When Argentina took the pitch against Belgium, Lionel Messi's every move was tracked by Marouane Fellaini. Sometimes though, even Fellaini and two other teammates could not stop Messi. The Argentine is often considered the best player of his generation. At the other end of the pitch today will be a certain master called Arjen Robben. While Messi has many tricks, Robben has just one, one that has won him everything at club level and could yet win him the World Cup.
This is not to say he has not tried different tricks. He has done so and they have worked but he always comes back to that old trick. He runs towards goal with the ball, takes it to his left foot and strikes. More often than not, the ball ends up in the top corner.
Robben is seemingly getting better with age. He is 30 years old and is finally considered a leader. His younger years were not too easy on him. At Chelsea, Jose Mourinho never allowed him to play in his best position and he ultimately joined Real Madrid. Despite his successes there, his injury record saw him shipped to Bayern. And Bayern built their team around him.
Largely considered the best player in 2009-10 alongside Wesley Sneijder in the World, he was not even in the top three for the best player awards handed out by FIFA and UEFA. His form somewhat declined thereafter. Not until 2012 did his club career almost fall apart though.
He missed a penalty which could have turned the Bundesliga title race in Bayern's favor against Dortmund, ultimately ending Bayern's title challenge. He missed a penalty in extra time for Bayern at the Allianz Arena in the UEFA Champions League Final in 2012. A few days later, when the Bavarians played Netherlands in a friendly, Robben was booed by the very fans who used to chant his name.
Meanwhile, Robben's reputation as a selfish loner who the team did not like very much stayed with him. Many a player would have considered a move away from Bayern. But Robben stayed. Robben was battered and bruised coming into the 2012-13 season, especially after his national side's humiliating first round exit at the Euros. Jupp Heynckes also built his team around Toni Kroos after the failures of 2012. Robben was no longer guaranteed a first team berth.
But the Dutchman became a team player. He learned to defend. In the DFB Pokal quarterfinals, he came in for the suspended Franck Ribery and scored the winner. In April, when Kroos was struck by a season ending injury against Juventus, Robben was called back into the first team. And he took his chance. A deciding factor in the quarterfinals and the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League, he set up Bayern's first goal in the final and took it upon himself to score the winning goal.
He then walked up to the crowd, the fans who had booed him and yelled. He seemed to be asking them why they had questioned him. He seemed to be telling them that he had forgiven them and he welcomed the applause he was receiving. The villain had gone; he had been replaced by a hero. Under Pep Guardiola in 2013-14, he was Bayern's best player, especially in a season of continual change.
Messi has not experienced a career nearly as tumultuous as Robben has with Bayern alone. But the experience has helped him grow. He has finally settled down. He is happy to be responsible and to lead by example. If Messi leads Argentina to the World Cup, he will deserve the Golden Ball. But Robben has led the Dutch side from Day One of this competition. In fact, the Dutch have perhaps been more dependent on him than Argentina has been on Messi.
He has garnered unwanted attention for diving and even admitting it, but this is perhaps unfair because plenty of players dive and never admit it. Robben wants to be protected by the referees because, from time to time, teams do to Robben what they do to Messi; they foul him whenever they can. He always rises up, runs with the ball at breathtaking speed and heads towards goal though.
Most importantly, Robben has finally managed to stay fit for an entire season. Injuries had previously derailed him. This time though, he is fit. And considering how FIFA and UEFA have ignored the Dutchman's achievements before, it is time that he is honored on football's biggest stage.
Watch the 2014 World Cup Semi-Final Argentina vs Netherlands
Don’t miss the highly anticipated match featuring South America's last hopefuls Argentina against Louis van Gaal's mighty Netherlands. Guided by captain Lionel Messi, the Argentines will do everything they possibly can to ensure they make the final which will be played at the Maracanã. The match kicks-off at 4pm EST / 1pm PST / 8pm GMT.
Check our complete and comprehensive global broadcast listings across all platforms (Internet, TV and Radio) Check Argentina vs Netherlands LIVE broadcast listings.
