Good analysis on the red card.
Sadly this game reduced my opinion of Messi. If he has been relying on a team that is playing a foul and fight game to win the game, its good they did not win. Being the best player on a team of thugs does not elevate you to greatness.
Spain had a good Soccer based game plan, Argentina did not.
I did notice several teams engaging in rough tactics to unhinge their opposition. It is not the soccer I know or want.
Spain’s defense shut them down, just as they did against France.
They gave up one goal in eight games.
Frankly, Argentina’s only chance to win was to get it to penalty kicks, and they almost pulled it off.
I have a high regard for Messi, too, but I think deep in his heart, he knows his team and countrymen screwed him over. That’s NOT how you play soccer/futbol. Paredes was abominable, and so were others.
Argentina’s game plan was to play for PKs. They knew they couldn’t score on Spain. Spain only had one goal scored against them the entire Cup. The only way for Argentina to win was to get ahead in PKs. That’s all they had, so they resorted to fouls.
By the grace of TPTB, Argentina made it into the semi finals, and then the finals.