Comment: Premier League experience makes a difference

Dubai: As the fans brace up — some albeit with a definite lack of enthusiasm — for the semi-finals of the 2018 Fifa World Cup next Tuesday and Wednesday, we are left wondering what went wrong for the footballing powers of Latin America and the rest of the world. For only the first time since 2006, next week’s semi-finals in Saint Petersburg and Moscow will be contested by an European quartet.

2006 , ITALY: Italy went on to claim their fourth World Cup title defeating France 5-3 in a penalty shoot-out after the 30 minutes of extra-time too had finished with the teams tied 1-1. Germany defeated Portugal 3-1 to finish in third place even as countries like Angola, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Trinidad and Tobago and Togo went on to make their first appearances in a World Cup.

With all teams from Africa and Asia — barring a gutsy Japan — eased out at the end of the group stages itself, it was left to Uruguay and Brazil to hold aloft the banner for the Latin Americans. However, in a single night both perished against France and Belgium, respectively — leaving the field wide open for yet another European dominance.

 For the record, this tournament features 108 players from the English Premier League. Belgium has as many as 12 players who feature in the EPL.

For the record, this tournament features 108 players from the English Premier League. Belgium has as many as 12 players who feature in the EPL, including regulars like Thibaut Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne, Marouane Fellaini, Vincent Kompany, Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, Jan Vertonghan, Michy Batshuayi, Nacer Chadli and Mousa Dembele.

2010, SPAIN: In the final, European champions Spain defeated the Netherlands 1-0 after extra time. Andres Iniesta’s goal in the 116th minute handed Spain their first world crown while making them the eighth nation to win the tournament and the first European country to win a World Cup hosted outside its home continent (all previous World Cups held outside Europe had been won by South Americans).

Meanwhile, Brazil had at least seven players who figure in the rather demanding EPL including the likes of Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Manchester City quartet of Ederson (third choice goalkeeper), defender Danilo, Fernandinho and Gabriel Jesus along with Manchester United’s Fred and Chelsea’s Willian. The exposure in the Premier League hence holds little surprise for each other when the stars collide in a stage like the World Cup — a factor which may have worked for Belgium on Friday night.

2014 , GERMANY: Germany joined Italy as four-time world champions with a 1-0 win against Lionel Messi’s Argentina. This was Germany’s first win after the re-unification in 1990. Germany also had the unique distinction of becoming the first European team to win a World Cup staged in the Americas. At the same time, the result marked the third straight win for an European nation in the World Cup - following Italy (2006) and Spain (2010).

In the Uruguay squad, as many as 13 players feature in leagues of Spain, France, Italy and Portugal, but none of them in England. Eventually, they were caught out by the brilliance of a French team that has shown an increasing hunger at proving they are the best after falling on home turf in the final to Portugal at the 2016 Euro Championship.

The so-called big footballing nations including Spain, Italy and Germany ought to accept that the lesser countries have found a way out in beating them at their own game. It is now back to the drawing board for all of them ahead of qualifying for Euro 2000, the next big contest.