The Beautiful Game is unlike any other in the world. Football is the most viewed and played sport across the globe. Players come together to represent their country and bring pride to the fans of their country. Thus, the World Cup is the most prestigious tournament in the world, as the world's biggest talents are all united on one stage. Stars from Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, and the Americas all share the stage this summer, and will grind it out to crown the World champion.
Yet, considering the fact its a "World" Cup, there isn't too much variability when it comes to the winners. Since the inuagural World Cup in 1930, We've only had 8 different winners worldwide. That means, from the 211 FIFA National Teams all across the globe, only EIGHT have reached the summit. And in the 21st edition of the World Cup this summer, it seems unlikely there will be a new champion.It goes to show that football, as wild and unpredictable it may be, will always fall into place and the trophy will go to those that are expected to win. Its no doubt that the balance of power will always lean towards these countries, and that they have the level of talent that only few can match. And these countries have a history of churning out stars and homegrown talents from their academies.
Brazil has claimed the trophy 5 times in their history,which makes them the most successful country in the world. With legends such as Pele, Ronaldo, Kaka, Ronaldinho. and Roberto Carlos, its not strange to witness the success they have endured these past decades.
After Brazil, Germany and Italy each have 4 World Cups. Argentina and Uruguay trail behind with 2 each, and Spain, France, and England all have a single trophy to their name.
The European continent has claimed five of the eight World Cup winning countries, while South America has claimed 3. Unfortunately, we have not seen any winners from Africa, Asia, Oceania, or the North America.
When it comes to the argument of which continent produces more talent and success, it becomes very debatable.
While South America can be proud of the individual talents of Pele, Messi, Maradona, Ronaldinho, and Kaka, Europe can boast about their style of play and the superteams which have come out of them. For example, Johan Cruyff's Dutch team and their style of play were unique and a revelation in their time, to which still has an impact today. Spain's 2010 team and Germany's 1974 team, led by Beckenbaur, are teams that have had a legacy on football.
Yet, looking back at history, neither continent has ruled over the other internationally. As seen below:
There seems to have been a pattern every World Cup: every 4 years a South American team wins the World Cup, and the next time around, a European wins. Its a constant cycle and rotation every 4 years, with the exception of the 1934-1938 Italian teams and the 1958-1962 Brazilian teams that won twice in a row. Its as if the soccer gods kept switching between continents every 4 years, just so neither could really gain an edge over the other.
Yet, there has a been trend emerging as of late. European teams have won the last 3 World Cups in a row: Italy in 2006, Spain in 2010, and Germany in 2014. The last South American champion was Brazil's 2002 team. Europe is now slowly pulling away from South America into their own level over the last 16 years. And in my opinion, Europe is poised to be crowned champions once more this summer.
The likes of Germany and France have very deep and talented squads. They have World-Class players who can break out this summer and win games. Belgium and Spain have strong teams as well, and are considered dark horses this summer.I already wrote about Iceland. With so much talent on the European side, I can't see Brazil or Argentina (6-1 yikes) pull off an upset and take the trophy home.
As the trend continues in Europe's favor, this could finally solidify their dominance on the global stage.
Comments
Post a Comment