1. Having trouble logging in by clicking the link at the top right of the page? Click here to be taken to the log in page.
    Dismiss Notice

Sleeping Giant Football Nations

Discussion in 'World Football' started by Armagh-Bhoy, Aug 15, 2013.

Discuss Sleeping Giant Football Nations in the World Football area at TalkCeltic.net.

  1. murphy88

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2010
    Messages:
    17,341
    Likes Received:
    7,343
    When talking about things like this I always bring it down to the mentality of the country towards football. I always remember when playing under age football, somebody in the team always got told to go through the oppositions best player early doors. I might be being naive here, but I cannot imagine that being the case in Spain, Brazil etc.
     
  2. Dallas Cowbhoys

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2012
    Messages:
    6,447
    Likes Received:
    691
    Uruguay and Croatia are exceptions. You always get exceptions.

    Russia, Germany, France, Italy, England, Spain. They're the 6th most populated countries in Europe in order. Brazil and Argentina are two of the three most populated countries in South America. Colombia has 6 million more people than Argentina.

    You can't deny that population has a massive influence on a country's national football team, along with the other factors.
     
  3. 31B404 Gold Member Gold Member

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2013
    Messages:
    9,530
    Likes Received:
    38
    Yes, it seems a very British thing. Man the * up etc.

    We also have small kids playing eleven-a-side at young age and on full size pitches. That's idiotic. Would be good to have young children playing small five-a-side games on small pitches to improve ball control, movement, passing and vision etc at an early age.

    Nobody plays stuff like Futsal either.
     
  4. murphy88

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2010
    Messages:
    17,341
    Likes Received:
    7,343
    Belgium, Portugal, Greece, Bosnia, Netherlands, Croatia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Ecuador and Ivory Coast are all in the top 20 in the Fifa rankings but not one of them are in the top 50 in the world for population.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 15, 2013
  5. McChiellini..

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2012
    Messages:
    103,488
    Likes Received:
    75,078
    Location:
    Looking down on the mutants..
    Fav Celtic Song:
    For those who are in love.....
    Yep population can't be classed in this sleeping giant thread for me...

    China,India etc are bigger than most footballing nations but they are just * at football...
    Same with Pakistan they not far off the same population as brazil but brazil would easy put double figures past them everytime..

    Maybe someone like the Czechs right now maybe or Hungary
     
  6. Intellectually Absurd Gold Member Gold Member

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2013
    Messages:
    9,653
    Likes Received:
    101
    Location:
    Glasgow
    Fav Celtic Player:
    Henrik Larsson (obvious choice ehh?)
    Thats exactly it. There is no focus on technique. Its all just doing your best to score, whether that be playing beautifully or lofting it up the field and hoofing it in.

    The mentality is totally different. Hence why Scotland will only ever prosper if we sort it out at the bottom - right at the bottom.
     
  7. Dallas Cowbhoys

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2012
    Messages:
    6,447
    Likes Received:
    691
    There's other factors, as have been mentioned. The interest in football and the proper footballing infrastructure.

    And the rankings are a bit of a joke anyway. Colombia 3rd, Brazil 9th, Greece 11th, France 23rd.

    But to go by the rankings if you want, the highest 3 ranked South American teams have the highest populations in South America.

    Spain, Germany, Holland, Italy, Portugal, Croatia, Belgium, Greece, Bosnia, England, Switzerland, Russia, France are the 13 European teams with the highest Fifa world ranking.

    In order of population size in Europe - RUSSIA, GERMANY, FRANCE, ITALY, ENGLAND, SPAIN, Ukraine, Poland, Romania, HOLLAND, BELGIUM, GREECE, PORTUGAL - are the 13 countries with the largest populations in Europe.

    Croatia, like Uruguay, I'd class as an exception. With Ukraine, Poland and Romania, it's probably their lack of a proper footballing infrastructure that's letting them down, with them being lesser economically developed countries than the others.
     
  8. Vinnie BBQ Justice is lost Justice is raped Justice is gone.

    Joined:
    May 29, 2011
    Messages:
    16,060
    Likes Received:
    5,191
    Location:
    Drenthe
    Belgium....massive talent there.
     
  9. CelticKurd

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2010
    Messages:
    5,613
    Likes Received:
    798
    Location:
    Berlin,Germany
    Fav Celtic Player:
    Georgios Samaras
    Fav Celtic Song:
    Celtic Symphony and Willie Maley
    japan,turkey and nigeria
     
  10. Diegan

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2007
    Messages:
    8,192
    Likes Received:
    235
    Fav Celtic Player:
    Henrik Larsson
    Fav Celtic Song:
    Fields of Athenry
    The US obviously because of the sporting infrastructure and facilities. Kids come from England/France/Germany on scholarship to the universities and they say that even the facilities at their schools are better than most 2nd division level facilities back home. In the next 10 years or so you'll see a huge push. Apparently the kids born in 1998 and 1999 and after are immensely talented coming up through the new MLS academies. The biggest problem here was always coaching but that's being fixed as players are groomed for first team action rather than emphasizing winning with a bunch of 10 year olds playing on full sized fields.
     
  11. RocknRolla67

    Joined:
    Nov 27, 2009
    Messages:
    3,761
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Pride of Lowell
    Fav Celtic Player:
    All of Em
    Fav Celtic Song:
    YNWA
    United States has the longest winning streak of any International team in the world :50:
     
  12. Big Boss Gold Member Gold Member

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2012
    Messages:
    2,107
    Likes Received:
    19
    British football is stuck in the same old mentality of tall, strong and fast players and being very physical which will never work. That's why diddies like Welbeck are in the England setup - tall, strong, quick, and a hard worker but * all technical ability.

    Something needs to change at grass-roots, and by grass-roots, I mean young children. The first emphasis should be pass the ball, not let's see who can beat every defender or who can hoof it up to the boy up front. It needs to change or British nations (and Ireland) will never win a major tournament for a long time.
     
  13. Farmer

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2012
    Messages:
    2,733
    Likes Received:
    96
    Location:
    Canada
    Canada really should be better than we are. We are a rich country with great sport culture, infrastructure and tons of quality athletes. The problem up here is that soccer is a basically just a participation sport from a young age and doesn't focus on competitiveness or skill building. All of our top athletes, training and competitive focus goes to hockey. I would like to think that's starting to change now that the MLS is getting very popular and gaining some traction in the pro sports market, but only time will tell if it will have an effect. Canada should take a good hard look at what Sweden is doing, because they have a much lower population but are still able to put out lots of good football players and hockey players. Not sure why Canada can't do the same.

    USA is a sleeping giant for sure and with places like Seattle selling 67000 tickets to MLS games you would think they will definitely be on the rise soon. Soccer is definitely starting to come of age over here in North America, and especially in the States with all the concussion problems and murders/crimes in the NFL, maybe parents will think twice before putting their kids in gridiron football.
     
  14. Diegan

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2007
    Messages:
    8,192
    Likes Received:
    235
    Fav Celtic Player:
    Henrik Larsson
    Fav Celtic Song:
    Fields of Athenry
    Canada's a good one. Once you guys get your * up administration fixed you'll be good to go. Canada has actually already produced some good talent, you just lose them to different countries.
     
  15. Celtic Serbia

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2010
    Messages:
    2,569
    Likes Received:
    8
    Fav Celtic Player:
    Rogić
  16. murphy88

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2010
    Messages:
    17,341
    Likes Received:
    7,343
    Belgium were definitely a sleeping giant, but all their top quality players seemed to have come through at the same time now. I remember when the WC Qualifiers got drawn, I was going to bet Belgium to win their group with Croatia runners up. Totally bottled it though. You were getting a great price on it as well.
     
  17. murphy88

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2010
    Messages:
    17,341
    Likes Received:
    7,343
    Aye, in their respective Continent they have the largest populations, but if you look at it from a worldwide point of view, which should be the case to be fair, there are a lot of teams that are punching above their weight compared to others, in regards to population. Some of the most populated countries in the World are hopeless at football. I think a lot of it comes down to the countries mentality is towards football. How they try and get the team to play the game etc. Having a great bunch of players coming through at the same time doesn't hurt either I suppose.

    Belgium are a great example, they don't have a large population, but all their good players have come through at the same time just now, and they look a top side.
     
  18. Dallas Cowbhoys

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2012
    Messages:
    6,447
    Likes Received:
    691
    It shouldn't be the case, because as frequently mentioned, it's not just about population. It's that along with a nation's interest in the game, and having the right coaches and facilities.

    It doesn't matter that India has 1 billion people if they all like cricket. Just like how a country like Romania might not being able to afford proper facilities.

    But in countries that have an interest in football, and have the proper infrastructure, then generally speaking, the countries with larger populations have the best teams.

    I say generally speaking because you always get exceptions, these being Croatia, Uruguay and Belgium at this moment in time. In 20 years it might be Slovenia, Norway and Switzerland. But they will still be always be along side Germany, Spain, France etc.
     
  19. Biggie Smalls

    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2013
    Messages:
    7,190
    Likes Received:
    11
    Location:
    Govan
    Fav Celtic Player:
    Kris commons
    Got to be the USA. Excellent sport infrastructure and a huge population. Now that interest in football is going up they should become a major force in the future.
     
  20. Hibby

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2011
    Messages:
    987
    Likes Received:
    1
    China are sleeping midgets.