Di Maria: “Before the start of each game, he [Messi] spoke. But his last speech was different, he lost his mind.”
Lisandro: “I wanted to go out and eat the entire pitch.”
Ayala:"I remember it and it makes my hair stand on end."
That was the difference. Messi being quicker to anticipate the deflection and winning that ball, and England being slow to go pressure him in space. Kids and coaches should study this play. Not for the perfect cross and header, but for what preceded it. Hustle and anticipation
Rewatched that last goal a bunch of times in slow motion. The initial shot goes off the post and both Messi and the other Argentina player react immediately to try to get the deflected ball. Spence and the other English defender are slow to react. Messi thus beats Spence to the ball and takes it outside to draw him out and then to the byline for the cross. Spence is slow to go out and the other defender doesn’t go out at all. Messi gets off a perfect cross that missed the head of the English center back by an inch maybe… and Argentina slams it in.
@CoachBeede If you have a great opportunity to play the sport you love at an institution you fit and fits you, seize it. Don’t second guess. Carpe diem.