When continents collide
It was glorious and instructive to see Japan eliminate Denmark from the World Cup with its pulsating 3-1 victory over the Danes in Rustenburg.
Glorious because we, as members of the Asian football family, are allowed to rejoice at the success of one of our own.
Instructive because this World Cup is now destined to be remembered for upturning the record books and defying history.
Japan only confirmed this.
The major shocks are what’s happening to the favoured continents: Europe and Africa have both been decimated.
Europe has already lost six of its 13 entrants, including the two finalists from 2006, Italy and France.
In a worst case another two out of Switzerland, Spain and Portugal could go out when Groups G and H have their final rounds.
And by the quarter-finals, either England or Germany will also have flown home.
In 2006 there were six European nations in the quarter-finals. Now, best case, there will be four.
The chance of an historic breakthrough of a European county winning the World Cup outside its own continent is fast slipping by.
But far worse is what’s happened to the African nations.
On their own continent, they were hoping to have a level of unprecedented prominence. They do in terms of their visible presence, their boisterous fans and their smiles.
But on the field they have been atrocious.
Five of their six entrants are likely to be gone before the round of 16 with Ghana, thanks largely to Australia’s walloping at the hands of Germany, the only survivor. And I can’t see them getting past the USA in Rustenburg on Sunday.
The other continents are doing well, especially South America. As I write it is likely all five of their entrants will survive the group stage.
Asia too has done well. Korea Republic and Japan are in the knockout rounds while Australia only missed out on goal difference.
As has CONCACF with Mexico and USA both through.
It’s possible still that this World Cup will have a European winner, with the Dutch now looking the best of them.
But the times appear to be changing and their dominance of 2006 will not be repeated.
http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/les-murray/blog/1010679/When-continents-collide