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NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia – The mini-revolt that began eight months ago, when Sweden overturned Italy in qualifying and barred the way for the four World Cup champions for the first time since 1958, is in full rebellion.
Brazil, Argentina and Germany, a virtual dictatorship of the World Cup that won 11 of the 20 tournaments before this one, were all overthrown and chased before the semi-finals. It's a world first.
Another indication of the wind of change: among those who take their place, Belgium, who has never won the title, seems able to do so after reaching the semi-finals only for the second time. His team of seasoned and seasoned players, with big stars playing for big clubs, says that experience is the cornerstone of success on the biggest football scene. counterexamples from France and England. The youngest teams in the knockout round, they proved that juvenile exuberance is a powerful force, too. Exhibit A: The pretender at goal of the tournament scored for France by Benjamin Pavard against Argentina. If the right-back was 31 years old and was playing his fourth World Cup like Lionel Messi, instead of 22 and playing his first, maybe Pavard would not have dared to try the long-range shot. His goal exuded the freshness and attitude of a young person.
Also striking: the last four teams are all European (England, Croatia, France and Belgium). This is only the fifth time (after 1934, 1966, 1982 and 2006). The absence of other continents in the semi-finals this time in Russia is not anecdotal. It reflects how Western Europe has become the epicenter of football's wealth and innovation and how South America has fallen behind.
Brazil, with the top three of its five titles in 1958, 1962 and 1970 and two-time winners Argentina and Uruguay were together a match for Europe in the first 13 Cups of world from 1930 to 1986, winning seven of them in Italy, Germany and England, totaling six.
the Premier League, the rebranding of the European Cup as the lucrative Champions League, the beginning of the influx of new mega-money TV, sponsors and investors, and the l & # 39; Bosman 1995 which allowed players to play wherever they wanted. Since 1990, the eight World Cups, including this one, have only experienced two South American wins, both from Brazil – and the last one in 2002. The print, more and more, is that all that remains of Brazil is smoke. After his humiliation by Germany 7-1 in the semifinals 2014, Brazil was eliminated earlier this time, losing 2-1 to Belgium in the quarterfinals. Already the only continent to win three consecutive World Cups, Europe is now badured to bring this number to four in the final of July 15 in Moscow.
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