A European nation is set to win the World Cup for the fourth time in a row this Sunday and in doing so confirm an unprecedented dominance for the Old World over their once mighty rivals in South America .
Whether France or Croatia lift the trophy in Moscow , it will guarantee a minimum 20-year drought for South American sides.
Until this streak, European teams had never won more than two World Cups in a row
and that was back in 1934 and 1938 . Confirming the hegemony, only one of the last eight finalists ( Argentina in 2014 ) have come from Latin America.
There are many possible reasons behind the Europeans’ superiority and some even recommend caution.
Although Argentina and Peru were disappointing, Brazil outplayed Belgium for much of their quarter-final defeat, both Uruguay and Colombia did well until being knocked out without their most influential player, and Colombia were even eliminated in a penalty shootout that could easily have gone their way.
“It’s seven matches in one month, a short event - you can make too much out of it,” Andy Roxburgh, a member of FIFA’s technical study group , told reporters in Moscow . “You have to look at the bigger picture over time to see if there is a trend.”
The trend, however, is clear, with the only question surrounding the reasons.
The most obvious reason is financial. Super-rich European clubs and federations have more to spend on recruitment, development and training .
Although South America’s top talents flock to Europe, where playing conditions, security and salaries are all far superior to those at home, better organization means the European are churning out more and more good players, as well as snapping up others who are eligible to play for more than one nation.
Tomorrow, Croatia will play the biggest match of their lives against a France side bursting with youth and vigor that has had a day more rest and played the equivalent of a match fewer over the knockout rounds.
While going to 30 minutes of extra time in all three of their sudden death matches – not to mention emotional energy-sapping penalty shootouts in two – has proved beyond doubt Croatia’s resilience, it has taken its toll.
“Some players played with minor injuries with which they would not have played some other games. Two players played with half a leg, but it didn’t show,” coach Zlatko Dalic said.
“ For Croatian football and Croatia as a country, this is history being written. I don’t know of a smaller country in a World Cup final. But we have our hearts, our pride, and our players and that is what is really important to us ,” stated Dalic.
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