Messi came under heavy criticism during the final after the team lost on penalties. I find much of that criticism to be wrong. Marcos Reina, a coach in Spain, took the time to go over and see what exactly happened in the game and came to the conclusion that the National team does not pass the ball enough to Messi like they do in Barcelona. Many times being an unmarked man near the box with a good chance to do something productive.

Now the video is in Spanish, you may pause you read but it basically always highlights Messi, the field of vision of the player with the ball and the run or space.

People can say and analyse whatever they want, but none of our players were on top of their game in that match except for maybe Otamendi (fantastic CB). The whole team was under par, not just Messi. He didnt have an awful game, but he didnt have a great one either for some of the reasons mentioned in the video.

I noticed the same whole game, but i just think people needed a chance to hate on him. At the end in 10 years, we will all say we witnessed Messi Era, if people cant enjoy his Football there, than Barça would be happy not to let him go to the international breaks risking his knees.
I pointed Higuain, Biglia, Rojo, Martino, Lavezzi all completely flopped. They were lucky to have Messi on the pitch because without him Chile would have gone all in attack and scoring VS this average team and tactics who only looks good on paper.

You have Tevez, best player of Calcio, claiming the treble until the last game on fire. At the other hand you have Higuain being lazy at Napoli, diva acting, missing a penalty against Lazio and deniying his team a CL ticket.

Martino messed with Argentina chances of making difference, Higuain killed Pk Shootouts chances because it was a 50-50 after 120min.

Does Messi expect to have the ball handed to him at every play? He should get up and go and get the ball himself. Play aggressive and nick defenders, go up to team mates and demand the ball. Messi does not demand the ball, he expects it. That is the wrong attitude to go about when you're trying to carry your team by yourself. Maradona demanded the ball. That's why he was able to display his talents with Argentina. Messi's lazy and arrogant attitude will not get him a trophy with Argentina. He needs to realize that this team isn't built around him like Barcelona is. He needs to wake up and demand that his team mates pass him the ball so he can create plays or score more goals. He needs to make his team mates understand who the real king is on the pitch. He shouldn't allow them to go and dribble by themselves and take stupid shots but rather have them give him the ball for him to dribble/shoot/pass.

Dy, I completely disagree. Messi opens up and always asks for the ball, he isn't going to go and reprimand a player who chose not to pass it to him. Thats his character. Messi has been far from lazy. He had to track back and fight for balls at the mid field even sometimes near our box. In the final when Lavenzzi came in Argentina switched to a 4-4-2 leaving Aguero and Messi completely isolated up top.

I think that people over-analyse Messi to the point of stupidity. Did he play a perfect tournament? Does anyone?

Messi is a great player, Ronaldo is the only other player in the world who outdo him, and we rightly expect great things from them. All the same, it's important to remember through the staggering bull**** the fans of these two players say, they are humans.

Messi had a decent Copa America. He was one of the best players based off of performance in the tournament. That being said, he did very well in the final. He did his job. For the worse, many of his teammates (cough, Higuian(sp)) did not. This is not Messi's fault.

Fans of this sport forget, often, that there are eleven players in a team. Some are better than others, same matter more than others, but in the end, games are usually won by the ELEVEN that perform the best. Occasionally, three or four play so well (or so badly) it tips the outcome, but they are exceptions, not rules.

I need a drink.

I couldnt watch the game. But i can tell that Messi gets over criticism when he didnt play well. When the team doesnt play like a team; there is no need to blame one person. I can easily tell Martino was the main man who made the biggest mistake this game.