[Charged with breaking down the European qualifiers, David Patrick Lane takes a moment to tell us what he really thinks. Next Group 7. Serbia, France, and yes, our Austrian friends will soon make an appearance.]
The 1970 World Cup was a watershed moment for the modern game, if for no other reason than it was broadcast in color. Color TV sets were a newfangled invention then, though many folks have continued to watch World Cups as if they were taking place in snowstorms.
There have been 10 World Cups since 1970. That’s 40 different semi finalists. Yet only four have come from outside Europe.
Argentina, Brazil, South Korea and Uruguay.
The beautiful game. The global game. Call it what you will. It is all of the above. But World Cup finals do tend to be very European affairs. They may be not as white as the World Swimming Championships, but they could certainly do with a little more fruitiness.
Nine African and South American places at the 2010 World Cup is not fair and balanced.
Such limited access has not stopped black or mongrel nations from winning or producing the greatest players. Brazil has won more World Cups in this period than any other nation. And who can imagine football without Maradona? Yet the B Roll continues to be dominated by Europe.
I am not looking to discount the great achievements of perennial powerhouses like Italy and Germany, the marvelous contributions of the Dutch or French or the plucky performances of the likes of Poland and Sweden, but I fear I would rather watch paint dry than most of the likely 13 UEFA qualifiers in this World Cup. Spain do have the promise of an Almadovar script. And England, for once, also look like they’ll be an exception. You won’t find anyone anywhere more Mongrel than Wayne Rooney!
Let’s hope the switch from Analog to Digital that seems to be cascading around the world will herald some real color from South Africa in 2010. I am close to being bored of brutal looking European center halves hoofing long balls forward while being blankly cheered on by their fellow country folk with their crucified face-painted national symbols. It’s time we had millions of Algerians, Hondurans and Zambians pixilated across our screens cheering as their teams tackle the commanding heights of the football world. It’s time we had some fruity finals.
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