No Irish, No Yanks, No Clogs - FIFA World Cup 2018

yeah its a my$tery

I mean some nations would kill to get out of the group stage so

Aren't there plenty of nations without deep pockets that make it farther? I mean, Croatia can't be swimming in World Cup cash can it?

Speaking of, correct me if I'm wrong but the way it was explained to me is that teams like France have a lot of cash and sort of loose citizenship requirements that allow them to build teams around the world. But Croatia, most of their players are native, yet must go around the world to play throughout the year to play for other teams, because the nation can't really support them financially.

They've consistently done a lot better than a whole lot of other nations. Though the fact that they qualify for every tournament helps.

The relative richness of the football associations and leagues of the individual nations isn't that significant a factor on whether they are successful or not - if that were the case England would have won the World Cup more than once, more than 50 years ago. French football isn't particularly wealthy - or wasn't until Qataris invested in Paris St. Germain.

So what makes some teams repeat powerhouses and some not? I don't know enough about the way things are organized to hazard a guess. I assumed it was money.

Producing talent. Though money obviously helps in developing it. You're not paid anything for playing for national sides.

Only three of the French squad weren’t born in France - and of them, only Umtiti has had any game time. The opposite is actually true - France has produced over 30 players representing other countries this World Cup.

Canonically, France and Belgium have thrived by investing in youth development and focusing on skills rather than athleticism. Croatia has less money but a football culture where players like Modric can come through despite being slight / short, which is possibly less likely in England where strength and speed are more of a priority. This seems to be changing a bit.

I get the impression that organised community sports outside of school are more accessible to French kids than they are to Brits. That might also be true of lots of Eastern / Southern Europe.

The amount of money you get paid in europe and the states is ridiculous compared to latin america, plus europe has the prestige

So the best latin american players are picked up by european leagues and the crap players get stuck at home

And these good latin american players never practise lots with their national team and/or develop a different style, so there’s always been this weird miscommunication and poor systematic output on the pitch

But mexico’s problem is not unique to mexico. It happens all over latin america with the exception of brazil, argentina and uruguay, whose best players are already in some pretty good european clubs

Lots of south american players prefer to play for a brazilian club instead of at home too, which is itself viewed negatively by some south americans

Since the US started pumping tonnes of money into their soccer league (1992), it had qualified for every single cup except this one

Mexico has a good record of qualifying but it’s in a unique situation where it was until relatively recently the best team in the concacaf by a wide margin and now mexican players want to get into the us leagues because of “better opportunities”

The Southern Slavic nations have always produced good footballers - and coaches, thousands of coaches, wherever you go in the world you will always find a Croatian or a Serbian or two or three managing an national side.

All very interesting to me!

Mexico haven't played a team they look particularly better than on paper in the second round since...maybe 2002 or 1994? That's not helped.

Tallest nations list is something like 'Holland, Belgium, Estonia, Latvia, Denmark, Bosnia and Hezegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Iceland, Czech Republic' which is pretty much a list of football overachievers relative to population, Estonia/Latvia aside.

lol srsly guys

colonialism

colonialism
history/demographics of kids playing game
dictatorship

that is it, there is nothing else

Lots of eurocentrism here too

The shortest European nation is Portugal - who have done pretty well for themselves over the years. Meanwhile the Norwegians are tall and they're shite.

The US is good at basketball

the BEST

You're welcome to it.

https://www.ilxor.com/ILX/NewAnswersControllerServlet?boardid=68

AS ARE YOU, MY GUY

Here's the only hoops that interest me,

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/09/04/article-0-0645FD08000005DC-293_306x441.jpg

We yanks like sports where we can use our hands.

https://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/.element/media/2.0/teamsites/celtics/media/history-championships-970x442.jpg

the only celtic(s) that has won anything meaningful tho

m bison is making some pretty solid points

got to say i agree with the direction of this thread

its pronounced celtic btw

There is also the return on investment relative to other athletic supremacy. Title IX in the US has helped lead to dominance in the Women’s World Cup; meanwhile Norway would rather outdo everyone at the Winter Olympics, and they do. Finns like to race rally cars. India cares a lot about cricket. Etc.

I feel like this could be a thread in itself.

fp m bison

There hasn't been a genuinely great Mexican footballer in my adult life I don't think. Lots of good ones but no one who's going to make the difference in a tough game or elevate them above competent.

presumably hugo sanchez is the last youd count

blanco prob the next and id agree that not-quite is a fair descriptor in the context

The little pea doesn't cut the mustard.

In 2003, Márquez transferred to Barcelona, becoming the first ever Mexican to represent the club. He would go on to play in over 200 games during seven seasons with Barcelona, and win numerous championships. In 2006, he became the first Mexican player to win the UEFA Champions League when Barcelona defeated Arsenal in the final. 

very good captain never rly a gamechanger tho

Maybe not genuinely great in inspiring a nation but he was still part of that remarkable Barca team

I remember watching a Vela/dos Santos-inspired Mexico murder Brazil in the u-17 World Cup Final. I thought they were both going to be superstars

also Anderson was Player of the Tournament

what's the breakdown of ilx rooting interests

CRO

CRO

Croatia mainly for the novelty. Hopefully Modric has read the French press to ensure he's sufficiently motivated :)

I was rooting for Croatia before all the babyish whining of this week, but I think I just like this French team more.

Don't feel strongly either way - whoever earns it

it's coming home

fp m bison

― ||||||||, Sunday, July 15, 2018 1:09 AM (eight hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

fair, but i'm still RIGHT

i think this is a french team tahts hard to love because you can see em all playing well within themselves just to get the job done

croatia otoh have their balls pushed out their sacs to get this far and to see modric lift it would be incredible

still tho. mbappe.

vive le france

Prediction

Pain

love the reference man but you didnt

*licks lips*

first

Fuck

I think this is a one goal affair