Not a good showing by the US last night, and I'm not sure if they can progress further under Klinsman.

 

The tactics last night by the US were baffling, in the seeming lack of them.  

 

They tried to press high, but as soon as any member of their midfield got possession, they looked as if they suddenly realized "we're playing Argentina, OMFG!!!!" and just booted possession away.

 

Constantly tried a long ball tactic, which could work against a possession team...IF you have a big target man!  Unfortunately they don't, they've got Clint Dempsey.  Far too many turn overs.

 

Think it's Argentina's to win.  But tonight's game should be a good one.  Chile v Colombia. 

Chile defeat Colombia 2-0 and advance to the final.

Ospina was amazing this tournament. Here's an example from last night.

Here's a penalty save with his foot from earlier.

Wow, Messi does a Roberto Baggio in the penalty shoot out.

It would take a pretty cold heart to not feel for Messi when he sat on the pitch crying.

Another international tournament, another Argentine failure. It is utterly bizarre to me that Argentina haven't won a senior tournament in my lifetime yet Greece have.

It would take a pretty cold heart to not feel for Messi when he sat on the pitch crying.

 

And Messi quits International football.

And Messi quits International football.

 

& Mascherano will join him

Messi is a sook! Talk about throwing your toys out of the cot.

Actually shocked that he's retired from international football.

Messi is a sook! Talk about throwing your toys out of the cot.

Actually shocked that he's retired from international football.

He will play in Russia , he will be 31 and will come back

TBF, I did read some stuff that Messi does not like what is going on w/ the AFA. Maybe that has something to do w/ all of these retirement stories coming from Argentina at the moment.

He will play in Russia , he will be 31 and will come back

That's his 4th loss for them in a major final, it's possible now he has conceded this Argentina side cannot beat Europe's best in Russia and he just couldn't stomach another heartbreak.

TBF, I did read some stuff that Messi does not like what is going on w/ the AFA. Maybe that has something to do w/ all of these retirement stories coming from Argentina at the moment.

Yeah, basically all the veterans on the team have said they're retiring. The fact that so many of them are "retiring" makes me think that few of them actually are. I think Mascherano may be serious given his age.

Apparently the Argentinian football association is corrupt, incompetent, and all around f**ked up. Basically a mini FIFA. This could be posturing by the players to effect some change.

On the other hand, it's not easy being Messi when it comes to the Argentina media and public, and Messi is probably sick and tired of that. He can never please them. They feel like he owes them something. The New York Times had a telling article on it.

http://nyti.ms/Stamc1

Messi is living in Maradona's shadow in the eyes of the Argentinian public so that isn't easy, but I suppose he's a victim of such high expectations due to his calibre as being one of the best football players in the modern era and in some eyes the greatest of all time.

 

I think retiring is seen to be the easy way out however, unless there's corruption within the Argentinian Football Association as some have hinted that has pushed him to this decision.

 

The champions of the game always find ways to overcome adversity and I think when he retires all together this may be a small blemish on a distinguished career when people look back on his career and analyse in his overall standing in the game.

He won't retire. I bet we'll see Messi in WC2018.

He can't really win. Dragging his team into final and then bad luck and again all eyes on him. I feel sorry for the man. All time best already in my eyes.

I can't believe he is giving up on international football at the age of 29, that is throwing in the towel too early.

I think retiring is seen to be the easy way out however, unless there's corruption within the Argentinian Football Association as some have hinted that has pushed him to this decision.

This is precisely the type of attitude that would drive Messi away from the Argentina team. He's probably having the most difficult day of his life football wise, and people are accusing him of taking the easy way out.

The champions of the game always find ways to overcome adversity and I think when he retires all together this may be a small blemish on a distinguished career when people look back on his career and analyse in his overall standing in the game.

By "find ways to overcome adversity" I presume you mean win titles for Argentina. You don't mean moving to a new country at the age of 12 and being so depressed that he cried himself to sleep every night, giving himself injections daily for years due to a medical problem, and carrying the pressure of a country that abuses him for anything less than perfection yet also abuses him for achieving that perfection because he did it outside the country.

Great athletes don't always win in the end. Tell that to the Olympian who won 6 silver medals. Or to the swimmer who missed out on an Olympic spot by less than 0.10 seconds FOUR times.

If this is what Messi has to look forward to whether he retires or not, I can't blame him for taking what you say is the "easy way out".