The World Cup solely comes round as soon as each 4 years, giving the common participant 4 to 5 possibilities to participate in a single over the course of their quick profession.
The nature and setup of the competitors means there aren’t any free rides, no losable video games; it’s important to hit the bottom operating and discover a option to get a end in seven matches over one month with a purpose to have a shot at glory.
Some groups handle this successfully, producing a mode of soccer that permits them to operate as one thing higher than the sum of their components. Others usually are not so lucky, and find yourself trying like little greater than a bloated, costly mistake.
On that notice, let’s check out a few of the most disappointing groups from this 12 months’s World Cup.
Okay, so that they had been the lowest-ranked host nation in World Cup historical past. But we nonetheless anticipated just a little bit extra from Qatar.
In the 12 years since they had been awarded the competitors by FIFA, Qatari officers have waxed lyrical concerning the cash that has gone into bettering their nationwide setup. From creating the home league, to nationalising international gamers with a purpose to make them eligible to symbolize Qatar, quite a lot of money and time went into making a facet that might be considerably aggressive on the worldwide stage.
Zero factors and one aim scored later, it feels as if Qatar may have used one other decade to organize a practical group for this competitors. Maybe subsequent time, lads.
If you thought together with Qatar on this record was harsh, we’re solely simply getting began.
Wales had been participating of their first World Cup since 1958, and plenty of will let you know that even qualifying this time round was such an achievement that the outcomes do not even matter. Still, is it flawed to have anticipated extra from a facet containing Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey?
Robert Page had loads of expertise to name upon in his squad, with a very good variety of his gamers being Premier League regulars. In the top, although, Wales had been outplayed by every of the opposite three sides of their group, scraping a draw with the USA and being soundly overwhelmed by Iran and England.
Remember when Denmark reached the semi-finals of the Euros final 12 months? It looks like a lifetime in the past now.
Kasper Hjulmand’s facet had been anticipated to be darkish horses in Qatar, however in the end managed to win only one measly level in opposition to Tunisia and suffered a shock defeat to Australia to crash out of the competitors on the group stage.
It could be simple to argue that Belgium had been by no means prone to win this World Cup. After all, half their gamers got here out and stated it earlier than the event even kicked off.
Yes, their group was outdated, however Croatia confirmed {that a} bunch of canny, skilled gamers can nonetheless management video games regardless of their athleticism being in decline. Why could not Belgium do the identical with a squad containing De Bruyne, Hazard, Lukaku and so many others?
Next, let us take a look at a facet who may have gone all the best way, however fell pitifully quick.
Spain’s squad had a lot potential, that includes World Cup veterans corresponding to Sergio Busquets alongside the brand new technology of Spanish expertise corresponding to Barcelona maestros Pedri and Gavi. Throw in a supervisor with the pedigree of Luis Enrique, and what may do flawed?
Quite lots, because it seems. Spain’s possession-heavy, quick passing model was simple on the attention, however didn’t present the proper steadiness for worldwide soccer. Spain had no leading edge, no approach of turning that intense possession into incisive assaults, leaving the likes of Alvaro Morata and Ferran Torres stranded up entrance.
After scraping by means of the group stage following a defeat in opposition to Japan, Spain crashed out within the final 16 by the hands of eventual semi-finalists Morocco. Enrique has since resigned, and the character of Spain’s exit has led to some soul-searching over how future Spain sides ought to play.
Ultimately, if we’re rating essentially the most disappointing sides at this World Cup, there can solely be one winner.
Having dissatisfied on the final World Cup and at Euro 2020, Germany had been decided to indicate indicators of enchancment in Qatar. With youthful expertise corresponding to Kai Havertz and Jamal Musiala able to take over from the outdated guard that gained the World Cup in 2014, they regarded sturdy sufficient on paper to at the very least attain the knockout part.
Then Japan occurred.
A shock defeat by the hands of the Blue Samurai left Germany reeling, and whereas they had been ready to attract with Spain, failure to win both of their first two video games means the win over Costa Rica got here too little, too late.
Where Germany go from right here stays unclear, however what is evident is that they should develop a leading edge earlier than Euro 2024.
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