Heading into the World Cup, the FIFA world ranking of the ten best national soccer teams?included eight European countries and only two South?American countries.
By my quick calculations as of this writing, leaving out matches between teams?from the same continent (because these games are not useful in judging the relative prowess across continents), the record of European teams in World Cup?games against teams from another continent is only seven wins, eight draws, and six losses.
In stark contrast, the South American teams have a stunning?record of nine wins, two draws, and only one loss. This is in?spite of the fact that these teams were ranked 1st, 7th, 16th,?18th, 31st, and 38th in the world.
Is there something in the water in South America? Is there?European bias in how teams are ranked?
(For our thoughts on penalty kicks, see Dubner’s recent blog post.)
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South American teams are just having a really good world cup, in particular the second tier teams (Uruguay, Chile, Paraguay) are playing well. In 2006 in Germany it was Europe’s turn. All 4 semi-finalists, six of eight quarter-finalists, and ten of the sixteen in the second round were European.
To decide if a confederation has too many or too few teams in the tournament consider what teams weren’t able to qualify from each continent.
Asia is missing Iran, in North America Costa Rica didn’t qualify, Egypt and Senegal are missing from Africa. Ecuador and Colombia are good sides in South America. From Europe, Russia, Croatia, Ukraine, Turkey, Czech Rep, Sweden, Ireland, Romania, and Poland are all sitting at home.
Wrong.
Mexico and Honduras do not belong to South America, but to North and Central America respectively, and they compete in the CONCACAF qualifiers.
The five south-american countries in the WC are Brasil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay, and their record up to now is even more impressive: 10 wins, 2 draws and no losses.
South Americal teams are used to playing at very high altitudes.
…o, a quien lo es importante?
There are only five South American teams participating in the World Cup (not six like the blog suggests ). Their record is 10 wins, 2 draws and no losses.
South America has yet to lose a match in this World Cup. Concacaf teams have nothing to do with CONMEBOL teams.
European teams have always played poorly outside of Europe. I think it is because for most of the strong European teams (Spain, Italy, England, Germany, France), most of their stars were born, raised and play football in their native land, or in a country very close by. Most of the stars from South America, Africa, Asia play for European teams and are used to traveling and playing in a foreign country (i.e. Europe). The Europeans don’t play well once they leave their comfort zone.
World cup victory translates into national hysteria and unrestrained joy …….and riots.
If I were the Reality Show producer, I would like to bestow the Championship on the Most Woe-Beggotten Country, so that they could raise their heads in Pride, that even if they live in squalor and a pet chicken is their most prized possession, they can have a little hubris and stick their tongues at their betters.
North Korea, Zimbawe, Sudan….this Buds for You. …I think you need the calories.