10 World Cup 2018 Talking Points

#7 The European teams going strong

2018 FIFA World Cup Russia semi-finalists

For the 13th time, a European team was crowned the World Cup champions in Russia. The elimination of Uruguay and Brazil in the quarter-finals meant that all the semi-finalists in this World Cup were from Europe, sealing the continent’s dominance of the event and ensuring a European World Cup winner for the fourth consecutive time.

It is likely that with better leagues and better facilities, the European teams have an advantage while the South American counterparts are lacking behind. Rather than a collapse, it was merely a series of dips in the South American teams which led them to another World Cup failure.

European teams, meanwhile, looked in control pretty much everywhere in and off the pitch. Only 4 of its 14 teams failed to reach the knockout stages. The dominance could get more pronounced when the World Cup expands to 48 teams in 2026. By then, the UEFA allocations will be up to 16 teams which more than complicate the teams from other continents.

While the best clubs in football are based in Europe, big money will make sure of increasing standards and better talents. It can only make them better, but for the teams from other continents, at least the next two World Cups won’t be held in Europe.