England should have no shame in losing to Lionel Messi, Argentina in World Cup

Blame culture is very real in sports media. Cynics argue that hot takes and negativity bias are simply tools of engagement, a way to draw you in and get more clicks.

But sometimes passions are so inflamed and the pain of defeat so severe that one must point fingers. Like forlorn fans of England’s soccer team following a 2-1 loss to Argentina in the World Cup semifinals.

You could see the fear and resignation in the faces of Englishmen in the crowd when their goalie was under attack, and their lead disappeared. You could hear it all over the British media on Thursday, when many wanted to sack the manager for his cowardly tactics. It should all resonate on some level with diehard Valley sports fans.

Isn’t that the same sick feeling we had after Jrue Holiday stole the ball from Devin Booker in Game 5 of the NBA Finals? After Paul Sewald gave up a home run to Corey Seager in Game 1 of the 2023 World Series? After James Harrison returned an interception 100 yards in the Super Bowl as time expired in the first half? After the all-out blitz that blew up ASU football’s dramatic comeback in the Peach Bowl?

England has not won a World Cup in 60 years. We have one major professional championship in 58 years. Heartbreak and curses are in our DNA.

In time, English fans will come to their senses and realize the cold, hard truth. They were slain by a superstar at the peak of his powers. For Messi is eternal, a forever legend. During the current World Cup, he has proven his reputation as the greatest soccer player in history on numerous occasions. And what he did to England was both cutthroat and exhilarating.

In the cruel light of the moment, English fans are right to rage on about their manager’s tactics. The statistics are damning. From England’s goal in the 55th minute to Argentina’s game-winner in the 92nd minute, England possessed the ball only 12% of the time. The only team with a lower possession rate over the same time span was Qatar (11 percent), a team that was enduring a 6-0 loss and down to only nine players.

In time, English fans will see the honor and nobility in death by Messi. Just like the Suns and Michael Jordan in 1993, followed by the Suns and Giannis in 2021.

Many philosophers believe that people change when they bear witness to transcendent performances in sports, music and other endeavors. Ralph Waldo Emerson termed it the “call to greatness,” where people act as symbols of possibility to one another. And when we witness greatness, it calls to us, it inspires us and awakens us to a higher pinnacle of humanity.

Truth is, Messi was probably going to find a way to beat England in the final 10 minutes regardless of their tactics, just like he’s done to every team in the World Cup. Just like Jordan did in the NBA Finals. Or Tom Brady in most Super Bowls.

And in the era of blame culture in sports, one heavily amplified by social media, it’s a privilege to be humbled and muted by the true GOATs in our midst.

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