World Cup continues to surprise
Upsets, draw almost ensure a shock finalist
MOSCOW — The World Cup is hurtling toward the end of its 21st staging, and though soccer is the most global of all games, success at its finest tournament has been reserved for a handful of bluebloods.
Anyone can play (as long as you qualify). But while the World Cup has allowed all kind of hopefuls and pretenders to peek through the glass ceiling and gaze at the sport’s ultimate trophy, that’s as far as it goes. Only eight nations have won the event across its 88year history, with only two new champions in the past nine World Cups.
Yet after a spate of stunning results and big names who were dispatched from Russia, the championship has, with eight teams left and the quarterfinals imminent, opened up significantly.
Significantly enough that the likelihood of a long-suffering nation finding its way into the winner’s circle is far greater than normal. A quirk in the draw has seen the left side of the bracket remain stacked while the right side is situated in a way that a shocking finalist is guaranteed.
Russia and Croatia will face off in one quarterfinal, with the Russians having never progressed past the group stage since the breakup of the Soviet Union. The U.S.S.R. did make one semifinal, placing fourth in 1966. Croatia also has one last four finish, in 1998, when it lost to France in the semifinals.
Sweden or England will face the winner of that game. The Swedes reached the final in 1958 and the semifinal in 1994 but have never lifted the elite trophy. England, despite winning it all on home soil in 1966, perhaps has an even more tortured World Cup tale, falling short on a number of occasions, often courtesy of a penalty shootout.
One of those four teams will be playing in the final in Luzhniki Stadium a week from Sunday. None of them was expected to do so at the start of the tournament. Russia was the lowest ranked team in the event, at No. 70, but cruised through its group before ousting Spain on penalties thanks to the goalkeeping heroics of Igor Akinfeev.
Croatia and Sweden have defied expectations, while England has repeatedly talked down its chances but now has an expectant nation back home believing its time has come again under head coach Gareth Southgate. Certainly, it has never had a better chance to repeat that success from 52 years ago.
The other side on the draw, however, is a murderer’s row of star-studded teams that have all shown dominant form. Brazil is automatically among the chief contenders in any tournament, thanks to its extraordinary pedigree and a record five World Cup titles.
Neymar has come under fire for his annoying habit of diving and feigning injury, but he is the best player remain- ing and has the ability to turn games by himself. France, spearheaded by dynamic youngster Kylian Mbappe, has surged its way to this point but faces its toughest challenge in a Uruguay team that has Luis Suarez in imperious form. France has a solitary Word Cup title; Uruguay won the very first event in 1930 and added to its tally 20 years later.
Making up the contingent on that side of the draw is Belgium, winless in World Cups but long considered one of the most dangerous teams in the event. It survived a scare by coming from two goals down against Japan but has the fearlessness and the ability to believe it can go all the way.
If Belgium makes it through, it is possible that only one former winner could be in the semifinals, the first time that has happened since 1998.
There has been a lot to like about this World Cup: plenty of goals, high-octane entertainment and even Russia putting on a friendly face for the throng of traveling fans. But its unpredictability has been an unexpected joy, one that could give an unheralded nation a shot at a moment of cherished history.
Only eight nations have won the World Cup across its 88year history in its first 20 editions.