In a great game full of emotions, Argentina beat France on penalties to become champions of the World Cup Qatar 2022. The Albiceleste team managed to solve the problem with shots from 12 steps Kylian Mbappe he scored them with his three goals during the 120 minutes played at Lusail Stadium. In that place, the PSG striker was the figure of a French team unrecognizable in many stretches of the engagement.
After the game and during the Argentine hilarity some statements made by the French reported on South America and its football months before the start of the world tournament.
“The advantage we have here is that we always play games at a high level, when we come to the World Cup we are ready. And Argentina and Brazil don’t have that. In South America, football is not as advanced as in Europe. That’s why the Europeans always win at the last World Cups,” Mbappé told TNT Sports Brasil.
Mbappé was the Qatar World Cup 2022 goalscorer. Photo: EFE
The phrases “football in South America isn’t as advanced as in Europe” and “Europeans always win the last World Cup” may sound controversial, but it’s not that far-fetched and could even be true.
Why shouldn’t what Mbappé said be so controversial?
First of all, the fact that European football is more advanced than South American football is not a crazy idea. America’s best players migrate to the old continent playing in the best leagues and playing in the Champions League, something Europeans don’t do on the other hand, and when they do, like Diego Costa, it’s for money.
Even in national team football, the European teams rarely play friendly matches, they almost always play official tournaments: be it the Euro Cup Qualifiers, the Euro itself, the Nations League or the World Cup Qualifiers. In South America, if there are no Copa América or World Cup qualifiers, The Latin American teams play friendlies with teams of minor importance.
Second, from Germany 2006 to Russia 2018, Europe has won four World Cups. After only 20 years, South America was able to return to the throne. Likewise, Europe’s lead over America is 12 titles to 10, a small but important difference.
Rivals and infrastructure also count
Another argument for Mbappé is to take into account the level of teams from each continent. Although France can clash with teams like Faroe Islands, Andorra or San Marino in European qualifiers, there are more chances to collide with champions and important teams like Germany, Spain, Italy, England, Switzerland or Portugal; something that is more complicated in South America.
After all, the infrastructure is not a side issue. The level of sports institutions in Europe is far below that in this country. That’s why in recent years there have been more outstanding players with European passports than with “American ID”.