FE Sport Desk
Yet again, a European nation will win the FIFA World Cup-the semifinals which begin today (Tuesday) are an all-European affair: France vs Belgium and England vs Croatia.
The failure of South American nations in the World Cup since 2002- when Brazil last won it- is partly explained by the economy.
Brazil has won 5 World Cups, and Uruaguay and Argentina 2 each. But these were in a different era, when football was less commercialised. The revenue of top three football clubs in the world, for instance, totalled 2 billion euros last year- all three are European (Bayern, Real Madrid and Barcelona).
That means players of these countries are trained and groome with the help of modern technology from an early age Belgium's Kevin de Bruyne joined Gent academy at the age of 8, of instance.
In contrast, Brazil still has players who came through street football, like Gabriel Jesus who joined a professional set up at the age of 16. Neymar was almost a late arrival coming from Brazil to Barcelona when he was 21.
Even smaller countries-read Iceland-in Europe have such easy access to best practice that their size is no longer a hindrance.
But Europe has also helped players of other continents. Only 8 of the 23 Japanese players of this World Cup play in their home country. And, of course, Messi is a product of the Barcelona Academy of Spain.
But it could also result in players donning the jersey of their adopt country like Diego Costa-born in Brazil but plays for Spain.
Asked on Friday about Europe's strength, Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez said "reality from a financial point of view, from a historical point of view" could not be ignored.
"Don't ask me something that is self-evident," said the veteran coach, who led Uruguay to the semi-finals in 2010.
Back then, Uruguay were eliminated by the Netherlands, who lost to Spain in the final.
Europe's winning run began with Italy in 2006, Spain followed four years later, and Germany took over in 2014.
A title for France or England in Moscow on July 15 would keep the glory within a closed circle of countries whose national teams, domestic leagues and television markets are known as Europe's "Big Five": Spain, Italy and Germany are the others.
They are home to the richest and most storied clubs, attract the most valuable broadcast deals worldwide, and place most teams in the Champions League. The five will have 19 of the 32 places next season.
It is a virtuous circle helping earn more prize money and build lucrative global brands.
European club dominance is even greater when looking at World Cup rosters. A total of 74 per cent of players selected across the tournament - 544 of 736 - are employed by teams in Europe. This hegemony could be tough to maintain when the World Cup increases to 48 teams in 2026. Only three extra places were given to Europe, raising its guaranteed number to 16 - one-third of the total.
Twenty years on, the conquest is full. Four teams remain in this summer's competion, and of the players in those squads, just under half - 40 out of 92 - play their football in England.
The tale of the 2018 World Cup has, in many ways, been one of the triumph of the Premier League.
Gareth Southgate was requested about how a lot his squad had benefited from the affect of the Premier League's high coaches. "From an English perspective, we're very lucky that our younger gamers are taking part in for Conte, Klopp, Mourinho, Guardiola, Arsene, high international coaches," he stated.
And but, the Premier League an excessive amount of credit score. In any case, the star attraction and bare capitalism that has attracted the world's greatest to England should be balanced towards the ensuing restriction of alternatives for home gamers and coaches. The Premier League would not develop English footballers out of the goodness of its coronary heart. It is merely an leisure platform for anyone adequate. "The rationale the most effective international gamers play within the Premier League is as a result of we pay essentially the most cash," stated Southgate with a commendable baldness of reality. "The exceptional factor is that we're in a semifinal, however we solely have 33 per cent of the league to choose from. That's nonetheless an enormous drawback."
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