The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Europe extending winning streak to 4
MOSCOW — The World Cup is staying in Europe, and it’s not even a close race.
All four semifinalists at this year’s tournament in Russia will be European. The most powerful continent in world soccer is also assured of having its fourth straight title winner from a fourth different country.
Europe’s overwhelming dominance in club soccer — fueled by wealth to hire the best global talents — is also playing out on the World Cup stage.
South America’s last hopes at the tournament were eliminated Friday in the first two quarterfinal games. Brazil, the last non-European title winner in 2002, was beaten by Belgium 2-1, and Uruguay lost to France 2-0.
The all-European final foursome was completed Saturday: England beat Sweden 2-0, and Croatia defeated Russia 2-2 (4-3 on penalty kicks) in the other two quarterfinal matches.
Asked 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 semifinals in 2010. Back then, Uruguay was 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 21 of the 32 places next season.
Europe got 14 places in the 32-team World Cup lineup in Russia (44 percent), even though it currently has 20 of the top 32 teams in the FIFA rankings. European dominance increases deeper into the bracket: 10 of the round of 16 teams (62 percent); six of the quarterfinalists (75 percent); all of the semifinalists (100 percent).
A total of 74 percent 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 — onethird of the total.
Regardless, the final World Cup week in Russia is all Europe, all the time.