http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...ctory-in-enthralling-final.html#disqus_thread World Cup 2014: Bastian Schweinsteiger drives Germany to victory in enthralling final Germany's midfield titan Bastian Schweinsteiger ensures his country finally tastes glory after a World Cup final against Argentina where no quarter was given As the substitutes and coaching staff tore onto the pitch he lay on the turf bloodied, battered, barely able to comprehend, utterly exhausted. But not beaten. No way. The final whistle had gone. Germany had triumphed and for all the admiring talk of this vibrant young team, for the brilliance of Mario Götze’s wonderful volleyed goal deep into extra-time, this World Cup had been won by Bastian Schweinsteiger. On the eve of the final he had spoken in admiration of Argentina’s Javier Mascherano, “the leader of the pack of wolves” Schweinsteiger had called him, and this was a dog-eat-dog encounter which was brutally attritional from the moment Ezequiel Garay had left Christoph Kramer dazed and concussed with a fierce, unpunished shoulder barge. Kramer was making his first competitive start for Germany – in a World Cup final – because Sami Khedira was cruelly injured in the warm-up. With Toni Kroos struggling disappointingly it meant that even more of the responsibility fell on Schweinsteiger. His performance was extraordinary. Two Argentina players, Mascherano and Sergio Agüero, could have been sent off because of their desperate efforts to stop the 29‑year-old who got stronger and more defiant as he drove his team forward. At that whistle Schweinsteiger, when he finally was able to drag himself up, hugged Lukas Podolski and clenched his fist. Eyes squeezed tightly shut, deep in his thoughts. This meant so much. It was not a classic final but it was enthralling all the same because no quarter was given. The outstanding performers were the defenders – there were epic displays from Garay and Pablo Zabaleta and for Germany there was Jérôme Boateng and Philipp Lahm – as they thwarted attack after attack. Above all there was Schweinsteiger. No one won the ball more than he did, no one passed it more successfully, or more often, as he pushed Germany on in the face of growing adversity as they lost Khedira, as they lost Kramer, as Kroos almost gifted Gonzalo Higuaín a goal and as Mats Hummels cramped up so badly that he could barely walk. Schweinsteiger redoubled his efforts. There were three amazing moments in extra-time alone. As he ran with the ball not just Mascherano but also Lucas Biglia launched at him, he was double-teamed and doubled up and Mascherano was fortunate to survive when he should have received a second caution. Then Agüero, also on a yellow card, caught him in the face and with blood streaming from his head Schweinsteiger was taken to the touchline, berating the world. He was again lying down, his legs twitching with pain as he was stitched up. Finally he desperately stopped a last Argentina attack, limped off, back turned, hands on hips, a picture of pain, unable to straighten his body as Lionel Messi’s free-kick sailed high over the crossbar. And all this from a player who has been hampered by serious injury, who came into this World Cup struggling for fitness with damaged knees and with coach Joachim Löw doubting whether he could last 90 minutes, interchanging him with Khedira as he nursed them both back. This triumph owed much to Löw’s assured coaching, his preparation and bold tactics as well as the innate talent of his squad. It may not have been an open final, a free-scoring game, but Löw refused to follow the route taken by Louis Van Gaal in Holland’s semi-final against Argentina when the Dutch coach tried to stop Messi by man-marking him with Nigel de Jong and stifling the space. Löw would not be so negative. Löw oozed positivity beforehand predicting that whatever the result Germany could dominate world football for years to come and there is a body of evidence to support that claim in the impressive group of young players he has helped assemble with the likes of Manuel Neuer, Boateng, Kroos, Khedira, Götze, Thomas Müller, André Schürrle, Julian Draxler, Mesut Özil – the list goes on. But there is also that old warrior Schweinsteiger. The ultimate midfielder in the world’s best midfield, who not only collected his 107th cap but also something far more precious, something that has eluded him and Germany throughout his career: a winner’s medal. Adorned with his club Bayern Munich, with Bundesliga and Champions League titles, he has fallen short with Germany. Euro 2004, the World Cup in 2006, Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 – Schweinsteiger played in them all and came so close in them all. This may not be his last World Cup but it must have felt like his best opportunity. How he took it. Schweinsteiger was first up the steps as the medals were presented, also, a deep dark welt below his eye where Agüero had caught him and a fresh shirt on his back. Then the celebrations began. Germany were worthy champions and Schweinsteiger, who cradled that World Cup longer than anyone, the symbol of that victory and what the uncompromising lengths it had taken to earn it.
Was anyone else amused by Higuain's monstrous celebration after the offside goal. Him and Rojo were the only two who did not know the flag was raised and they were going bananas. He botched two fantastic chances for Argentina. One where he was one on one with the keeper after the boneheaded Kroos giveaway and he did not even hit the target. The other where he did not keep himself on-side. That was a perfect pass. I have watched him since his Real Madrid days and he is not very good at all. Wastes a lot of really good chances.
LMAO Messi once again gets media hyped and recieves an award that deep down he probably himself knows that he should not be holding it. I was watching Messi closely last night and I have always thought about this but last night confirmed it. He is pretty much a passenger when the opposition has the ball. He just strolls around the park letting the others esp Mascheranho scramble and do every bit of defending. Back to the point, Germany's fortunes changed when they moved Lahm out of central midfield to the right back position and removed the slow Mighty Sucker. The award should have gone to Schweinsteiger or even Mueller.
If you don't like Messi, watching him have to hang out on the pitch to receive that award after that loss should have been very fun. He looked miserable.
Congratulations to GERMANY, being able to capture the Cup in foreign soil. It is no wonder that their preparation and adaptation to Brazilian land allowed them to win it all, after having the talent and team to take it fair and square. #NOERAPENAL
But you could say that about many attacking midfielders throughout history. Messi is not the only one that's a passenger when the opposition has the ball. (Although, Rox1 and Reeko can confirm this for me, I don't feel he plays that way when with Barcelona. He actually seems to get back and try to pressure the opposition).
Yung-T and ATW, why are your boys letting Rihanna get all groupie over them??? I mean, she's ok and all but damn, getting Mesut Ozil to send over his game-worn shirt. Hanging out with them at the party. When did this Rihanna-Germany lovefest begin?
Quote from Drake. I mean he openly admits to it. People keep hating on him, but he's better than those people that follow LeBron around and try to claim that they've been a fan of whatever team he's been on.
Totally missing that.... World Cup is trademarked I guess We need a thread for the FIBA World Championships
Some of them think she's hot and they like her music, that's all. And a joint friend of ours got her into the party.
TBH, he has never been one to come back on defense or pressure the opponents, however, he has always made up for it with stellar attacking performances. I think we all learned to accept that, as we (at least I do) much rather have him creating chaos at top than hustling back to defend. They are only humans after all and they play tons of games so you have to be smart about the way you play the game. Having said that, criticism started a little bit more than a year ago, right before the Barca-Bayern semis for the ECL. He was coming back from injury and forced himself to play against PSG (which we won cuz of him) well that's hardly ever a good decision as most likely the injury would be re-aggravated. He hasn't been the same ever since (minus a few games here and there). Having carried Barca for most of the past 6 years, most of us were OK with him not being a 100% in it as it was World Cup year and rumors were he was trying to avoid another injury. Fast forward to the WC and he was still playing the same way, so, I really don't know what's going on with him. It's a serious concern, TBH. In short, he has always been lazy on defense but has made up for it in goals/assists. Nowadays, he is lazy on defense and seems to be out of it in attack as well. Here's to him coming back strong in 14-15!!
