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FIFA World Cup

Europe or South America, which continent is likely to win the World Cup?
22/06/16
12:24
sokapro-Europe or South America, which continent is likely to win the World Cup?

As the World Cup fast approaches, we take a look at which continent between the two has players that are superior in the game of football.

Ever since the World Cup was first played in 1930, it has only been won by nations originating from two continents, South America and Europe. Europe is the dominant continent with 12 titles while the South American continent has 9 titles. However, the last 4 world cups have been dominated by the European continent with France winning the 2018 edition, Germany the 2014 edition, Spain the 2010 edition, and Italy the 2006 edition. South America was last in the limelight when Brazil won the 2002 edition. Argentina were, however, runners-up in the 2014 edition as they failed to outsmart the intelligence of the Germans. So, which continent is the most likely to produce the world champions in the Qatar FIFA 2022 World Cup?

Brazil and Argentina are the favorites to win the world cup from the South American continent. The former has already won the global showpiece five times while the latter has two crowns. In the Qatar 2022 edition, Brazil are the current favorites to be the 2022 World Cup winners. Argentina are not so strongly fancied but have Lionel Messi and he is expected to lead them to glory in his last world cup appearance. Although Uruguay performs quite well, they are viewed as one out of the running for the title and the furthest they can reach is maybe a round of 16 or quarter-finals knockout stage. Argentina won the 2021 Copa America after they defeated their arch-rivals Brazil in the finals and they beat Euro 2020 champions Italy to win the Finalissima recently. The chances of overall success for the CONMEBOL federation rest firmly on the shoulders of its two giants, Brazil and Argentina. 

The Europeans are considered as the great favorites to win the 2022 World Cup. UEFA Euro 2020 champions, Italy are out of contention as they were unable to qualify for the world cup for the second time in a row. Europe boasts of having several football giants: England, France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, and the Netherlands. The continent also has the top five leagues in the World: Premier League of England, LaLiga of Spain, Serie A of Italy, Bundesliga of Germany, and Ligue1 of France. The quality experienced in this continent's football is a result of the investments that the nations have made in areas such as nurturing football academies. Italy and Germany are both four-times world champions. The reigning champions, France have won the treasured trophy on two occasions. England and Spain have been crowned as world champions once each. The European continent seems to have an upper hand in bagging this year's world cup and should it do so, it will be their fifth time consecutively. The battleground at Qatar, however, will be between these two continents but we can not rule out a surprise winner from another continent as well as there is always a first time for everything. It is also worth noting that the current top two players in the world Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo originate from South America and Europe respectively.