As someone who's rooted for Peyton Manning, seen what happens when everyone puts a team result and a team championship up as a guidepost to judge an individual, you would think I would naturally feel bad for Lionel Messi, seen today hapless and helpless while Croatia danced around them, and potentially knocked them out of the World Cup.
Then again, as a Real Madrid fan, you would think I would take joy in Messi's performance, especially when contrasted with Ronaldo taking a fairly anonymous Portugal unit to the brink of advancing.
As with many things, there are more nuances, more factors to consider. And in that way, I'm both relieved at the number of people that blame everyone on Argentina except for Lionel Messi, to the coach who switches tactics just as often as he switches clothes, to the comic defending, to the goalie who pulled a Vanderjagt, to the guys slotted on the bench for no reason, and also disheartened to see so many people look past Messi's own desolate attempt.
It is absolutely true that Argentina's team has no plan, seemingly. That Sampioali has somewhat neutered them by keeping a lot of their more talented players on the bench is definitely a factor. But what is also absolutely true is Messi has been less than through two games. He had a penalty to win the first game, and missed. He plodded around the field today against Croatia, doing little with the few times he did get the ball, often spraying passes, only having 2-3 of his patented runs, which generally all ended with a short pass or losing the ball. That Lionel Messi is not good enough. And we have to ne objective.
Peyton Manning was afwul against the Jets in the 2002 playoffs. He was terrible against the Patriots the next year in the AFC Championship Game. He was dreadful against teh Colts in their 2014 Divisional Round loss. The rest of his team was similarly bad in each game, fumbling the ball, snapping the ball over punters heads, giving up return TDs. But Peyton was also bad, and he got criticized. This is no different.
The worst part for me was the lengths even Argentina was going to defend Messi's lackluster, uninspired game. The coach after the game said that the state of the Argentina was clouding Messi's brilliance, and that 'this isn't the time for Messi/Ronaldo' comparisons. That is pathetic to see from the head coach.
Argentina may well advance, though if Iceland beat Nigeria it becomes exceedingly tough. But even if they don't these two games are a mark against Messi for sure, at least as much as Ronaldo's off performances in 2014 when Portugal was bounced in the group stage. The team is not good, but let's not say it is terrible. This lackluster Argentina is still better on paper than Iceland (and Nigeria). This is not some Egypt like team where Salah literally has no help. This is not that. This is on Argentina's football association, Coach Sampiaoli, the players not named Messi, but Messi as well.
Then again, as a Real Madrid fan, you would think I would take joy in Messi's performance, especially when contrasted with Ronaldo taking a fairly anonymous Portugal unit to the brink of advancing.
As with many things, there are more nuances, more factors to consider. And in that way, I'm both relieved at the number of people that blame everyone on Argentina except for Lionel Messi, to the coach who switches tactics just as often as he switches clothes, to the comic defending, to the goalie who pulled a Vanderjagt, to the guys slotted on the bench for no reason, and also disheartened to see so many people look past Messi's own desolate attempt.
It is absolutely true that Argentina's team has no plan, seemingly. That Sampioali has somewhat neutered them by keeping a lot of their more talented players on the bench is definitely a factor. But what is also absolutely true is Messi has been less than through two games. He had a penalty to win the first game, and missed. He plodded around the field today against Croatia, doing little with the few times he did get the ball, often spraying passes, only having 2-3 of his patented runs, which generally all ended with a short pass or losing the ball. That Lionel Messi is not good enough. And we have to ne objective.
Peyton Manning was afwul against the Jets in the 2002 playoffs. He was terrible against the Patriots the next year in the AFC Championship Game. He was dreadful against teh Colts in their 2014 Divisional Round loss. The rest of his team was similarly bad in each game, fumbling the ball, snapping the ball over punters heads, giving up return TDs. But Peyton was also bad, and he got criticized. This is no different.
The worst part for me was the lengths even Argentina was going to defend Messi's lackluster, uninspired game. The coach after the game said that the state of the Argentina was clouding Messi's brilliance, and that 'this isn't the time for Messi/Ronaldo' comparisons. That is pathetic to see from the head coach.
Argentina may well advance, though if Iceland beat Nigeria it becomes exceedingly tough. But even if they don't these two games are a mark against Messi for sure, at least as much as Ronaldo's off performances in 2014 when Portugal was bounced in the group stage. The team is not good, but let's not say it is terrible. This lackluster Argentina is still better on paper than Iceland (and Nigeria). This is not some Egypt like team where Salah literally has no help. This is not that. This is on Argentina's football association, Coach Sampiaoli, the players not named Messi, but Messi as well.
