Messi vs Muller: Men with a difference

There is a difference. Between the best and most skillful player and the leader. Maybe it takes a while to notice, but it will be very important on the Sunday final. Four-time player-of-the-year Lionel Messi is the man expected to turn a World Cup final on sheer inventive talent. Thomas Muller is the man who holds the key to a fine German machine.

On a pedestrian team, Messi is the jewel. But when Argentina needed steadying against Holland, Javier Mascherano was putting his leg in the dike to stop the Dutch at the back Messi was the savior in Argentina’s first round matches and against the Swiss in the round of 16, but it was Higuain against Belgium to overcome the difficulties.

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There are men who make the difference as the most skillful and the match turner at once.

“Messi is the only one. He is the head, the heart and soul of the team,” said Franz Beckenbauer, world champion as captain and coach. “There’s a big difference between Germany and Argentina. Argentina has talents. Germany is a team.”

In few cases. a World Cup winner has a man who holds both these burdens. It was the case with Garrincha in 1962 (Brazil), Beckenbauer in 1974 (West Germany), Maradona (Argentina) in 1986. Now, we’ll see if Thomas Muller and Lionel Messi can do this double.

But in most cases, it’s two men who share the burden: Bobby Moore and Bobby Charlton in 1966; Carlos Alberto and Pele in 1970; Kempes and Passarella in 1978 for Argentina. Paolo Rossi was the scorer, and Bruno Conti was the talent for Italy in 1982. Diego was the main man in 86, and Lothar Matthaeus was the same for West Germany in 1990. In 1994, Dunga and Romario were the enforcer and goalscorer for Brasil’s Tetracampeão, same as Deschamps and Zidane for France 98. In 2002, Cafu and Ronaldo shared the load, as did Italians Cannavaro and Pirlo in 2006. Iniesta and Xavi or Casillas in a balanced team for Spain 2010.

One man who wasn’t champion, Johan Cruyff In 1974, was both. It is a heavy burden. I questioned Dutchman Arie Haan, a member of the splendid Clockwork Orange team from 1974, how did these star players feel when Cruyff would order them around the pitch. “We were all kings, but Cruyff, he was the emperor. When the emperor is not there, you have only kings. [It doesn’t work],” Haan clarified.

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This World Cup, it was James Rodriguez (COL) as the prime candidate to be best actor and director. David Luiz and Neymar (BRA) took the roles for Brazil on the pitch. And Robben and van Persie alternated roles for the Dutch.

But for Germany, Thomas Muller is the leading scorer and the spark for the Teutons. He leads the way, with the first goal against Brazil in the 7-1 rout; The winning goal in a tight match against USA. For Germany, which has a balanced team, Muller is technical without overdoing it.

As Voltaire said (and others repeat): “With great power comes great responsibility.”

Argentina can overburden Messi who has left the task to others in the quarterfinal and the semifinal.

We’ll see who can handle the burden and the responsibility of making a difference…