In the late 1950’s and in the decade that followed, Brazil set the world alight with an imperious streak that helped them lift three World Cup crowns. With greats like Pele, Garrincha and Didi in their ranks, the Brazilians set up an empire with such a sublime aura of invincibility, that it seemed eternally impenetrable. The dynasty was finally overthrown by Johan Cryuff’s Holland side in the 1974 World Cup in Germany. Four years later, another Latin American side took the world by storm. On home soil, Mario Kempes led Argentina to its first World Cup title. Combing a robust defence with quick passing and sleek inter-change play, Argentina took out Holland, the masters of ‘total football’ in the final.
Heroics by Diego Maradona, and later Romario, meant that more World Cup titles were to follow for the continent. Every team wanted to play like them, and win like them. However, when France lifted the Cup in 1998, one felt that the tide was turning. By then, Italy's Serie A had become the best league in the world and the razzmatazz of the English League was attracting players from across the planet. Europe was becoming the new South America.
At the Marcana on Sunday, a moment of magic from Germany's Mario Goetze meant that a European nation had won football’s holy grail for the third time on the trot. For a major part of this year’s tournament, it was the Americas that sparkled. Apart from Brazil and Argentina, Columbia and Chile were the two most entertaining teams on show. But, when it mattered the most, it was the Europeans who showed why the mantle of possessing the world’s powerhouse teams clearly rests with them.
Ever since Cafu captained Brazil to his country’s fifth World Cup in 2002, the fortunes of South American football have witnessed a steady slump. With the influx of quality foreign players in major European leagues, the standard of European football is at an unprecedented high. The lucrative financial incentives , along with the attraction of playing in the Champions League means that the best players in the world ply their trade in Europe.
One can argue that most Argentine players that played on Sunday compete in top European leagues. So why wasn't Lionel Messi holding aloft the World Cup trophy instead of Phillip Lahm on Sunday? Here’s the reason. The last two World Cup winning teams have one thing in common. In South Africa in 2010, Spain’s supremacy was built around a core group of players representing Barcelona. Barcelona was replaced by Bayern Munich in Brazil, as the German side revolved around stars who play for the Bundesliga champions. If you have a bunch of players who play together week-in week-out, the chances of you doing well in major tournaments increases considerably. A strong domestic league with quality performers will always yield results at the international level, with the aberration of England of course.
Argentina and Brazil may have reached the last four this time, but the dearth of bright young players coming through the ranks from these countries is startling. Bench strength is major problem.Without the development of good youth academies, these nations may never win a world cup again. Due to the lack of opportunities and world class coaching, most of their young talent shifts base to Europe, ensuring that they are never comfortable in the national team set up. Writing these nations off would be fatuous, but the power of the world game is expected to be with Europe for some time to come.
