All this handwringing about how Argentina played defensively in the Holland semi-final, and generally were not very good to watch is little disingenuous to me.Firstly, winning at all costs is the mantra today. Lose, and you get castigated mercilessly. More so, if you make a mistake - see Luis Suarez, or Rafa Marquez. Players want to win, and nothing else, as Messi said after the Final against Germany. Losing sucks - just ask Ron Vlaar. Per Mertesacker also agrees.
Secondly, there are benefits to technical and strategic excellence. Holland and Argentina showed everyone how tactics can win (or lose) a game. Javier Mascherano was excellent, as was Nigel De Jong, together with Georgino Wijnaldum, Danny Blind, Lucas Biglia, and even Ezequiel Lavezzi. Sure, Robben and Messi didn’t do much, but that’s because the defenders were better than them on the night. The attackers didn't up their game.
But here's the thing, Messi, Robben, their coaches et al, are going to go back and come up with better ways to break down defences and find ways around the tactical suffocation. That’s how football (or everything, really) progresses and improves. Throughout history - from the 60s catenaccio to the present day tiki-taka brilliance of Barcelona - football tactics and attacks have evolved, and improved.
Bayern learned how to attack Barcelona, and whacked them 7-0 on aggregate. They won 3-0 at the Camp Nou. If you watched how Jupp Heynckes set Bayern up play against Barca, you would have appreciated football even more. Without such tactical improvements (which stem from improved defensive schemes), we would all still be playing 2-3-5 formations today.
Personally, I thought it was a wonderful game. Tension was ever present, and you were on the edge of your seat all the time. That Messi and Robben failed to score just meant that the defences won, but I preferred watching this game to the 7-1 thumping Brazil got from the Germans. That game ended after 48 mins, when Brazil missed their first few chances at the start of the 2nd half.
Employing "defensive" tactics against an opponent's (better) attacks also happens in other sports. Basketball teams like the late 80s Pistons or the early 90s Knicks come to mind.
So spare me the handwringing. When sporting stakes become the highest in the world where failure cannot be tolerated, then you shouldn't expect beauty in all the winning that you watch.
