Messis Golden Ball win backed Lionel Messi controversiallycollected the award after losing the World Cup final © Getty Images Enlarge Gerard Houllier has defended FIFAs controversial decision to name Lionel Messi the best player at the World Cup by saying he fully deserves the Golden Ball. There was a global outcry from media and fans after Messi was given the award following the defeat of his Argentina side to Germany in the World Cup final in which the Barcelona star had failed to live up to expectations. Previously the result of a poll between the worlds press and FIFAs Technical Study Group, Messis surprise win was the consequence of analysis by the latter body solely after footballs world governing body changed the voting process for the tournament in Brazil. Even FIFA president Sepp Blatter admitted he was surprised by the decision, which led to fans jeering when Messi walked up the steps to receive his award at the Maracana, but Houllier - a respected member of the Technical Study Group - feels the choice was fully justified. I understand that it has surprised, because everyone only remembers the second half of Lionel Messi in the final, the former Liverpool and Aston Villa manager told Le Monde. We, the commission, we look at all the games, and we judge that he was the most important man for his team. He went to the final, which is one of the conditions for the attribution of the trophy. Moreover, Messi was more than decisive in the first four games. In the semi-final against the Netherlands, he took the first penalty and scored. The analysis also takes into account the fact he was the captain of a united team. A team that played well together. Thats something we hadnt seen for a long time from Argentina. He was more than key in the squad and the way it was set up. For me, he fully deserves the Golden Ball given he took his team through to the final. Critics claimed Dutch star Arjen Robben or the tournaments top scorer, Colombias James Rodriguez, would have been more worthy winners. Houllier, however, explained neither had had a realistic chance. He said: Robben was exciting and very good, but he didnt carry so much weight with the team. He didnt score in either the semi-finals or the quarters. Even though he won the penalty against Mexico, he was much less influential in his teams play. James Rodriguez stopped too soon, just like Neymar or the other key player in the Albicelestes performance, Angel Di Maria. Di Maria might have been a very serious contender had he been able to go all the way. He was excellent, and very creative. Houllier added that Germanys Thomas Mueller, who struck five goals, had pushed Messi for the tournaments top individual prize. There was a competition between Muller and Messi, but I repeat, we looked at all seven matches. The final counted, but only at the same level as the other games, he said. Given the whole of the World Cup, the commission was unanimous that Lionel Messi win the trophy. I think public option was biased by the anti-Messi strategies of opposing teams, which caused him a lot of problems. Despite that, he almost always managed to get himself out of them. But everyone is entitled to their opinion. Read more at espn.co.uk/ football/sport/ story/ 325023.html#iwLv 8frlUbSCDfRf.99 Messis Golden Ball win backed espn.co.uk Gerard Houllier has defended FIFAs controversial decision to name Lionel Messi the best player at the World Cup by saying he fully deserves the Golden Ball Messis Golden Ball win backed espn.co.uk 1 hr Like· 28 Comments· Share 5 peoplelike this. View previous comments Dahvydov Olly D Amore concluding that messi deserve the award is like condemning the effort and performance of other players......isbetter they made the name adjustment of d award to legendary consolation award... Like·43 minutes ago Amosun Oluwadurotimi Olawale Why did Gerard Houllier defend FIFA and MESSI Like·40 minutes ago Harfeez Babalola Ayorbarmi Never expect everybody to move in d same direction wen it comes to a situatn like bcz dere ar surly anti-mercy(messi) in existence so b a fan nd nt a fanatic. Like·38 minutes ago Adewale Ogunkoya Likeness is it....if we want to judge or analyse dis shd b put aside.Even after d 2010 world best ws given to him and dea ws a nagging across d globe,d golden guy said after all he ddnt steal it frm anybiody N dat he ws voted for. If d trophy can be won tru votes,m sure argentina would av bin given,forcing pple to reason along compulsarily. Dea wldnt av bin a genuine german player dat played d 7 matches dat wld av deserved to lift d trophy. Wesley snigger ws in d heart of d dutch team dat clearly took dem to d final wt 5goal,his 2 goals personally eliminated brazil in d Q final,yet it ws diego follan dat went to fight for d 3rd placed dat won d golden ball. Dis issue shd rest,but m nt buying frm all dey are selling,up messi. Like·31 minutes ago Williams Tunde Yep very true,Mueller was not as crucial for the German as Messi was for the Argentines... Everybody played equal roles in that team but Messi was decisive for that team..... Only Mueller brings a strong argument but others no no! Like· 1·31 minutes ago Daniel Taiwo Fillz Thomas muller,Neur,Tony kross all worked collectively.Ifany of these players got injured it wont affect the German team,take messi out of dat Argentine team den u will see d difference.It doesnt matter if he scores in d knock out stage or not ,golden ball is for the best player of the tournament not the highest goal scorer Like·30 minutes ago Olatunbosun Abayomi Samuel every 1 is entitle 2 his / her opinion. lets leave cr7 out of dis. he is nt a contender at all bcuz everybody knows his team av noting 2 offer. theyre just lucky 2 qualify bcuz he was fit then. oma can not beat his chest n say messi deserve d award than injured di maria who carry d team more dan messi or james a new revelation in d wc. messi was picked 4 commercial purpose. even a blind person knew. Like·28 minutes ago Haastrup Adeyemi Jonathan What Messi has achieved and will achieve may not be matched by any other players for a long time. After 3 Champions League and so many titles, many refused to wish him well. Many supported Germany just cos of Messis Argentina. After he single-handedlycarried his team to the World Cup Final, C.Ronaldo disappointed his country, James Rodrigues, Robben & others couldnt make it while Muller & co were lucky to win World Cup. It will never be an argument of whether Messi worth the award or not. Had he won the Cup, he would have been the most important individual on planet earth. But God use his life to teach us a great lesson, that we cannot Win It All. Nobody can!!! He may end up wins 6 or 7 BallonDor & break many records. But One Thing is sure, When this Man Retires from Football...Hell be the greatest footballer the world has ever seen. Like· 3·26 minutes ago Olatunji Samuel Samaco Football is a team sport, so dat tels u dat no single tree cn mke a forest. Am sure dats those of u suportin Messi are barca fans nd u are blinded by dat. If Messi ddnt play at d world cup, u wl stil give him d golden ball. Not even Messi but Mascherano was by far d best nd most important 4 d Argentines thruout d knockout stages Like·17 minutes ago Olatunji Samuel Samaco All u Barca fans are comentin wit sentiment...nobody is sayn Messi is not a gr8 player but he dsnt dserve d golden ball in brazil 2014 world cup. A player who dsnt even register a shot on goal voted d player of d tournament? Like·8 minutes ago Write a comment... Comment Or attach a photo
Posted on: Thu, 17 Jul 2014 20:51:52 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015