22 World Cup, possibly Messi's last? Argentina's dream of winning the title has finally come true
In the 2022 World Cup, Messi and his Argentine team have finally achieved their dream. It is also very likely to be Messi's last World Cup. Although many fans hope that Messi can lead the team to the World Cup in the Americas in 2026, Messi, who is now in trouble at the club, does not know what the next World Cup will be.
Looking at the five World Cups in which Messi has participated, it can be said that it is not easy to lead the team to win the championship in 22 years. Whether compared with the champions of the past four times or with Argentina in the past four times, this Argentina team is not an absolute strength, but Messi still leads the team to win the championship single-handedly, which shows how difficult it is.
2006 World Cup: Argentina and immature Messi
The 2006 World Cup was Messi's first World Cup appearance. He also scored his first World Cup goal against Serbia. Messi was still relatively immature. What the 19-year-old has is the future. In the minds of many fans, the Argentina team at that time was even stronger than the one that won the championship.
Many people were optimistic about Argentina that year's World Cup because they were so strong! Defensive end Abondancelli, Cambiaso, Mascherano; On the offensive end, Riquelme, Crespo, Saviola. At that time, Inter's Zanetti and Samuel and Veron were not yet selected for the national team for various reasons.
At that time, the core of that national team was Riquelme, and the head coach was also the three-time world junior champion Pekelman. That team was even called the last gorgeous Argentina team.
However, the team's shortcoming was that the back line was not tall enough, and they went all the way but lost to Germany and fell outside the final four.
At that time, Messi was not yet the core of the team, so he could not talk about the ability to lead the team. Riquelme played a gorgeous attack with Argentina, but his contribution to the team's defensive end has been criticized, and he has become a classic swan song in the front with little defense.
That team was able to play mercury offense repeatedly, but was not good at playing tough battles and lost consecutive finals.
If the lineup at that time was paired with the peak Messi, I really can't imagine what it would be like. Of course, the problem is that the peak Messi cannot make Riquelme the core of the team, but at both ends of the offensive and defensive ends, that team is even better than the current Argentina team, but still cannot win the title.
Looking at the champion Italy of that year, Italy can be said to have taken defensive football to the extreme in 2006. The "reinforced concrete defense" cost them a total of 2 goals in that World Cup, one of which was an own goal and one was a penalty. Sports wars, they hardly give their opponents any chance. Lippi's wisdom was arguably the key to the team's victory. Buffon, Cannavaro, Nesta, De Rossi, Pirlo, Totti and Piero are arguably the last treasures left to the Italian team during the Little World Cup.
2010 World Cup: the best Messi and the chaos of Argentina
Before the start of the 2010 World Cup, almost everyone thought Spain could win the title. Even though they lost to Switzerland in their first World Cup group stage, no one doubted them. Tika-taka's style of play is unique. Spain built the team with Barcelona as the team, and Habaib's excellent performance and Puyol and Ramos' defense at the back. Such a Spanish team can be said to be a dream team. At that time, many people were saying that if Messi had won the World Cup in Spain, he would have won the World Cup.
What was Argentina like in 10 years? The team was a mess and narrowly missed qualifying for the World Cup. Maradona, a rookie coach, brings more moral support to the team. The team's back line is much lower than the previous edition. There are even a couple of big colanders playing the main force in Argentina.
But 10 years of Messi is the best Messi. Messi, who has won the La Liga Golden Boot and the European Golden Boot, the top scorer in the Champions League and the world footballer of the year, is in great form. But strangely, Messi didn't score a single goal in that World Cup.
Against their old rival Germany, Argentina was even beaten 4-0 by their opponents and could not fight back, which was also related to a major mistake in Maradona's tactical arrangement.
The best Messi was in no form and Argentina ended the World Cup in chaos.
World Cup 2014: Bringing together the best teams is fateful
In the 2014 World Cup, Messi found his form and played well overall. But you know, this is definitely not the best Messi. From August '13, Messi's hamstring and muscles suffered four injuries in three months, missing most of the first half of the 2013-14 season. At the end of that season, Messi almost went to Chelsea, but chose to extend his contract until 2018.
However, Argentina at that time, under the leadership of the old manager Savilla, the team achieved the ultimate balance between attack and defense. In that tournament, Argentina did not even win more than one goal in a game, and of course, the final defeat was also a small 0-1 loss.
In terms of gorgeousness, it is completely incomparable to the mercury-stricken Argentina in '06. On the contrary, it is somewhat similar to the team that won the championship in 22.
In that final, facing old rival Germany, Argentina was not without chance, but the two masters played intractably, and Goetze's flash of inspiration ended Argentina. Di Maria's absence was also a key factor in the team's defeat.
And the German team of that session was the result of years of hard work. The team as a whole seems to have no absolute superstars, but everyone is a quality star. The team built with Bayern as the team is naturally not weak.
Sometimes I think that if Messi wins the World Cup in '14, maybe whether he will play in '22 has to put a question mark.
2018: Argentina with constant infighting
In 2018, one team was born – the talented French team. This team has been optimistic about them almost before the World Cup. The strength on paper is definitely the strongest. The final result was indeed as expected.
The Argentine team was troubled internally and externally at that time, Messi was four years older, the team's coach could not control the dressing room, and the football association had scandals of blind command. And such a team played a sluggish group stage, barely qualified and was eliminated by the final champion France.
It is precisely because of the 18-year defeat that people feel that it is difficult for Messi's career, which has gone downhill, to have a World Cup. And how long will Argentina have to wait for the next Messi. Maybe God is like this, when you are already desperate, it has given you a miracle.