick.
Messi was excellent & really orchestrated things for Argentina.
Now the lottery of penalties, always seems such a shit way to decide a game.
Such a fantastic game doesn’t deserve penalties
I still think golden goal is the best way to go, just keep playing
If there’s any justice, this shootout will go on forever and ever.
Martinez looks like he’s been hitting Maradona’s stash.
Amazingly only 41 as well. Will that ever happen again where a player scores a hatrick in a WCF and ends up on the losing side?
What a moment
Argentines showing their class to the end with the goalkeepers antics.
Pleased for Messi but they are the worst role models you will see win a World Cup.
Fabulous game of football with the two best players in the world showing us what it’s all about.
Argentina deserved it as they took the better penalties, but I feel for France.
The French will be back as they have an incredible group of young talent that will form the core of their team for many years to come.
Happy to add a few minutes to my Rolodex of Pub Chat
Great game. Terrible to see a team win the WC with that kind of conduct
Whilst Villa are my second team so you might expect me to say this, I have absolutely no issue whatsoever with what Martinez did. A bit of mind games a la Martinez, or the crazy legs of the Australian keeper in their play off match, are a legitimate form of psychological pressure. If the French, or Dutch, or Columbian players facing him couldn't hack it then that's their problem, not his.
No idea what you lot are on about “antics”. There was less shithousing in that game than any Wycombe match of the last 10 years. Better team won.
People saying it might be the best game of football ever, They obviously weren't at Selhurst Park.
Or Filbert Street !
Ahem
Allsop and Stockdale could probably teach Martinez a few more shithousery tricks!
(Dis)Honourable mentions to Scott Brown and big bad Baz.
What a game, Argentina well deserved winners. And well done Qatar, hosted a quite brilliant tournament.
Not sure if anyone has already pointed this out, but all the hyperbole around this cementing Messi as the greatest is ridiculous. He either already is or already isn't (I think that he is), and winning the WC or not does not change his quality, though it is a great bookend.
Put it this way - by the thinking behind the hype:
Argentina win penalty shoot out: Messi is the greatest of all time.
Argentina lose the shoot out: Messi is not the greatest of all time.
This thinking make no sense at all, as Messi's career status rests on three or four other penalty takers.
Rant over - I just find that kind of hype ridiculous. It's not a bad trophy to have on the mantle, but it does not define a player's career - some greats never had or never will have the chance to win one simply because of the country they belong to (George Best, Haaland, Mehmeti etc.)
It is a lovely pinnacle for Messi, but it does not change the player he has been or will be.
Not quite, they won it for him and wouldn't have been close without him, they know, they don't care. He cast a big shadow over the team and nearly quit, they built round him and he delivered.
In my opinion, Pele is still the greatest @Shev.
What? Goalkeepers have been doing that kind of thing all around the world for as long as I can remember. Bruce Grobbellar in Rome 1984 comes to mind.
I agree, although the fact that he has now one the World Cup (as well as the Copa America, four Champions League titles, endless Spanish titles and soon two French ones) will help in the historic appreciation of him, in the same way that George Best tends to get lost in such 'greatest of all time' discussions. Surely if Hungary had held on against West Germany in 1954 then Puskas would be regarded in the same breath as Pele?
Wasn’t there once some shenanigans with Yves Ma-Kalambay’s gloves during a penalty shoot out? I’m guessing in the EFL trophy.
A decent shout. I have no argument against him or Maradona. It's comparing the best Monet at a certain point.
Plus his hairband, shin pads and laces . . . . but apart from that.