Some BabaGol thoughts over the Copa America’s final chords this week.
Chile is a well-deserved champion.
Chile was the best team in the tournament. The referees perhaps helped a little, but the committed and encouraging stand of the public and the state behind the players and coach was inspiring, special and beautiful. Nowadays it is rare to see these kinds of things. At the stadium where Chile triumphed in the final, people were executed during the Pinochet regime in the 1970s and 1980s. A place that was a memory of national shame, turned to a source of national pride for the Chilean sport’s history. That's exciting.
Style of play.
South American football is in a pretty dark and ugly era, with a lot of administrative corruption, but also a big mental change. Some might say that its a degenerative process. It is true that it is not always aesthetic and pleasing to watch as a complete match, but there are moves and tricks that you will not see in European games. That's super interesting.
Is Messi the greatest of all time?
The fact that Argentina did not win in the end, does not answer the question of whether Lionel Messi is the best in the world. It does not say if he's better than Maradona, Ronaldo, or Coca Sarli. Football has transformed massively in the past 30 years, as many elements and criteria were added or disappeared, which make this discussion simply irrelevant.
Ranting is for losers.
The number of complaints and cutting reviews about the final itself and tournament as a whole were excessive and unrealistic. Who are we to criticize the quality of football in the place who provides us with the game's greatest figures? There are many things which should and must be criticized, but the level of play isn't one of them. If you enjoy watching the tournament please don't complain and compare South American game to its European counterpart. Those are two different styles. In addition, it ruins the fun and has a whole 'Colonial-Patronizing' feeling to it. If its a problem for you, just don't watch it.
Actually it was not that bad.
For those who watch South American football throughout the year, the tournament was quite fun. It has a different style than the European game, it is tougher, less exotic for the big networks who broadcast it, and the stars from European teams arrive tired. This gives the less-known players a chance to shine and express themselves more and have a more significant role for their teams. Messi and Alexis Sanchez played different roles than what we usually see them in their respective European clubs. It was refreshing and has also emphasized how great these two are.