Round of 16 Matches

[USABlue]

What they have going for them is the draw. They avoid the strong European teams until the final. They would be underdogs against England, France or Spain. Think they will squeak past the Dutch though

England's not making it past France. Still think it's most likely a French/Brazil final in the end

 

[Brendan Janus]

I don’t know that I’ve ever come across someone who doesn’t like Messi…. Except Ronaldo, of course!

Well you have now lol

 

[allen]

I'm not a fan.

To each their own. Personally, I can’t fathom how any neutral observer could dislike him.

 

[Wat Tyler]

I don’t know that I’ve ever come across someone who doesn’t like Messi…. Except Ronaldo, of course!

My mate hates him as well for some reason. How can you like football and not enjoy watching Messi play football?

 

[allen]

789 goals in 1,000 matches is totally insane.

What a record. The longevity of that kind of consistency.

 

[USABlue]

 

[allen]

My mate hates him as well for some reason. How can you like football and not enjoy watching Messi play football?

I totally understand disliking Maradona (though I don’t) or Ronaldo (I really do) - but disliking Messi is like disliking Pele.

 

[Papa Shango]

To each their own. Personally, I can’t fathom how any neutral observer could dislike him.

He is obviously a wonderful player.

I just find him boring. I like my players with a bit of needle to them.

 

[miami]

He is obviously a wonderful player.

I just find him boring. I like my players with a bit of needle to them.

He has needle. He’s no softie by any means.

 

[Wat Tyler]

I totally understand disliking Maradona (though I don’t) or Ronaldo (I really do) - but disliking Messi is like disliking Pele.

 

[Cameron Manning]

argie #8 is a proper sh1thouse.

Australia have got them all over the pitch!!

 

[Dundee mifflin]

Those Argie fans are superb.
What a noise

I’d love to be there experiencing that atmosphere.

 

[allen]

He is obviously a wonderful player.

I just find him boring. I like my players with a bit of needle to them.

Okay, that I can understand, yeah.

Though I find him so interesting. He’s like a quiet kid. Very much the same person that joined Barca at 13. I find it fascinating that his awesome ability hasn’t gone to his head.

 

[Drico]

To each their own. Personally, I can’t fathom how any neutral observer could dislike him.

He's obviously marvelous, but I can understand people who find him a little bloodless. He quietly goes about his devastating brilliance, but some possibly prefer the emotional overload of Maradona. Messi is self-contained. He lacks the drama of a Ronaldo. Technically, I don't think I've seen anyone better than Messi. But as a force of nature, Maradona gets my vote. But you can't really compare eras. Maradona played in an era where the great players were brutalised and assaulted from behind. The 1986 World Cup had all four of the best players in the world - Zico, Rummenigge, Maradona and Platini entering the tournament with varieties of injury. They were crucified by Gentile, Goicoechea, Camacho and the like, notorious hatchetmen who fouled with impunity. Messi and Ronaldo had almost injury-free careers. That was only possible thanks to rule changes and clampdowns.

Also, the offside law and backpass law changes over the years opened up the playing area for creative players. In the 1980s, Serie A was characterised by multiple 0-0s and 1-0s every week as space, and goals, were at a premium. It was a different game then. Messi is, for me, the undoubted greatest player of his era. Beyond that, it's apples and oranges.

 

[summerisle]