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Will the FIFA World Cup ever see a new-age winner?

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Shivaji Dasgupta
New Update
Argentina vs France

New Delhi: My late neighbour Rupak Chatterjee, a football fanatic, was convinced about the legacy ceiling in the FIFA World Cup. He believed, as well proven by data, that only a few age-old nations had the genetic self-belief to win, however skilful other aspirants may be.

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A quick rewind will confirm that blue-blooded Latam nations ( Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay way back in time) and the European stalwarts ( France, England, Spain, Germany and Italy) have won the trophy and mostly populated the finals. Netherlands and Croatia have come breathtakingly close while Portugal also belongs to this unrequited pedigree, but the erstwhile Eastern bloc has invariably fallen short, including the magical Magyars of Puskas vintage and the USSR in multiple denominations, in spite of Oleg Blokhin and such stars. 

Even before extending the argument to Africa, the debate in Europe and even Latam is rather intriguing. As in why, in spite of such voracious popularity and grooming cultures, sides like Belgium, Mexico, Chile or Russia fail to make the real cut. In muscularity as well as intensity, they should be at par with their neighbours, but in the finest stage, the barriers have never been bridged. A fine case is Belgium, in spite of possessing a golden generation of talent, they faltered severely in FIFA 2022.

A quick survey of other comparable sporting disciplines, team or solo, will confirm the uniqueness of this pattern. Tennis, Badminton, Squash or sundry Olympian disciplines regularly produce eclectic heroes from hitherto unknown climes while Hockey and Cricket are rather too niche, although in the latter most significant entities have won big. Each time a new age nation succeeds hugely in a sport as such, it inspires others to emulate and this becomes a pattern that continues.

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So, how exactly can this legacy ceiling be adequately defined? Clearly, the barrier is mental and not physical as Louis Figo and Christiano Ronaldo would then never enjoy such wealth of individual glories. Perhaps, it is stage fright at its worst, the absence of glorious precedence leading to an incomplete show, not fulfilling the actual potential. Psychologists often call it the Imposter Syndrome, a scenario where folks genuinely believe that they don't deserve the stature that is thrust, in this case, say a semi-final berth.

So, how can this situation be reversed and will there ever be a new age non-legacy winner? My hunch is that it will be an Asian country - Saudi Arabia, Korea or Japan whose economic superstardom will infuse gigantic doses of self-confidence, a trailer of which was 2002 by Korea or the cameos of 2022. Skillsets naturally have to develop but in the last few decades the journey has been staggering, and keen observers will confess to this pattern. 

Africa, in spite of so much talent, is likely to miss the bus as the brightest talents are obsessed about relocating to Europe and embracing the successful ecosystem. The other European nations will try gamely but the emotional insufficiencies are possibly way too entrenched. This is why, in spite of historical and physical limitations, Asia is well poised to lift a World Cup in the near future. 

As long as that does not happen, the much-feted World Cup will remain a Euro-Latam fiesta, with some side shows filling up the residual slots. In the meanwhile, I am actually rooting for France on the 18th in Argentina vs France FIFA World Cup finals, as the obsession with Messi is getting rather messy, for what is surely a genuine team sport.

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