61653 HTAFC
Veteran Member
The issues for the African teams is more a lack of infrastructure in those countries, in terms of coaching facilities and coach development. Players from these countries can be developed in the European leagues, but quality coaching staff can't. This is one reason they often appear tactically naive or disorganised at World Cup tournaments.
Yes, the Saudi team have been poor (yet seem to always qualify) for years... there will be better teams than them even from within the Asia confederation, let alone in Europe or South America.
But I don't think the expansion will automatically lead to a drop in quality. We've had no nil-nils and only one red card this WC, and it has generally been entertaining. Poor teams can sometimes pull off surprises and don't we all love an underdog story? Be wary of first-world exceptionalism, because football would be poorer without Cameroon 1990, Senegal 2002 or Ghana 2010.
Or maybe we should just give the trophy to whoever is top of the FIFA rankings- Why even bother with the finals tournament? It'd be cheaper that way...
Yes, the Saudi team have been poor (yet seem to always qualify) for years... there will be better teams than them even from within the Asia confederation, let alone in Europe or South America.
But I don't think the expansion will automatically lead to a drop in quality. We've had no nil-nils and only one red card this WC, and it has generally been entertaining. Poor teams can sometimes pull off surprises and don't we all love an underdog story? Be wary of first-world exceptionalism, because football would be poorer without Cameroon 1990, Senegal 2002 or Ghana 2010.
Or maybe we should just give the trophy to whoever is top of the FIFA rankings- Why even bother with the finals tournament? It'd be cheaper that way...