World Cup: Final!
GERMANY!!!!!!! Yes!!! I've lived to witness this! In 1990 I was too young to remember anyway, so this is aweeesomme! Especially after last time and some crap in the Euros. I've felt for a while that Germany have the potential to be the best, but the trainer's choices have really got on my nerves and I have been convinced that Germany would win, but not with this trainer. Guess he learned, or I'm super wrong or both. But I'll eat my words regarding Löw anyway. He made some good choices this time and hasn't been afraid to change tactics (changing Lahm's position was smart) and he told Götze to go out there and show everyone that he is better than Messi. Firstly, kudos for that encouragement and secondly, he scored that one goal :) Also, I love that a player with the last name Götze scored against a team known for "the Hand of God". (Or a "Messiah" XDD)
First time as unified Germany, first European team to win the World Cup on American soil and to get there they beat the two big South American teams. :) Congrats, Germany!! You deserved it!!
On another note.. I missed Reus during the entire tournament and wish he had been there. Not because he would have helped Germany (although I think he would have), but because he is one of the best and deserved to be there. :( It's such a pity... and chances like this don't come often. Luck is always involved as well. In the final, both Germany and Argentina had some really good chances, although Germany had better ones (and Argentina's were mostly thanks to Germany being so offensive), but it was so, so close... Both teams (besides Messi for ARG) gave it their all and really kept that excitement... Gooosh.. I was so nervous... When Germany scored, I could almost feel it.. but was actually even more nervous.. and then.. the injury time continued for way too long, but I was waiting for that darn whistle and our commentator to announce that Germany were World Champions. OMG! How amazing. :D And I'm not even German. :) Seeing the ecstatic German players was great! I'm so happy for the team and the whole of Germany... and anyone else really rooting for Germany. :)
Messi's Golden Ball.. Hahhaha. Called it! But not because he deserved it, and he didn't, and even looked ashamed receiving it, but because people have this preconceived notion that Messi is the best no matter what he does. Oh... and it's the adidas Golden Ball.. and guess whom they sponsor?? To me, Messi was not even the best player on his team. THAT to me was Mascherano, who was amazing and I think he has got some recognition as well even if the majority can't help but jump on the Messi bandwagon. I feel it's actually unfair to heap so much responsibility and hope onto someone, who really hasn't got the mental strength to take it or lead a team. Messi is an exceptional player, but he's no leader or bringer of hope. I dislike him a lot, but part of it is due to the ridiculous hype he can't do anything about. I guess stripping the captain's armband and giving it to Mascherano would be too much.. So bleh.. But it was pretty telling to have the Argentine team, huddled sans Messi(who just walked off, though the coach was still talking) before extra time, whereas on the German side both Lahm and Schweinsteiger (captain and vice captain) were advising and psyching their team along with Löw. Like seriously.. WTF, Messi? Do you KNOW what it means to be a captain? Or part of a team?? Another telling moment was the free kick, which was, I guess, Messi in a nutshell. He was going for that kick. to be the hero he was expected to be, but he just doesn't have the mental strength to be that.
On the other side there is Germany.. Players are injured, out with a concussion (OMG poor Kramer. He gets his chance to be in the staring line up and is knocked out. :( )... the one who decides the match is a sub, because anyone from Germany's team can decide the match for them and it doesn't matter who scores.. They're a freaking TEAM and they all together are responsible for their success. They all take part in defending and attacking and work well together. Nobody has more responsibility than anyone else or super set roles.. heck.. we've seen Neuer as a defender and Boateng in the final was a goalkeeper. Hummels, a central defender, scored as many goals as Klose and Götze. And sometimes you can see the team just so, so tired, because they're just working so hard... like in the game against Ghana (that was just so, so much running) and even the final.. (You don't see them walking.. Seriously, WTF with Messi's walking?)
But to Argentina's credit, they definitely showed why they should be in the final and I think that they were so much better than four years ago. Maradona then just really couldn't grasp the fact that his "everything around Messi" tactic didn't work. Portugal didn't fare well, because of a similar tactic (and really bad luck). So yeah, Argentina definitely seemed more like a team than a few others, but they had nothing on Germany's team.. Maybe, if Messi were part of it instead of an appendage (a really powerful appendage) Or maybe, just maybe.. people could start treating Argentina as team Argentina not team Messi. Their defensive was well organised and while their offence wasn't that great, they had some good ideas. They were Germany's toughest opponent (IMO) and gave them a run for their money. It could have gone their way as well, but I'm glad it didn't.
Neuer's Golde Glove: So, so deserved. (Although Navas was awesome) He should have been a contendor for the Golden Ball, but oh well..
Yay for Müller and Robben for getting the silver and Bronze Balls.. If that means anything. I don't know.. It was pretty hard to choose. Robben really shone for his team although other players on that team had their moments, but nobody was as consistent and noteworthy as Robben. He, along with some other players like Rodríguez or Navas, were big reasons for their teams' success, if one would pick out a player to "carry their team". (And no, Messi is not that.) Müller.. He does so much work and creates chances for himself and his teammates.. he doesn't stand out as obviously as Robben among the Dutch, but that is because the German team is more even. They have just so much quality that they're not as dependent as the Dutch on an invividual player. I don't think Argentina is either, or they shouldn't be.. but unfortunately hype etc. makes it out like that.
Honestly though, these awards should NOT be decided before the final. I mean... as if a player from the losing team is going to be happy about it or not think that it should go to someone from the WINNING team? Such BS.
I wanted Müller to make history with his second consecutive golden shoe, but apparently James Rodríguez was really stoked about winning and Müller doesn't really give a rats arse about it, so I'm cool as well. :) Most importantly of course. Germany won. :)
My Mum got bored and went to bed, because she didn't think Germany was doing enough (that's when I knew Germany had a chance. XDD) She stayed up much longer to watch the whole Brazil-Germany game.
I think Argentina gets its name from the word "silver".
The next day, my Dad took out a book by Nietszche (I had given him for Christmas I think)..
Götzen-Dämmerung. :D :D
I loved the compilation of the best moments in the World Cup at the end of the (our) broadcast
There are Germany shirts with the fourth star.. :D I want one of those!! I only have one Germany shirt (Lahm) and that's from 2008. I think I'd want one without any name of a player... I really love Germany's second colours though. :)
First time as unified Germany, first European team to win the World Cup on American soil and to get there they beat the two big South American teams. :) Congrats, Germany!! You deserved it!!
On another note.. I missed Reus during the entire tournament and wish he had been there. Not because he would have helped Germany (although I think he would have), but because he is one of the best and deserved to be there. :( It's such a pity... and chances like this don't come often. Luck is always involved as well. In the final, both Germany and Argentina had some really good chances, although Germany had better ones (and Argentina's were mostly thanks to Germany being so offensive), but it was so, so close... Both teams (besides Messi for ARG) gave it their all and really kept that excitement... Gooosh.. I was so nervous... When Germany scored, I could almost feel it.. but was actually even more nervous.. and then.. the injury time continued for way too long, but I was waiting for that darn whistle and our commentator to announce that Germany were World Champions. OMG! How amazing. :D And I'm not even German. :) Seeing the ecstatic German players was great! I'm so happy for the team and the whole of Germany... and anyone else really rooting for Germany. :)
Messi's Golden Ball.. Hahhaha. Called it! But not because he deserved it, and he didn't, and even looked ashamed receiving it, but because people have this preconceived notion that Messi is the best no matter what he does. Oh... and it's the adidas Golden Ball.. and guess whom they sponsor?? To me, Messi was not even the best player on his team. THAT to me was Mascherano, who was amazing and I think he has got some recognition as well even if the majority can't help but jump on the Messi bandwagon. I feel it's actually unfair to heap so much responsibility and hope onto someone, who really hasn't got the mental strength to take it or lead a team. Messi is an exceptional player, but he's no leader or bringer of hope. I dislike him a lot, but part of it is due to the ridiculous hype he can't do anything about. I guess stripping the captain's armband and giving it to Mascherano would be too much.. So bleh.. But it was pretty telling to have the Argentine team, huddled sans Messi(who just walked off, though the coach was still talking) before extra time, whereas on the German side both Lahm and Schweinsteiger (captain and vice captain) were advising and psyching their team along with Löw. Like seriously.. WTF, Messi? Do you KNOW what it means to be a captain? Or part of a team?? Another telling moment was the free kick, which was, I guess, Messi in a nutshell. He was going for that kick. to be the hero he was expected to be, but he just doesn't have the mental strength to be that.
On the other side there is Germany.. Players are injured, out with a concussion (OMG poor Kramer. He gets his chance to be in the staring line up and is knocked out. :( )... the one who decides the match is a sub, because anyone from Germany's team can decide the match for them and it doesn't matter who scores.. They're a freaking TEAM and they all together are responsible for their success. They all take part in defending and attacking and work well together. Nobody has more responsibility than anyone else or super set roles.. heck.. we've seen Neuer as a defender and Boateng in the final was a goalkeeper. Hummels, a central defender, scored as many goals as Klose and Götze. And sometimes you can see the team just so, so tired, because they're just working so hard... like in the game against Ghana (that was just so, so much running) and even the final.. (You don't see them walking.. Seriously, WTF with Messi's walking?)
But to Argentina's credit, they definitely showed why they should be in the final and I think that they were so much better than four years ago. Maradona then just really couldn't grasp the fact that his "everything around Messi" tactic didn't work. Portugal didn't fare well, because of a similar tactic (and really bad luck). So yeah, Argentina definitely seemed more like a team than a few others, but they had nothing on Germany's team.. Maybe, if Messi were part of it instead of an appendage (a really powerful appendage) Or maybe, just maybe.. people could start treating Argentina as team Argentina not team Messi. Their defensive was well organised and while their offence wasn't that great, they had some good ideas. They were Germany's toughest opponent (IMO) and gave them a run for their money. It could have gone their way as well, but I'm glad it didn't.
Neuer's Golde Glove: So, so deserved. (Although Navas was awesome) He should have been a contendor for the Golden Ball, but oh well..
Yay for Müller and Robben for getting the silver and Bronze Balls.. If that means anything. I don't know.. It was pretty hard to choose. Robben really shone for his team although other players on that team had their moments, but nobody was as consistent and noteworthy as Robben. He, along with some other players like Rodríguez or Navas, were big reasons for their teams' success, if one would pick out a player to "carry their team". (And no, Messi is not that.) Müller.. He does so much work and creates chances for himself and his teammates.. he doesn't stand out as obviously as Robben among the Dutch, but that is because the German team is more even. They have just so much quality that they're not as dependent as the Dutch on an invividual player. I don't think Argentina is either, or they shouldn't be.. but unfortunately hype etc. makes it out like that.
Honestly though, these awards should NOT be decided before the final. I mean... as if a player from the losing team is going to be happy about it or not think that it should go to someone from the WINNING team? Such BS.
I wanted Müller to make history with his second consecutive golden shoe, but apparently James Rodríguez was really stoked about winning and Müller doesn't really give a rats arse about it, so I'm cool as well. :) Most importantly of course. Germany won. :)
My Mum got bored and went to bed, because she didn't think Germany was doing enough (that's when I knew Germany had a chance. XDD) She stayed up much longer to watch the whole Brazil-Germany game.
I think Argentina gets its name from the word "silver".
The next day, my Dad took out a book by Nietszche (I had given him for Christmas I think)..
Götzen-Dämmerung. :D :D
I loved the compilation of the best moments in the World Cup at the end of the (our) broadcast
There are Germany shirts with the fourth star.. :D I want one of those!! I only have one Germany shirt (Lahm) and that's from 2008. I think I'd want one without any name of a player... I really love Germany's second colours though. :)