DEFAULT GERMAN VICTORY IN A CORPORATE BEHEMOTH OF A WORLD CUP

D. Ray Morton, 14th July 2014.

That cherubic scoundrel Mario Götze kisses the World Cup shortly after scoring the goal that won it for Germany

A month ago when World Cup 2014 started, football fans were greeted with the possibility of a truly great showcase of the game and we very nearly got one. Somewhere along the line it became altogether very serious. Germany were able squeeze past a stubborn Argentinian side thanks to a late goal in extra time from substitute Mario Götze to win the whole damn thing. Perhaps a fitting conclusion amidst the corporate flatulence that had filled this newfangled Maracanã stadium. Götze, afterall, is the guy who jilted the romantics of Borussia Dortmund to seek fame and fortune at the global powerhouse that are rivals Bayern Munich. Such dignitaries as German prime minister Angela Merkel and...the guy from "That '70s Show", Ashton Kutcher, were in attendance for that special moment.

Irreverence had probably seeped into the mind of any avid fan of the sport as this final developed. The game was flat, rather boring for the most part. Occasionally Argentina would carve out an opportunity but could not add a finishing touch. Gonzalo Higuaín was guilty of a bad one-on-one miss in the first half. Indeed, Higuaín (or Ó hUiginn, poet of Connacht) was at the heart of another controversial incident that probably went over the heads of many spectators as the game veered towards inevitable full-time stalemate and subsequent extra time. Chasing a loose ball in the second half, the Napoli striker was baring down on goal until German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer leapt out of the air. His knee rising like that of a Muay Thai fighter, Neuer nearly took Higuaín's head off as he snatched the ball from his opponent's path. The incident was nearly very ugly, reminiscent of Harald Schumacher's assault of Patrick Battiston in 1982. Somehow, Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli awarded the decision against the Argentine. That moment was decisive in the course of the game as the correct call would have resulted in a penalty for Argentina and a red card for Neuer.

Manuel Neuer's reckless knee smash of Gonzalo Higuaín, remarkably, went completely unpunished
 

With the game spiralling towards penalties, Germany's extra rest day and the fresh legs of Götze proved to be decisive. Another substitute, André Schürrle, was able to skip past the exhausted duo of Javier Mascherano and Pablo Zabaleta down the left flank where he crossed in. Götze controlled well with his chest and knocked it past the on-rushing Sergio Romero who had left most of his goal open. Beer steins were lifted all over Germany as the country, in its unified form, won its first World Cup.

Argentina were crushed and could not even threaten in the few minutes thereafter. It must have been an especially frustrating night for Lionel Messi. He did not have his best game and missed a pretty decent chance in the second half of normal time. To makes matters worse, he was awarded the Golden Ball award for best player at the World Cup though he himself will feel embarrassed to receive such a prize. Realistically, it has not been Messi's World Cup since the group stage. Someone like Colombia's James Rodríguez, who performed brilliantly in each of his matches, would have been far more worthy. Even Diego Maradona felt Messi was unworthy sensing that the award had a corporate angle behind it.

Anyway, it is done. Germany have their prize and the rest of the world just want to move on and forget about this. In Europe, the Germans do not have many fans outside of their own country. Only an English victory would have been more offensive. However inclined, one must admit that Germany are a good team in an international football scene without many others. They can build on this and stroll into Euro 2016 as favourites, a pedestal they have not enjoyed since the 1990s.

WORLD CUP TRIUMPH IN MESSI'S HANDS

D. Ray Morton, 11th June 2014.

Lionel Messi will play in his first World Cup with Argentina built around him

The World Cup finally gets under way tomorrow evening (Brazil vs. Croatia K/O 9pm GMT) and speculation mounts as to who will win the competition on the back of many injuries and players who have endured sixty-game seasons. Lionel Messi, having surrendered his Balon d'Or crown to Cristiano Ronaldo last year, is many pundits' tip to be the star individual of the tournament.

There are several reasons as to why people think Messi will dominate at the World Cup. At one point last season, former Barcelona assistant manager, Angel Cappa, accused the Argentine of losing his passion for the game. Indeed, many felt that he had taken his foot off the pedal as his domestic season wound down in order to save himself for Brazil's football carnival. It is harsh to judge a player's professionalism like this and Diego Simeone's Atlético Madrid, who pipped Barça to both a Liga BBVA title and a place in the Champions League final, deserve a lot of credit for keeping Messi quiet throughout their series of games. Therefore, La Pulga Atómica has a lot to prove and a lot of pundits to silence. Included in this is the ever-opinionated Zvonimir Boban who recently accused Argentina's No. 10 of "not trying" (whilst also stating Barça teammate Neymar will never become the world's best player).

The reason for Messi optimism is as follows. Fair enough, his performances did dip a little towards the end of last season but it was on the back of a year that involved a serious hamstring injury. Between Barcelona's last game of the campaign and the start of the World Cup, he has been able to rest and is enjoying his time with the Argentina camp. There may be a sense of pressure too, however. Messi has vomited during play on several occasions in recent times and though he maintains it has nothing to do with nerves, it is odd that the medical staff cannot find an explanation for this. Messi believes it merely some undiagnosed, minor illness that just happens to him sometimes. Merely a weak stomach.

Assuming Messi is 100% fit and happy, he finds himself in an Argentina team built around him away from the pressures of Camp Nou. This was not the case in the past. Sergio Agüero and Gonzalo Higuaín should join him to form a formidable attacking force, arguably the best at the World Cup. Other major stars from top nations are either missing or struggling for fitness too which gives Messi the chance to shine above all others. Germany's Marco Reus, France's Franck Ribéry and Colombia's Radamel Falcao are all ruled out and there are question marks over the condition of Portugal's Ronaldo and Uruguay's Luis Suárez. Five top players who could have each taken the tournament by storm.

Considering Messi turns twenty-seven on 24th June, he should be at his prime in this World Cup. Argentina's potential path to the final is not the worst either and they could be looking at a semi-final against Spain and perhaps Brazil in the decider, the ultimate South American football rivalry. Spain are thought to be a little bit weaker than in their last three international championships and there are still questions over whether this Brazil team are really that good. There will be a lot more pressure on Neymar & co. than on Messi & co. Even playing the World Cup in South America helps. Obviously not against Brazil but against the European teams.

So will Messi cement that World Cup legacy that places Diego Maradona above him in the annals of the Argentine game? The conditions seem to be right for what Argentinians have been waiting for since 1986. With a much better supporting cast to boot.