Who will be the first to win the world cup?

EdenHazard

Just something thinking about there playing Football Manager?

Well I can't add a Poll, but let's say

US
China
India
Some African Country
Ireland :P
Russia
Japan

Who has best chance of winning a world cup? Putting Russia in bit stupid considering they already produce quality players(but no real world class one in my lifetime) and have a world cup on home soil in 6 years

Helix

the states will win it in the next 2 decades imo

the game is the most played now among kids there, and the popularity is growing all the time. it's only a matter of time before they start producing world class talents, given their population

EdenHazard

Yeah I think so too, I wish we got it in 2022, that would have been special, I think by then US will have produced some real top quality players(Like Donovan, Dempsey etc. are very good players but not really close to the top two tiers of footballers that need to be produced. Thought Adu would be the first, then Altidore, altho Altidore not doing bad in Holland this season so who knows.

If you look at the evolution of the USMNT from the 1994 World Cup to the 2010 team and then use it as a yardstick by which progress could occur by 2026 then I think theres a real chance(and be surpised if they aren't_ that they will be the equivelent of Holland or Portugal by then.


The next big thing is meant to be Agudelo, for NY Red Bulls, I don't know how good he'll be tho, but he scored against Argentina and been on trial with Stuttgart and Liverpool the past month. Brek Shea will also be a good player

MrStuffins

Helix wrote: »

the states will win it in the next 2 decades imo

People said that 18 years ago too.

USA will NOT win the World Cup in the next 2 decades. It's just not gonna happen.

All of the best athletes are eaten up by the big American sports there. Why would some kid wanna continue to play Soccer if he can make big bucks playing Basketball? Or Gridiron?

The soccer players will be the ones who weren't good enough at the other sports and that might make a good team yes, but a World Cup winning team? Not in my opinion.

tvercetti

Its fair to say the US will improve massively in the next 2 decades but unfortuntely for them, the current top teams will continue to improve, the US will be playing catch up for a long time, I'd expect an African team to win the big one before the rest.

Helix

18 years ago football wasn't the most played sport in the states. it is now. the growth there has been huge in the last decade. i dont think people actually grasp how big the game is getting there

EdenHazard

tvercetti wrote: »

Its fair to say the US will improve massively in the next 2 decades but unfortuntely for them, the current top teams will continue to improve, the US will be playing catch up for a long time, I'd expect an African team to win the big one before the rest.

Not really, theres not that much the top teams can improve on and at end of day its a 11 vs 11. Today US isnt even far behind these teams as shown in 2009 Confed Cup and WC 2010. If USA improve massively in next two decades they will easily be one of the best teams in the world(on paper)

Glico Man

EdenHazard wrote: »

Yeah I think so too, I wish we got it in 2022, that would have been special, I think by then US will have produced some real top quality players(Like Donovan, Dempsey etc. are very good players but not really close to the top two tiers of footballers that need to be produced. Thought Adu would be the first, then Altidore, altho Altidore not doing bad in Holland this season so who knows.

If you look at the evolution of the USMNT from the 1994 World Cup to the 2010 team and then use it as a yardstick by which progress could occur by 2026 then I think theres a real chance(and be surpised if they aren't_ that they will be the equivelent of Holland or Portugal by then.


The next big thing is meant to be Agudelo, for NY Red Bulls, I don't know how good he'll be tho, but he scored against Argentina and been on trial with Stuttgart and Liverpool the past month. Brek Shea will also be a good player

Imo, a midfielder named Marc Pelosi who is currently at Liverpool will be one to watch in the next few years. Only played a handful of games but has shone in every one of them.

Liverpool also have another US wonderkid by the name of Villyan Bijev who is currently on loan at Dusseldorf. Was phenomenal for the youth team in preseason and was snapped up by the Reds. Couldn't get a work permit for him so shipped him off to Germany for the year. Also looks like he could be a serious talent

MrStuffins

Helix wrote: »

18 years ago football wasn't the most played sport in the states. it is now. the growth there has been huge in the last decade. i dont think people actually grasp how big the game is getting there

18 years ago it was growing and growing. WHich is why people were saying he'd see a USA team win the World Cup within 20 years.

It's 18 years later and the sport is still growing but let's b honest, the USA have gotten no closer to even reaching a significant stage of the World Cup, never mind winning it!

Since 1994 they've been to 1 QF, 1 2nd Round and gotten KO'd in the group stage twice. It's not happening in the next 20 years.

Liam O

Helix wrote: »

18 years ago football wasn't the most played sport in the states. it is now. the growth there has been huge in the last decade. i dont think people actually grasp how big the game is getting there

still, their football is always going to be the big draw, though maybe the Northern states will start to produce more soccer talents, I'd assume it's more widely played up in the middle/north than down south...

EdenHazard

Oh forgot the one that got away Guiseppi Rossi, wouldn't have been a bad addition

I havent' lived in usa since i was 6 but I think what it does lack is a just get a ball and go for a kick around outside that it does here in ireland and other countries. most of us in our youth put in so much hours playing football we don't even realise it whenever i go back to where i lived, ive never seen any kids just kicking a football around like you would see here(thats just in my experience so it could well happen for all i know)

Helix

MrStuffins wrote: »

18 years ago it was growing and growing. WHich is why people were saying he'd see a USA team win the World Cup within 20 years.

It's 18 years later and the sport is still growing but let's b honest, the USA have gotten no closer to even reaching a significant stage of the World Cup, never mind winning it!

Since 1994 they've been to 1 QF, 1 2nd Round and gotten KO'd in the group stage twice. It's not happening in the next 20 years.

now they're one of the top 12 or so in the world, 18 years ago they were mickey mouse

regardless of their world cup performances, its hard to argue that the improvement has been absolutely massive, and it's only now that we're seeing the kids coming about that wouldve really been born into an america where the game is actually properly improving

before 94 it's fair to say it was never viewed as a serious sport, since then we're starting to see an ever increasing number of kids where it IS their main focus and their main sport

american football is still massive there, no doubt, but proper football is now seen, legitimately, as a serious option for a huge number of kids

Sindri

The National team though isn't that interesting for Americans because a lot of the players aren't American in that they are Hispanic.

JPA

Helix wrote: »

18 years ago football wasn't the most played sport in the states. it is now. the growth there has been huge in the last decade. i dont think people actually grasp how big the game is getting there

Statistically it's the most played but isn't a lot of that down to the fact that young kids don't play American football for safety reasons? How many continue to play past 15 or 16?

EdenHazard

Sindri wrote: »

The National team though isn't that interesting for Americans because a lot of the players aren't American in that they are Hispanic.

Thats just not true, at all.

amacachi

Liam O wrote: »

still, their football is always going to be the big draw, though maybe the Northern states will start to produce more soccer talents, I'd assume it's more widely played up in the middle/north than down south...

I'd've thought it was being played a good bit in the South with the big Latino populations around there. Played less in "The South" though I'd assume.

MrStuffins

Helix wrote: »

now they're one of the top 12 or so in the world, 18 years ago they were mickey mouse

Well this isn't true. If you're going on FIFA Rankings then they are 33 which is almost their worst ranking since the records began! (They were 34 last year)

regardless of their world cup performances, its hard to argue that the improvement has been absolutely massive, and it's only now that we're seeing the kids coming about that wouldve really been born into an america where the game is actually properly improving

before 94 it's fair to say it was never viewed as a serious sport, since then we're starting to see an ever increasing number of kids where it IS their main focus and their main sport

american football is still massive there, no doubt, but proper football is now seen, legitimately, as a serious option for a huge number of kids

This may all be very true but you can't expect the Americans to churn out a World Cup winning side in their first generation of serious soccer players.

It will take generation after generation. it definitely CAN happen, but IMO it's not happening in the next 20 years.

EdenHazard

Producing the players they do now could see them win a world cup with luck and stuff, like it be unlikely but as possible as any team outside the big sides winning it

Sindri

EdenHazard wrote: »

Thats just not true, at all.

Quite a few are, and it's seen as a Mexican/Latin sport. There not as popular as you'd think.

cson

I think you're overstating how big it is over there Helix, I've spent two summers in Chicago and the Fire are reknowned as being one of the best followed teams in the MLS, the national team regularly play in Soldier Field from what I can tell and it doesn't register over there bar a footnote in the Tribune/Sun-Times/Redeye.

Its all about the Bears, Cubs and Bulls not to mention the Blackhawks and Sox.

And that's reflective of almost every city in the States I would think.

So no, I don't think they'll be lifting the World Cup within the next 4 stagings of it.

A well coached African team will come closer as the continent develops; a decent coach and 2/3 more borderline world class players and the Ivory Coast could have gone far the last World Cup.

cson

Sindri wrote: »

Quite a few are, and it's seen as a Mexican/Latin sport. There not as popular as you'd think.

Yeah that'd be my impression too. Fire have a huge Mexican fanbase.

Look at Chivas too for example.

EdenHazard

Sindri wrote: »

Quite a few are, and it's seen as a Mexican/Latin sport. There not as popular as you'd think.

Theres a good few of them obviously but thats its not the reason Americans don't care about the actual team, it being a 'immigrant sport' tho yeah definetly by some a reason.

In game against panama there recently i count no hispanics, delagarzas dad is mexican thats it

Sindri

Would love to see an African win it.

Some of them have an unreal amount of quality available to them.

Imagine if half the French team actually played for the countries where they or their parents came from?

Algeria would be fairly serious contenders.

Helix

cson wrote: »

I think you're overstating how big it is over there Helix, I've spent two summers in Chicago and the Fire are reknowned as being one of the best followed teams in the MLS, the national team regularly play in Soldier Field from what I can tell and it doesn't register over there bar a footnote in the Tribune/Sun-Times/Redeye.

the biggest support doesnt come for the major league teams in any sport in the states really, it's the grass roots stuff

have you ever been to a college sports game? it's bloody ridiculous

they get better crowds than some premiership teams

Helix

JPA wrote: »

How many continue to play past 15 or 16?

more now than ever, and its growing all the time

cson

Senegal would have had Vieira and Evra off the top of my head.

Sindri

Algeria would of had Zidane, Benzema and Nasri.

EdenHazard

Helix wrote: »

the biggest support doesnt come for the major league teams in any sport in the states really, it's the grass roots stuff

have you ever been to a college sports game? it's bloody ridiculous

they get better crowds than some premiership teams

Also thats the equivelent of saying football isnt big in ireland because if you go into any pub a bohemians match vs bray wont ever be talked about and barely registers in newspapers unless you know where to look.

cson

Helix wrote: »

the biggest support doesnt come for the major league teams in any sport in the states really, it's the grass roots stuff

have you ever been to a college sports game? it's bloody ridiculous

they get better crowds than some premiership teams

College Football is off the chain over there. I've seen Notre Dame [and the crowds they'll bring for the Croke Park match will be crazy] and the crowds/ what they pay the coaches... but soccer? I don't know but I doubt it somehow.

Jesus Wept

Jesus Wept

Sindri wrote: »

Algeria would of had Zidane, Benzema and Nasri.

Just not all at the same time. Three good players aren't going to win you a world cup.

cson

EdenHazard wrote: »

Also thats the equivelent of saying football isnt big in ireland because if you go into any pub a bohemians match vs bray wont ever be talked about and barely registers in newspapers unless you know where to look.

That's a rather silly comparison to make.

Ireland isn't a million miles removed from the situation in the US in that it has competing sports that are a threat so to speak, rugby and GAA take their fair share of young Irish athletes. Its still the number one participation sport and of course probably the most followed; you're local bar should guide you as to that.

I'm not seeing it on anywhere near the same scale in the US; the Champions League Final report had about a 1/4 page 4 pages into the Sports section of the Tribune. If that's the interest in club footballs biggest showpiece then thats saying something imo.

Fact is that Football, Baseball and Basketball are all far more ingrained in the US social consciousness than soccer will ever be [I'm using soccer here to differentiate it from NFL]. It will never accede to the top because the others are just far more important to your average American. I don't doubt that it will improve and gain more of a share in the future but enough to generate players capable of winning the World Cup within 20 years? Absolutely not.

cson

EdenHazard wrote: »

US Not within the next 20 years
China Not in my lifetime
India Cricket Country
Some African Country Distinct Possibility, best chance out of those mentioned
Ireland :P Maybe if went the NZ All Blacks route and banned everything else except Football
Russia Outside chance
Japan Would have made more inroads by now if it was going to happen

There ya go.

EdenHazard

Well then how about Japan? Big population, football is supported and producing quality players at the moment.

Sindri

The-Rigger wrote: »

Just not all at the same time. Three good players aren't going to win you a world cup.

I know but the quality of the immigrants from the Maghreb in France is unreal as well as from west Africa.

Giggsy11

I can safely say India wont win for sure.

Crazy Horse 6

Russia

El Horseboxo

Soccer is no where near the most played sport in America amongst kids. Basketball and American football are way ahead of it. In every school and university the amount of funding those 2 sports get in comparison to other sports is ridiculous. The coaches are untouchable and have a huge draw about them. Any kid playing soccer that shows athletic promise that a coach thinks translates well into basketball or football is hounded to make the switch. A lot of them do due to the popularity of them and coaches will sell it with the whole Jock lifestyle of girls and lee way with grades. I'm Latino and raised in America and from experience a lot of the Latino players want to play for their ancestral countries. Goes more so for kids from traditional families.

Bounty Hunter

Russia could win it now with Luck but I dont expect them to progress much beyond that status atm though I could be wrong.

The Africans could with a lot of luck but if infastructure could improve and they could keep all their top players from plying their trade elsewhere (France) they could stand a real chance.

The USA have the infastructure and a growing base of players but it will take time before they are at the level of real contenders though they could reach Russia level if they get a good crop coming through together soon enough.

The others would be someway down the list as football isnt either the top sport or sport in general may not be a big thing (thats been my experience of China anyway were kids in general dont seem sporty or too botherd by sport).

Mr. Presentable

China. 25% of the world's population, all they need is to make it a project.

USA? So kids are playing "soccer", they have been since the last "now the world will see what we can do" in 1994 and are no better now than then. Mostly also-ran athletes play Association Football in the USA - the best play "real" sports.

It will be hard for any nation to shift the power houses of the World Cup, even Spain will find it hard to get a second. You only have to look at the experience of England, who have always had the best team and players, yet only won once, at home, with help.

Bounty Hunter

Mr. Presentable wrote: »

China. 25% of the world's population, all they need is to make it a project.

but they dont give a sh!t about football here or often Sport itself. Kids in some countries are given footballs etc at a young age to encourage their development here they are given pictures of famous buildings and building blocks or english/music lessons etc.

Mr. Presentable

Bounty Hunter wrote: »

but they dont give a sh!t about football here or often Sport itself. Kids in some countries are given footballs etc at a young age to encourage their development here they are given pictures of famous buildings and building blocks or english/music lessons etc.

Agreed, but of the list they have the most potential. They just need to want it.

Ferris_Bueller

Mr. Presentable wrote: »

You only have to look at the experience of England, who have always had the best team and players, yet only won once, at home, with help.

That's a good point. Can't see any of them countries winning it any time soon, if I were to pick one it would probably be Russia, club football is getting stronger and stronger over there, already produce good standard of player, hosting a WC in 6 years, they should have the best chance of the lot.

African countries always seem to produce some real world class players, and usually at least one does well enough at a WC, but I think the problem is overall their team/squad isn't great, they rely too much on certain individuals - while some players in the squad would be very poor in comparison.

Japan and USA both have the potential to become good, particularly the States, but they have had this potential for a while now and still aren't half as good as the top 8 teams or so in the world.

tolosenc

What nonsense the lot of you are talking. Clearly, Ireland 2014.

gustavo

Mr. Presentable wrote: »

. You only have to look at the experience of England, who have always had the best team and players,

Really ?

Seriously like ?

EdenHazard

Mr. Presentable wrote: »

China. 25% of the world's population, all they need is to make it a project.

USA? So kids are playing "soccer", they have been since the last "now the world will see what we can do" in 1994 and are no better now than then. Mostly also-ran athletes play Association Football in the USA - the best play "real" sports.

It will be hard for any nation to shift the power houses of the World Cup, even Spain will find it hard to get a second. You only have to look at the experience of England, who have always had the best team and players, yet only won once, at home, with help.

Both wrong. USMNT is a different class to what they were in 94 and England to be fair tend to always have a good side but never are they the best in the competition on paper(or in results) in my lifetime

Sir Gallagher

Whats USMNT?

EdenHazard

us mens national team

Warper

Helix wrote: »

the states will win it in the next 2 decades imo

the game is the most played now among kids there, and the popularity is growing all the time. it's only a matter of time before they start producing world class talents, given their population

If its about population then India and China would have won it by now. As would Russia. The next first timer will be Russia imo. Has Portugal ever won it and has England only won it once in 66?

EdenHazard

Portugal shouldn't be in a chance to win it though it's just they produce so many players relative to population. I think Belgium looks like the new Portugal, similar population and currently are producing some quality youngsters

Orando Broom

Bounty Hunter wrote: »

Russia could win it now with Luck but I dont expect them to progress much beyond that status atm though I could be wrong.

The Africans could with a lot of luck but if infastructure could improve and they could keep all their top players from plying their trade elsewhere (France) they could stand a real chance.

The USA have the infastructure and a growing base of players but it will take time before they are at the level of real contenders though they could reach Russia level if they get a good crop coming through together soon enough.

The others would be someway down the list as football isnt either the top sport or sport in general may not be a big thing (thats been my experience of China anyway were kids in general dont seem sporty or too botherd by sport).

Andrew Luck won't leave American Football. I'd wager he'll be the QB for the Colts after the draft.