Muted not magical, Messi misses again

Argentina's Lionel Messi reacts after losing their 2014 World Cup final against Germany at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, July 13, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

Nice Jinks

There had been some nice jinks and deft touches from the 27-year-old. A shot had gone close, a late header had lifted some sections of the stadium out of their seats.

But in the final analysis, there had been rather too much trotting in the center of the pitch, in that tight, tidy compact way he has - head a little stooped, legs a little bandy.

Messi was neither the conductor of this Argentine team, nor its heartbeat. He proved on this occasion to be a peripheral character, showing flashes of brilliance but little influence.

Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella stalked on the sidelines, immaculate in a blue suit but often bent at the waist and gesticulating wildly, trying to urge his captain on.

Messi, however, seemed to have little energy or vision. As the first half wore on frustration told and he started charging around after the ball, chasing it as Germans crisply passed it between themselves.

When jinking, he invariably ran into a sea of white shirts and his shooting was unusually off range.

He came closest at the beginning of the second half when a curling shot flashed only centimeters wide. But soon passes started to go awry, always followed by plaintive apologies, and his runs became rarer.

By midway through the second half, Messi resembled a golfer taking a carefree stroll, only really switching on when required to take a shot.

Then it became a slower walk. Then he was standing, hands on hips, leaning on first one leg and then the other.

He managed a header deep in extra time but that was from far out and would never bother the immense Neuer, eventually floating high.

But in the dying seconds the scene was hastily set for a Messi masterpiece and a golden opportunity for redemption.

Fouled by Bastian Schweinsteiger, the Argentine lined up his free kick some 30 yards from Neuer's goal.

The German players formed a defensive wall, their fans squirmed in their seats - everyone has seen what Messi can do in this situation.

But on a clear Brazilian night on the soil of his country's most bitter soccer enemy, he blasted his shot high over the goal and Argentina's last chance was gone.

Messi and his team mates were beaten, Germany had won, Messi once more left the stage without the ultimate vindication of his talent.