Uh? You can't find half of the African's birth certificates when they play U16 or U20... They're 6'12" and looks like they had two kids already. It's just that even with that advantage, they're still not as technically gifted.
And I agree about formation, development and support. It's a shame most of the money in this World Cup is going to go to FIFA and not to help these countries develop more.
1 or 2 spots should be more than enough for Africa... was I not clear enough?
It's fair to say this because of the crash out of african teams but that sentiment will not resonant any where in the world
They might have more players in Europe these days, but they're really not a region that has stood out as far as international soccer goes. They certainly peaked (and very overly hyped, imo) during the Roger Milla era, but except a couple of positive showings in the group stages, they really have done absolutely nothing to guarantee 4-5 spots in this tournament.
This World Cup merely reinforced what has been happening for a long while now. I would even argue that being the home teams would give them some sort of advantage to prove themselves, but ultimately they're just not that good.
1) these ######s don't know what team football is
2) they maybe have a few stars and good quality players but as an entire roster they can't compete with the big boys in such conditions unless 1.
African team who advanced:
90: Cameroun QF
94: Nigeria
98: Nigeria
2002: Senegal QF
2006: Ghana.
That's why they have 5 spots, it's maybe too much but it's normal they have more spots than Asia or North America. Of course when you compare with South America, there's a problem (even though only Brazil and Argentina go far, with Chile in 1998).
africa 2010 : -
or Ghana...pppplllllleeeeeaaaasssseeeeeeeeee
That Cameroon was the one I was referencing with Roger Milla. That's where the hype started. At the same time, Mexico hasn't missed a knockout stage in the last 5 world cups. There's also always one of Ecuador / Colombia / Paraguay / Chile / Uruguay that also sneaks in alongside Argentina and Brazil in the knockout round, and even team USA made it there quite often the last 5 world cups. Ultimately, as you say, I don't think giving more slots to Asia or North America makes much sense (Honduras' showing tells the tale), but it's ridiculous that a team like Uruguay had to play a playoff match against Costa Rica to sneak into this World Cup, and teams like Ecuador and Colombia had to stay home (same with the likes of Ireland or Croatia in Europe).
How many Europeans out of the ~14 actually make serious noise? Seriously? Has Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Norway, etc. done much? Czech Republic was ranked #2 in the world last WC and couldn't even make the group. Frankly, I think it's absurd to feel bad for the teams from UEFA that could not advance. If Czech wanted to be in the WC, they should've beaten Slovenia and Slovakia. You have to remember CONMEBOL is composed of 10 teams. I don't think FIFA is going to let an entire associate qualify, although I would still support 2 extra slots for them due to their level of play.
CAF is composed of 55 teams, so 1-2 spots seems low (although they've sucked ass this WC) and is basically a step backwards. I think the WC should be an inclusive tournament, even if some regions lag behind others. We didn't cut the Eastern Conference playoffs spots in the NBA to 4 because they used to suck. 5 seems to be sufficient.
Essentially, there's only one WC champion. 3/10 teams out of CONMEBOL have won multiple times (impressive), and 4/53 teams from UEFA have won. I don't see why of all the regions, UEFA should receiver more slots. One solution would be to eventually expand to # of teams (by 8) with priority to CONMEBOL.
CONMEBOL used to have 5 guaranteed spots, and it was fine that way. You would potentially leave out one good team, but overall you did get the cream of the crop there. But now between them and CONCACAF basically gave up one spot in order for Africa to get an extra spot. Which is entirely re ed.
I don't think CONMEBOL ever had 5 guaranteed spots in the WC. They had 4 spots + champions (Brazil in 1994) = 5 Spots in 1998. So this reallocation to African teams never happened. At the end of the day, CONMEBOL c anhave 6 teams for next WC, as Brazil is the host.
3 groups done and only 1 team from Europe "squeaking" to the next round so far...
I agree. 40 teams and more exposure
They did in '98, when the cup expanded from 24 to 32 teams, as you clearly explain. Brazil, regardless of being the champion, still had to play the qualifiers even though it didn't matter for them (it did matter for the teams they beat, though. Coincidentally, 2002 was the last world cup where the champion qualified automatically). From there on out, CONMEBOL had to basically get the extra spot from an extra playoff match against OFC (2002, 2006) and CONCACAF (2010).
And the AFC expansion absolutely happened. Prior to '98, only 3 AFC teams qualified. CONMEBOL had 3 teams and 1 playoff for an extra spot. After the 24 to 32 change, AFC went on to have 5 spots and 1 playoff for up to 6 spots, while CONMEBOL ended up with 4 and 1 playoff.
Actually, I misread your post. I'm aware the expansion occurred, I thought you posted that CONNMEBOL 's spots were taken to give for CAF for that expansion. That's my mistake.
But for me, that's doesn't change the fact we're still only talkng about a few spots for CAF and CONMEBOL (3-5). I still don't know why people think UEFA is so en led to at least 14 spots, for the reasons I mentioned previously.
you realize that we did not yet finish the group phase? that most teams have only played 2 games and that the finalists have 5 more to go?
wait with this claim till at least the semifinals and see if there are in fact more American teams left than Euro teams.
of course, either Brazil or Argentina have the quality to win it all. no news there, they are always in the mix. talk about a new world oder when in fact Paraguay, Chile, Mexico, USA or Uruguay have made it to the Semi finals via beating top Euro teams.
nobody is discussing the importance of markets in all this. south america is footy mad but outside of brazil there isnt an important market in terms of size or wealth. its no coincidence that asia is getting more spots now that they are in an economic upswing, or that europe has so many spots historically (always the most developed market).
Personally I think they should have more playoffs to secure the bottom spots, its the best way to insure that weak teams dont take the place of stronger ones. no doubt in my mind that ecuador is superior to new zealand, honduras, algeria and slovakia.
son them eurotrash teams gonna be more by the end: spain, ned, portugal at least will make it, furthermore at least 3 euroteams make the quarters since eng-ger and por-spa and ned -(ita or svk)
As of now a semifinal place goes to uru|kor|usa|ghana (usa being the weakest team in terms of play to this moment) another semi goes to arg|mex|ger|eng (this is a crazy bracket alot of drama here) another bracket i say goes to por|spain (they gonna beat chile) and another bracket will be with ned|ita|bra|(chile|swi) (another insane bracket)
Therefore the semi would be uru v (bra|ned) and (arg|ger|eng) v (spa|por).
Interestingly uru get a very nice bracket to semis and they should take advantage of such stuff.
So I say atleast one semifinalist from euro with arg choking in one of the tough games it has in 1/8 and 1/4. If argies make it to the semis they get (por|spa) which is gonna be really ugly since in terms of talent they'd be underwhelmed. Bra having a really tough quarter. The portugal bracket will be interesting. Uru bracket has the least chance of finals.
Usa can't go through ghana, uru (i think) semis... too much luck needed against teams that clearly play better. And even if they get there in the semi they get a true contender.
Ofc alot of this stuff is speculative and some of it surely won't happen but if you bet on sports that's how you reason. Nobody can predict scores or like that, it's just statistics.
moreover, this happening is at least partially caused by alot if rare stuff:
some small (and lucky) svk, gre, slo euro teams eliminating strong sides like russia, croatia, turkey, czech.
some euro teams imploding: fra, serbia
sheer luck of non-euro teams: usa vs eng, nzn vs ita really come to mind
Now such stuff does not happen at each cup so it's not about a powershift but just cir stances and tough luck. Furthermore, even in these conditions the quality euro sides still pose a serious threat, so I won't be surprised if I see brazil or arg lose in quarters even if a root for a bra-arg finals
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