I understand that Lamine's individual World Cup wasn't at the level many expected. But saying he had a poor tournament or didn't contribute to Spain's triumph is a ridiculous thing to say.
Lamine's presence alone changes games. Even when he doesn't touch the ball, his mere presence forces opponents to constantly double or even triple mark him. That means fewer defenders around Rodri, Olmo, Oyarzabal, Baena and everyone else. Spain's positional play becomes much easier simply because of the attention Lamine attracts.
And it's not like he was invisible on the ball either. Even without piling up goals and assists, he constantly created danger, beat defenders, found teammates with brilliant passes into the box, combined really well with Porro and also won the crucial penalty against France in the semifinal.
De La Fuente said Lamine had to play a different role for the good of the team. I think this is exactly what he meant.
Whether people want to admit it or not, Spain doesn't win this World Cup without Lamine.
If Messi wins the World Cup, fine and weโll deserved, but Messiโs World Cup almost serves no purpose. Nothing happens with it. No talking points, no debate, same old story, no new chapters just good ol nothingness. Who do I even cook with it, he!! what will be the narrative even? Even he canโt cook anyone anymore.
Okay I call him the goat for the umpteenth time, so what? ๐๐คฃ
Rio Ferdinand said he hasn't seen a yellow card review before.
This is the same id!ot who think Ronaldo is better than Messi.
When you don't watch other games, you are expected to talk like the id!ot you are!
Hereโs a review. ๐ค
๐จ Thibaut Courtois: "We have PUNISHED the DISRESPECT that the Americans have shown us in the last few days.
I was way more confident we'd beat the USA than I was of beating Senegal, simply because Senegal are a MUCH better team than the USA."
๐๐ป ๐ท๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฐ ๐ต๐ผ๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝ๐ฟ๐, ๐๐๐ผ ๐น๐ฒ๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐ ๐น๐ฒ๐ณ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ถ๐ด๐ด๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ ๐
In the space of 24 hours, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar played their final matches at a World Cup ๐ฅบ
I wasn't ready for this... and I don't think I ever will be ๐ญ
๐จ| ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐: Spain become the first team in HISTORY to keep SIX successive clean sheets in the menโs World Cup. ๐ช๐ธ๐งฑ
๐ง๐ท๐จRoberto Carlos on Neymar Jr. crying after the final whistle:
๐ฃ๏ธ โI felt so bad seeing Neymar Jr. cry after the final whistle. Heโs the type of player who wouldโve given absolutely everything for Brazil. Maybe the coach didnโt fully believe in him, but when he came on, he still showed his composure and quality.โ
๐ฃ๏ธ โIโve always admired Neymar and everything heโs has achieved in football. The level heโs reached is something very few players will ever experience.โ
๐ฃ๏ธ โWinning the World Cup is special, but it doesnโt define a playerโs entire career. Some of the greatest players in history never lifted it.โ
๐ฃ๏ธ โTrust me, generations will still remember Neymar as one of the greatest footballers to ever wear the Brazil shirt. His legacy was built a long time ago, not today.โ
๐ฃ๏ธ โFor me, heโs a legend, no matter what. Nothing that happened today will ever change that.โ
Carried the worst generation of Brazil for a decade. Scored more goals for Brazil than anyone else in their history. Gave everything for the badge until the very end. Even in defeat, his final touch for Brazil was a goal.
Obrigado Neymar. You were bigger than the stars ๐ง๐ทโจ