The Europeans have an edge over the South Americans and the rest of the world. They have held the world cup since after Brazil`s win in 2002. The last time the world cup was retained by any side before Qatar 2022, was sixty years ago by the Brazilians which is a very long time. It’s harder to contemplate a team winning three consecutive times although the Brazilians and the Germans have reached three straight finals with the South Americans winning two. This shows how difficult it is to find consistency and title winning dominance but the Europeans have kind of teamed up amongst themselves to produce four successive champions.
Brazil the initial pacesetters.
Before the 1982 world cup held in Spain, despite not winning in twelve years, a period that hosts countries were prevailing after Brazil`s double, The host teams took over (England in 1966) and another two afterwards (Germany in 1974 and Argentina in 1978) the best period for the host countries, matching the successive run of Uruguay in 1930 and Italy in 1934 which was in the thirties, Brazil were still the most successful, leading with three titles and still is, the only team that has participated in all the editions of the world cup. It can be argued that the Brazilian teams of the eighties that were knocked out by Italy and then France in 1982 and 1986 respectively were on the same level with the title winning team of 1994,they had a cluster of great midfield players such as Falcao, Socrates and Zico in Spain, players that can be compared to almost any of their title winning sides or even those of the other countries but, great cluster of players must also produce great results which they failed to achieve or put in another perspective, it can also be argued that the Italians that knocked them out, was one of the finest title winning teams in recent times (they had defeated defending champion Argentina, Brazil and Germany)and were also more than capable to hold their own against the 1994 title winners from Brazil or any other champion. history also showed that the Italians held them and were only separated by penalties. The 1982 winners were more ruthless.
That is the point, the brilliant Brazilian team that lost to Italy had opportunities to win it if they had the right strategy to produce great results, and this led to the less emphasis on the samba centric style of play and towards the European approach which was beginning to become the best approach to world cup tournaments, representing the best approach to victory.
As Brazil was trying to come to grips with their football, their bitter rival was thriving, in 1982 when Brazil beat them, the Argentines then the world champions went on to win it again in the next edition with a fully mature and motivated Maradona. Both Argentina and Germany replayed the finals in 1990 with the Europeans winning. It was the last time that an individual had dominated the world cup Maradona was outstanding one of the greatest individual performance in any world cup, such players were becoming extinct and modern strategies had provided a solution. The organizational approach with emphasis on the team, with Europe as the leading force. The rematch in 1990 was the re-introduction of this advantage.
For the Brazilians, the whole point of a cluster of great players producing great results came alive again in 1994 reminiscent of their previous reign, Romario and Bebeto, leading the attack with the young Ronaldo patiently waiting as reinforcement, in midfield they had Dunga providing steel and complementing the defense reducing the flamboyance and carelessness (which usually follows it) the combination of the samba and the European approach made them victorious, they won again in 2002 with a greater team after conceding their title in the finals to the host, France in 1998. The leading South American team was able to integrate the European approach which created an edge. They were able to fathom the right strategy which sustained another successful era and until date the team with the most (5) titles. Interestingly the Italians and the Germans, two countries very average at producing world champions at youth level are the leading exponents of this approach. Italy after beating the fancied Brazilians defeated the Germans in the finals in 1982 and the Germans avenged their loss to Argentina (the South Americans had avenged their 1982 loss to Brazil eight years later) in Italy in 1990. Both European world champions were setting the standard with the pragmatic style of great organization. Both of them joined Brazil with the trio level on three titles, both had won without being host. The Brazilians pulled away with two more titles after their reinvention, beating Italy in 1994 and Germany in 2002.This was symbolic of the struggle between the best sides at that time.it took both European teams 12 years each to become world champions. joined by new world champions France and Spain they established a stranglehold and gave Europe an edge.
The European edge
Since then the Europeans have beaten the best that the south Americans have put before them and going ahead to win the world cup setting and extending their record over the other continents.
In both 2006 and 2010 that Brazil and Argentina were eliminated, the champions were not the teams that sent them packing, in 2010 Uruguay reached the semi-finals a renaissance considering that it was their best run since 1970. It also shows that both Brazil and Argentina the top south American teams were a level below the best teams at that point, in 2014 that gap was slightly closed, both were knocked out by the best team Germany and they reached the last four, for Brazil it was the first time since 2002 and for Argentina 1990 was their last time. They both crashed out early in 2018 to Belgium and France respectively. It was an all-European semi-final in Russia just like in 2006 in Germany. Different European teams had knocked out Brazil, Germany in particular, eliminated Argentina at three consecutive world cups, the only time they did not was in Russia. The Europeans were clearly better.
The Edge is decisive
The Europeans with their talents (generally not regarded better than those of the south Americans),have superior infrastructure and with more advancement in sports science and great organization, giving them an advantage which initially the Brazilians had tried to incorporate in their approach after those disappointing performances, they are well structured which entails better team organization and game management that keeps evolving which can be explained with an analogy, a game of chess played at the highest level.
When both grand masters battle on the board, lots of preparation, research, use of AI and coaches are utilized with a player always (in most cases) able to convert any advantage into victory, the tactical and strategical opportunities fully utilized in the best way, team effort and planning triumph over talent and creativity, in most cases outstanding talents that cannot fit into the playing style or team bonding process is usually sacrificed for better team productivity. Teams that can blend their great players with these new elements become very invincible, the Germans, Spanish, French and the Italians had all these advantages during their march to the world cup title. A team can score a goal and close out the game with little fuse even against an equally strong opposition. The finest illustration was seen in South Africa with Spain setting the standard. Such examples are prevalent at club level Guardiola and Klopp did not have the best players but are able to consistently build great title winning teams (a simple illustration, their best payers do not win the ballon D`Or awards). Ancelotti`s champions league winning team of 2022, was not the greatest version of their ability. Most of his core players had past their peak (apart from the exceptional Benzama that was in outstanding form) but he could squeeze out success from them. The winning edge consists in blending the team with great organization of all the necessary elements.
The Spanish reign started Europe`s stranglehold.
The world cup titles were shared between South America and Europe even after the Second World War with each continent winning by taking turns. This was interrupted twice the first by the Italians when they won and retained their title (1934 and 1938) then twenty years later Brazil won their first title and four years later, their second title (1958 and 1962). After both reigns the corresponding continent restarted the trend. The exchanging the world cup trophy between themselves until 2006.
It was Brazil in 1958 that became the first to win the world cup in another continent introducing a great team but that victory in Mexico in 1970, Brazil`s third and their second outside their continent that history will never forget re-introducing a style of football that was beautiful to behold which they perfected, often referred to as the beautiful game with an innovative 4-2-4 system. This trend in victory was recently replicated by the Brazilians when they won the world cup in south Korea/japan in 2002 with another set of great players. Before then, Argentina had won in Mexico becoming the second team to win in another continent and the third time it happened, in 1986 imitating Brazil`s win in Mexico. After Brazil`s and south America`s last triumph, Europe took over in the next edition in Germany 2006, Italy won the trophy for the fourth time making them the most successful team from Europe and also continued the exchange of trophies between both continents. The Italian`s success was built on a very solid defense conceding just twice, an own goal against the United states in their second match and a penalty against France in the finals, it was a master class in game management. Africa hosted the next tournament and this created a new dimension for history.
The world cup in South Africa according to history had Brazil, specialist in winning in other continents as favorites, they were also in form winning the confederations cup by winning all their matches. The other likely winners from South America Argentina and Uruguay were also in great condition, historically it was supposed to be rotated or Italy as they did before in the thirties could also repeat history. Germany and France were also capable of victory. Spain, the 2008 European champions unbeaten in 35 matches until their semi defeat in the confederation`s cup to the United States were the possible champion from a list of the other countries that had not won before and they did not disappoint. They started in disappointment by losing their first match against Switzerland but as true champions, it served as an antidote against defeat, they qualified from the group by winning their remaining matches beating Honduras and Chile.
In the knockout stages they started grinding out results without conceding a goal, a narrow lone goal victory was enough against Portugal in the second round, Paraguay in the quarter finals and Germany in the semifinals also, a solitary strike was also needed against the Netherland in extra time to win the finals and the world cup. It was the European approach in its most efficient form , they also had so much winners within their rank, multiple champion league winning coach del Bosque his club captain Casillas, Ramos and then Alonso were the Real Madrid players and the core of the all-conquering Barca team other notable players that included David Silva, Mata and Torres. They went on to reclaim their European title in 2012 an unprecedented success making them one of the greatest national sides in history. Their players were impressive but it was their tiki taka, a possession style of football that involved multiple passing, work ethic and consistency that stood out, Their winning heritage and team unity enabled them to win the world cup for the first time and became the first European team to win in another continent. It also showed the level necessary to achieve success under difficult circumstance. They did not play any of the top South American teams but stopped the teams that defeated them. They also showed that they could have done so if they had met. The Spanish helped Europe to break the interchange of titles with South America, it was the first time that a continent had won it back to back since the reign of the Brazilians and the second time Europe had won consecutively since Italy retained the trophy. The Germans extended the grip for Europe with an extra ordinary display in 2014, they may not have reached the levels of the Spanish in terms of winning three consecutive major titles but in Brazil, they were unbeaten handing heavy defeats to Portugal 4-0 and Brazil 7-1 and defeating other football super powers France and Argentina. They were ruthless and efficient, their young and exciting team of 2010 clearly reaching their potential. The Germans became the fourth team to win in another continent and the first European team to win in America-Brazil `s home in particular. They also tied Italy with four titles. The French extended this dominance in 2018, they stopped the south Americans- Argentina and Uruguay, Belgium (Brazil`s conquerors) and finalist debutants Croatia. They had the flair and talent of the south Americans and the European efficiency and organization. It made it four consecutive titles for Europe and twelve in total as against nine from South America.
On paper they represent the best prospect to continue the European dominance in Qatar, amongst the other leading contenders from Europe, Spain is not far behind while Belgium particularly or Nether land and former European championship and Nations league champions Portugal and Ronaldo will give it their best shot, they have acquired tournament winning experience. For America and especially, from the south, Argentina represents the best opposition to challenge Europe. although Messi may have passed his peak but Argentina are beginning to play to his strengths and also, are able to get the best out of their other talented players to form a Harmonious team, barring injury or loss of form they represent the best threat, the Brazilians cannot be completely ruled out, Most teams will accept a fairy tale victory if it happens by chance, the Greeks won the European championship in 2004 the most spetacular win in international football this century, an achievement that was an impossibility and unexpected. Most good teams that are competing will be hoping for a Greek gift in Qatar.
What we can learn from the Europeans.
- Italy (1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006) and Germany (1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014) are the most successful teams from Europe. A trend in victory was set for their third and fourth title win, Italy won and eight years later Germany did the same, it happened twice. Italy won their third title in 1982 and Germany won theirs eight years later in 1990, Italy won their fourth in 2006 and again eight years later Germany did the same.
- The Europeans have produced more champions than any continent with five; Germany, Italy, France, England and Spain. The only other continental champions south America has three; Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.
- The big five leagues according to UEFA ‘coefficient ranking for club football are coincidentally, the five European world cup winners.
- Europe is the football capital with the best leagues in the world.
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