We're not worthy! We're not worthy!
That goal thru 3 players in the Copa del Ray was so splendid.
He's been doing this for a decade now. His ability as compared to his contemporaries, as well as the number of trophies he's won, probably puts him in the argument for greatest of all time. The only players who really compare at this point are Pele, Maradona, Cruijff, Beckenbauer and Di Stefano.
Had he won the World Cup last year, there would be no argument he's better than Maradona. What a bummer Argentina lost.
Probably?
Sure, this statistical improbability means Messi is amazing, but when the Pats don't fumble, it means there must be a link between ball pressure and fumbling.
First Sepp Blatter "resigns". Women's World Cup (pathetically on artificial turf, but exciting all-the-same). And then the Champion's League tomorrow with Juventus having a chance to shock the world.
We should see some brilliant soccer tomorrow. Here's to hoping that Buffon plays lights out and Pogba puts in the winner. Chiellini being out facially looks bad, but if Barzagli is truly mended he might be the better man to make Messi's life (relatively) difficult. A bit more nimble than Chiellini (but without the strength, of course), and against Messi I'll take nimble over strong.
I think Barzagli over GC suits Juve in this matchup. I just worry about his fitness, because if La Roccia can't play the full game they'll have no choice but to use Ogbonna. If that happens... well, you know.
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What's scary is that he is only gonna be 28 at the end of this month. We've still got a few more years of him being impossible. And even after that, he'll still probably be one of the best into his mid 30s. Yikes.
and as always I'm impressed by soccer at its best. Unfortunately I don't think I'll ever get over dudes writhing in pain on the pitch as replay shows they were never touched.
M football has always been and will always be my primary sporting interest, but I seem to gravitate toward sports with an opportunity to demonstrate one's cajones. Chris Pronger trying to get off the ice after his heart stopped. Wheatley repeatedly returning to action in the 93 Rose Bowl despite debilitating cramps. Dudes getting up immediately after being drilled by 95 mph heat and getting to first before being asked by the base coach how it feels. guys getting back on their rides in the Tour de France with broken collarbones. This as opposed to Paul Pierce and worse, 3 of the greatest soccer players in the world being three of the greatest playactors... Neymar, Robben, and Ronaldo. Gordie woulda kicked their asses.
Soccer players are very tough IMO. You've gotta be in order to be in the sort of shape they're in. No other sport asks you to maintain activity for 45 minutes +. And then in knockout tournaments you've got extra time.... I think hockey players are the only ones that can match their conditioning and work ethic.
before your response.... I read some of the comments after posting and apologize for being a hater when several posters I've come to respect clearly love the game. It's as beautiful as advertised and I certainly understand its appeal.
I have played hockey for 25 years now. I've played soccer for 10. All of my worst injuries have come from soccer. It's FAR more agressive and tough than the average American gives it credit for, and it's funny if you think about it because it's all perception. In most of the rest of the world, if you DONT like soccer they'll call you a girl or a wuss.
One of my biggest pet peeves, though, besides people calling it a "sissy sport", is when people call it boring and they're sitting there in a Detroit Tigers hat. I have nothing against baseball or golf; but don't call my sport boring ESPECIALLY if you're a fan of either one of those two.
OK done, sorry.
It's clearly a physical sport. Furthermore, it's nice because people of (nearly) any size can play assuming the have the requisite skills. My problem is the faking injury. Every time the big flop happens and they bring out the magic spray it destroys all the good will the game built over the past minutes of my watching.
I understand why they do it. A skilled offensive player can be neutralized by a mediocre defensive player if any real contact is allowed so the offensive player needs to be ready to fall to attract a call. It's a flaw in the game that should be addressed. It actually discourages guys from demonstrating their toughness. What is interesting is when I discuss this with an American they invariably say... "Yeah, it sucks, but it's still a great game." The same discussion with a (non British) European typically ends in "It's not the players' fault the refs all suck." The concept of sportsmanship or honor are, apparently, completely beside the point.
Further, I don't mind gamesmanship in sports. If a guy can get away with doctoring a baseball a little or (possibly) deflating a football on a cold day then more power to him. But faking injury to try to get an opponent red carded offends my delicate sensibilities (as does steriod use).
Ditto.
In my right foot, I have a bunch of hardware, gortex, screws, anchors, and donor material to rebuild the foot and ankle.
I have surgery on the 9th to reattach one of the muscles in my groin to the bone -- I tore it clean from the hip.
All of that happened in soccer.
trying to figure out which joint was most likely to have looked potentially injured while attempting to get a guy kicked out of a game.
Also, all the luck on your upcoming operation/rehab!
It's despicable and I don't condone it, but like in any sports highest level players have every incentive to manipulate or deceive the refs into making calls that give them advantage. In soccer the upside for gaining a call (especially in the penalty box) is so huge you gotta do it. It often gets you a free shot on goal or service into the box. And, as we all know, goals are incredibly valuable in soccer. There is almost no downside - flopping is rarely identified and penalized by refs- other than Americans will call you a pussy. Think about it rationally and it makes sense. Flopping exists in every professional contact sport.
in the contact sports. Faking injury does not outside of soccer and professional wrestling.
I understand why they do it. You're absolutely right. They do it to win. It just wrecks the game for me.
oops
This is one of the reasons that Messi is so great and respected. He never dives, and there are articles (http://shawnblanc.net/2013/05/lionel-messi-never-dives/) and YouTube videos (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0gS5CshUDE and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ex6SpIllxiw) highlighting this.
He's a once in a lifetime talent.
If the heaviest talents in soccer conducted themselves like Messi it would be a much better sport. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for posting this.
I was about to post something like it when I scrolled down to find you'd already done it.
Messi is even more amazing because he never dives. Watching him successfully fight through double and triple teams with the ball is just incredible. Many other players would have been on the turf by then, but Messi plays through it and sometimes even scores or gets an assist afterward.
you don't "gotta do it", but it seems that a lot of soccer players view cheating as the best (or I guess easiest) path to victory. Makes the sport nearly unwatchable.
Soccer organizations should take care of this with post-match penalties. Caught flagrantly flopping on video? Dropping to the turf like you were hit by a sniper when no one actually touched you? 100K fine and X match suspension (pick a number). That would end the flopping really quick. But no one has the guts to implement real measures to end it.
Ronaldo is a fucking pussy. Dude has all the talent in the world and is a diver. Quit painting with such a broad brush. I could make the same argument about contact sports and reference Sidney Crosby.
Nor does he dive every time he moves toward the goal. As I've said several times throughout this thread, I appreciate soccer, but there are no legit comparisons in terms of diving/faked injury between soccer and other contact sports.
I don't quite understand this obsession with hyper-machoism by some. Toughness is needed in real life, but not so such in a game. It's a sports. A game. It doesn't matter how tough you are or are not.
Some think sports are an arena to exhibit your toughness. What complete bullshit. It's entertainment and competition. Nothing more. Real toughness is that of those who live in a place like Afghanistan and having to deal with chaos all around them. Real toughness is a woman who has been raped and refusing to let the pain consume her. Real toughness is taking the challenges(cancer) of life and greeting them with steely determination and a grin on your face. That's toughness.
If you want to watch toughness you'll have to go somewhere other than an arena or stadium to find it. Million dollar athletes at the peak of their health and physical fitness backed by the best medical care money can buy is not toughness.
Any real Barça fan should know to type the cedilla.
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Forza Juve!
Cloudy with a chance of meteors for the final?
CR7>messi
vs an Italian team. viva l'Italia!
That little wand of a left foot.
