KP’s World Cup Bites: Busting the myth – Why the Europeans DO have a chance

By Kate Partridge. With the first round of World Cup group matches over and a dramatic second round underway, Kate Partridge brings us the first of her weekly bite-size blogs - with a European flavour.

Politicians of all persuasions have long made “the case for Europe”. I’m going to do the same for football – though from Sugarloaf Mountain, not a butter one.

First, a bit of myth busting. “No European nation has won the World Cup in the Southern Hemisphere” is a statement parroted more than it’s checked. Only in 2010, Spain beat Holland 1-0 at Soccer City in Johannesburg in decidedly sub-Saharan South Africa.

It is true that no European team has won a World Cup held in South America, though only four of the 19 finals completed so far have been staged there.

Way back in 1930, Uruguay won in Uruguay and, twenty years later, sent Brazil into national mourning by stunning their giant neighbours in Rio. In 1962, Brazil redeemed themselves by triumphing in nearby Chile, while in 1978 Argentina won in Argentina. Thus, with two of those four winning on their own soil, you could argue it’s actually better to be a host.

So the Europeans have proved. Italy have won in Rome. West Germany have won in Munich. France have won in Paris. Even England have won in London.

But as hosts and in South America, Brazil must therefore be the favourites? And Argentina have to be up there too? Of course.

Brazil’s World Cup record is unparalleled. Seven-time finalists, five-time champions, and a pantheon of footballing deities from Pele and Garrincha to Zico, Romario, Ronaldo and Neymar to quicken the pulse of decades of worshippers.

Similarly, Argentina: four-time finalists and two-time winners, led by flawed genius Diego Maradona and now the messianic Lionel Messi. The odds and the (hand of) gods are in their favour.

Yet, there’s also recent history and other, European, Titans. In 2006, after Zinedine Zidane’s shock nutting of Marco Materazzi, Italy edged France on penalties to claim their fourth crown. Then the dormant Spanish rose from their slumbers to become twice European as well as world champions. Holland, third time the bridesmaid in South Africa and yet to wear the laurels, have a point to prove. Then there’s Germany.

You must be good when your international nickname is simply “the team”. Die Mannschaft are. Three-time winners, four-time runners-up, twelve-time semi-finalists, at least a last-eight appearance in the last 15 tournaments – and never been champions as a unified Germany. What better a place to mark that honour than at the Maracana?

After an opening week that saw a risible penalty decision help Brazil overcome Croatia then toil against Mexico, and Argentina require a flash of Messi brilliance to beat Bosnia-Herzegovina, by contrast the Dutch humiliated mighty Spain and Germany brushed aside Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.

For now, I’m looking North.

With reigning World and European champions Spain now out, have all hopes faded of a European winner in South America? Or do you think the Germans or the Dutch can mount a serious World Cup challenge?

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