Teams from Europe were weakening beneath the new Brazilian sun. The gap was closing. a replacement world order was returning. once many of Europe's heavyweights-Spain, Italy, European country and Portugal-bowed go into the cluster stage aboard a number of their European cousins (Croatia, Bosna i Hercegovina and Russia), too several rush to jot down the continent's epitaph. Social media was flooded with posts regarding UEFA's poor winning proportion in Brazil compared to CONCACAF groups. The abstract thought was clear-Europe was a spent force, not the dominant power within the world game. It proven to be grossly premature.
The Netherlands' fighting convert Republic of Costa Rica on Sat ensured that UEFA has a minimum of 2 of its members within the semifinals, which the ultimate four would be comprised strictly of European and South yank nations for a 3rd straight tournament. solely doubly in World Cup history have nations outside of Europe and South America ever qualified for the ultimate four, not as well as the years once the globe Cup didn't have correct semifinals: Asian nation in 2002 (on home soil) and also the us (in 1930). It's a bitter pill to swallow for CONCACAF supporters pushing for four.5 berths (sorry, the confederation doesn't merit an additional space), however Europe and South America area unit still the 2 greatest and most powerful footballing continents. That's not about to modification anytime shortly.
That's to not say COCNACAF shouldn't be pleased with however its members did in Brazil. It ought to be proud-very proud. United Mexican States and also the us survived troublesome teams and each gave pretty much as good because the got against European opponents in terribly tight Round-of-16 matches that they may have simply won. Mexico's show, once such a troubled qualifying campaign, was particularly inspiring during this competition. Republic of Costa Rica has been one among THE stories of this World Cup, going undefeated to win a gaggle that enclosed European nation, European country and South American nation, and turning into solely the fourth CONCACAF nation to succeed in the quarterfinals (don't forget Cuba in 1938). however CONCACAF nations still can't break through the ceiling that they keep bonking their heads on at the globe Cup .
