Argentina v Nigeria GOLD MATCH (R)

[El_Gaucho]

With regards to the diving accusations..

take a close look at this video at 1'07 secs.. the foul on Messi is very clear.
if you call that diving, well then, you obviously have sour grapes.

7y55yTmoF5k

[Maruti]

Tell that to the 3 Nigerians who were constantly marking him and had to resort to kicking his shins all game long to try and get the ball from him:o

Sorry.... but what game were you watching? I agree Messi was being double marked, but Riquelme was marked seldomly... and actually in comparison with previous games where Nigeria was constantly pressing Riquelme was hardly marked at all...

I don't agree with people that say that Riquelme was crap. He actually had a good game. But in no way was he marked by 3 players. Thats just simply not true.

[Maruti]

With regards to the diving accusations..

take a close look at this video at 1'07 secs.. the foul on Messi is very clear.
if you call that diving, well then, you obviously have sour grapes.


Did someone question the 2005 final penalties? I can't remember anything on this thread.

Messi dives sometimes and you can see he is always looking ffor the judge whenever he falls. Unfortunately something he learnt at Barcelona... Nonetheless two things:
- Messi plays the ball EXTREMELY close to his feet, which makes it hard to tackle him. Hence trying to take away the ball from him is very risky. Even if you manage to take the ball away it's easy for Messi to simulate a foul (he did it 2 or 3 times in the Nigeria match). That said ONLY THE VERY BEST CAN LEAD THE BALL LIKE THAT.
- Messi more often than not tries to play the ball. He only dives as a last resort. But he does dive. Saying he doesn't just isn't true. And I say that as a big Barca fan.

[Alberto]

Could somebody explain the rationale for the scheduling? When was the match time decided? Was there a change? And was this an IOC move or a FIFA (I doubt it) move?

It made no sense at all and we now continue to have a string of mediocre to poor soccer finals in major tournaments.

Please go back and read my post. It explains the reasons why it was played at high noon.

[Maruti]

Article on BBC on the idiotic noon final:
But Argentina legend Diego Maradona claimed that it was "inhuman" to play the final in such conditions.

"The players can't breathe and it's difficult to run. The heat is unbearable," said Maradona, who watched the game along with Fifa president Sepp Blatter.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/7578875.stm

On the mysterious lack of Ogbuke. Apparently he had a shin injury...

Siasia even acknowledged how much they missed Ogbuke.
"That guy can do some magic, create something out of nothing, it's just disappointing he didn't play."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/7578801.stm

[Alberto]

I've read that a few times here. How exactly is Messi an arrogant asshole?

Look at his body language. Look at how he addresses opponents and the referee. He's a young guy and I have no doubt in another couple of years he'll be as bad as Blanco. Being one of the top players in the world does not give you carte blanche to be an arrogant jerk.

[dna77054]

Donovan treats the refs worse than Messi, is he an arrogant prick?

[Maruti]

To back Alberto - Messi really showed how high and mighty he is at halftime, when he started provoking several Nigerian players, who had no bad intentions. Messi sent out really bad vibes, whilst the Nigerians were surprised that there is some conflict. Body language.

I really fear for the guy... He is on his way to being an asshole. A brilliant asshole, on par talentwise with Maradona, but still...

[Alberto]

I seriously doubt the temperature was actually 42 degrees centigrade. Any yahoo can take a thermometer in the direct sun an come up with some inflated temperature reading. The high temperature as measured by meteorologists was 91 degrees Fahrenheit. Hot, yes, but not hotter than temperatures games are played in during Japan Korea 2002, USA 94, and any MLS match played in the summer months.

Here's a link.

http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/pastweather/CHXX0008?from=tenDay_topnav_business

[Alberto]

Donovan treats the refs worse than Messi, is he an arrogant prick?


He's a wimpy pu$$y.

[vancity eagle]

Sorry but b^*^s*^&.

This was a better team, but talent wise it it just as talented as the 1996 team.

sorry Maruti but I have to agree with Antonio on this one. This team was better coached and better tactically than the 1996 team. They also played more as a team having better chemistry, but no way was this team even close to being as talented as 1996.

Guys like Okocha, and Kanu are both legends, they are world class players whose skills can be matched by only a few players in the world. To have both of these guys on the field at the same time is immense. We didn't have any players this year even close to these guys. Not to mention that fullbacks were our weakness this year, we had Babayaro who was very good at the time, despite how badly he fell off later. Also Sunday Oliseh, Taribo West, Amokachie, Amunike, Victor Ikpeba. Sorry the two teams are not even close in terms of talent. 2008 team still has ballers, but not close. However this just goes to show you that team chemistry, tactics, and organization are just as important if not more important than talent. This was a much less talented Nigeria going up against a Argentina most likely better than their 96 team, and being very close to getting a result.

either way, mix the best of these olympic players with our other guys, and the world better watch out in 2010. We can do serious damage. Provided we qualify of course.

[Maruti]

Alberto:
Two things
1. Matches are seldomly played at noon, when the sun is at its highest. Playing the game later in the day means the sun is lower, the stadium offers more shade and you don't have a feeling like you on a frying pan. World Cup games in 2002 or 1994 were played at 15:30 earliest, whilst semi and finals were played at 8 pm.

2. The outside temperature was much lower, but inside a stadium in full sun the temperature can rise by up to 15 degrees. It like a big heater with air cumulating in a niche and being intensyfied.

[Alberto]

sorry Maruti but I have to agree with Antonio on this one. This team was better coached and better tactically than the 1996 team. They also played more as a team having better chemistry, but no way was this team even close to being as talented as 1996.

Guys like Okocha, and Kanu are both legends, they are world class players whose skills can be matched by only a few players in the world. To have both of these guys on the field at the same time is immense. We didn't have any players this year even close to these guys. Not to mention that fullbacks were our weakness this year, we had Babayaro who was very good at the time, despite how badly he fell off later. Also Sunday Oliseh, Taribo West, Amokachie, Amunike, Victor Ikpeba. Sorry the two teams are not even close in terms of talent. 2008 team still has ballers, but not close. However this just goes to show you that team chemistry, tactics, and organization are just as important if not more important than talent. This was a much less talented Nigeria going up against a Argentina most likely better than their 96 team, and being very close to getting a result.

I agree with your post. The 1996 team did have more talent. What this team has is organization and greater tactical sophistication. The days of the lapses on defense are gone. This will make both Nigeria and teams like the Ivory Coast and Cameroon more difficult to beat. Goal keeping is still an issue. It's not up to the talent in the other field positions.

[El viejo Matias]

To back Alberto - Messi really showed how high and mighty he is at halftime, when he started provoking several Nigerian players, who had no bad intentions. Messi sent out really bad vibes, whilst the Nigerians were surprised that there is some conflict. Body language.

I really fear for the guy... He is on his way to being an asshole. A brilliant asshole, on par talentwise with Maradona, but still...

I have not seen such blind assumption and accusation in a long time. Were you on the pitch perhaps to get the full story?? What was your jersey number?:rolleyes:
Does Messi dive? Im sure he has and will on occasion, but certainly not as much as many others, does he defend himself and talk back to the ref, yes finaly I always thought it was something missing in his game previously. Messi is a marked man, fouled more than many others he has to use "tactics" to gain an advantage this is sport at the highest level not a game of cards over a cup of tea.

[Maruti]

Guys like Okocha, and Kanu are both legends, they are world class players whose skills can be matched by only a few players in the world. To have both of these guys on the field at the same time is immense. We didn't have any players this year even close to these guys. Not to mention that fullbacks were our weakness this year, we had Babayaro who was very good at the time, despite how badly he fell off later. Also Sunday Oliseh, Taribo West, Amokachie, Amunike, Victor Ikpeba. Sorry the two teams are not even close in terms of talent. 2008 team still has ballers, but not close. However this just goes to show you that team chemistry, tactics, and organization are just as important if not more important than talent. This was a much less talented Nigeria going up against a Argentina most likely better than their 96 team, and being very close to getting a result.

I just can't agree. Adefemi and Okonkwo were both very good foing up. Of course Okonkwo is nowhere as brillaint as Taiwo, which is the best left back in Nigerian history (and Okonkwo isn't even a leftback), but Adefemi is up there as an excellent rightback. Nonetheless they hardly left their half this game simply because that was the tactical game. Yes. Okonkwo isn't up there with Babyaro, but Adefemi definitely has that potential to be be a world class player, which he showed in several games.

Additionally Ogbuke and Odemwingie has as much talent as most of those guys in 1996, if not more. Apam and Dele are up there with West if not better, as they have been absolute rocks at the back.

I guess Amunike at his prime is a hard man to beat, as he was at one time the best left winger in the world, but I see a lot of potential in Ajilore. Ikpeba and Amokachi are similar level as Anichebe and Obinna.

The main difference between this squad and that one? You said it yourself. The 1996 team are legends. Hence its hard to subjectively compare the two, as there is two much additional content placed on the players from 1996. This This one is young and you can only really compare them when they also become history.

Nonetheless the inspiring thing is, that finally we see a Nigeria squad with potential. And to think this squad can be boosted with Enyeama, Kalu's and with several youngsters from the u17 squad.

[vancity eagle]

I agree with your post. The 1996 team did have more talent. What this team has is organization and greater tactical sophistication. The days of the lapses on defense are gone. This will make both Nigeria and teams like the Ivory Coast and Cameroon more difficult to beat. Goal keeping is still an issue. It's not up to the talent in the other field positions.

It shouldn't be an issue for Nigeria. This olympic keeper is a good shot stopper, in fact really good, but he made stupid mistakes all tournament directly responsible for 3 goals.

1) v Japan - kicked ball right to Japan with a poor clearance, resulting in goal
2) v USA - gifting a PK by rashly comming out when there was no need to with 3 defenders behind him.
3) v Argentina - comming out too far on Dimarias goal when he should have stood his ground more, as dimaria was slowly being edged to the outside and would have resorted to a shot from a wide angle.

either way Vanzekin is nowhere near playing for the full team. We have 3 keepers who are all relatively equal in ability, and they are all very solid. Nigerias keeper situation has never been this good as it is now. 0 goals conceeded in 4 WCQ games.

[Alberto]

I have not seen such blind assumption and accusation in a long time. Were you on the pitch perhaps to get the full story?? What was your jersey number?:rolleyes:
Does Messi dive? Im sure he has and will on occasion, but certainly not as much as many others, does he defend himself and talk back to the ref, yes finaly I always thought it was something missing in his game previously. Messi is a marked man, fouled more than many others he has to use "tactics" to gain an advantage this is sport at the highest level not a game of cards over a cup of tea.

Don't get defensive, Messi isn't the only Argentinian who dives and to be fair many other nations like Portugal and Italy are notable for their diving too.

[El viejo Matias]

It's getting harder and harder to like, much less root for Argentina. They are arrogant. They cheat and are sore losers too boot. I was hoping for a competitive match, which it was not. No more high noon starts.

IDIOT, sorry but I call it like I sees it. We did not cheat and were not losers so this whole post is a false waste of time. Arrogant?? No just proud holders of the gold medal, back to back gold medals to boot, sorry if to you this seems arrogant.

[El viejo Matias]

Don't get defensive, Messi isn't the only Argentinian who dives and to be fair many other nations like Portugal and Italy are notable for their diving too.

It says you support the US men's national team do you recal the game in 2006 between the USA and Italy?? Talk about cheating, arrogance and such, please move on would you.

[Maruti]

I have not seen such blind assumption and accusation in a long time. Were you on the pitch perhaps to get the full story?? What was your jersey number?:rolleyes:

Body language says it all. The Nigerian that approached Messi was nonaggressive. Messi reacted with pushes. Maybe a misunderstanding, but still doesn't say well about Messi.

Does Messi dive? Im sure he has and will on occasion, but certainly not as much as many others, does he defend himself and talk back to the ref, yes finaly I always thought it was something missing in his game previously. Messi is a marked man, fouled more than many others he has to use "tactics" to gain an advantage this is sport at the highest level not a game of cards over a cup of tea.

Did you read my post on Messi's diving? Apparently not, cuz your converting a believer....