Powerhouse! ... Define powerhouses. Is your NT one of them?

[Ethan Rom]

What is really a powerhouse?

Fans from traditional participants of the World Cup, or in european cases, the EUROCUP, (this, because in Conmebol they don't need to qualify to a Copa America), are always bragging about how pwerful their NTs are, about their superstars (at least according to what the player gets paid), about how "in paper" sublime these teams can be. But the reality is that in every tournament only one team can call themselves: the Winner.

Which teams can really be called Powerhouses?

Those who are proven winners? or/and those that got "world class stars" (I call them in some cases: overpaid bums).

We know Brazil is the main powerhouse currently, they won the last WC and recently just won the Confeds Cup rolling over powerful Argentina. Plus they have won everything (except for the olympic gold medal :D ).

So, who else dares to call themselves a Powerhouse and what are their merits?

[king_saladin]

Fans from traditional participants of the World Cup, or in european cases, the EUROCUP, (this, because in Conmebol they don't need to qualify to a Copa America), are always bragging about how pwerful their NTs are, about their superstars (at least according to what the player gets paid), about how "in paper" sublime these teams can be. But the reality is that in every tournament only one team can call themselves: the Winner.


No, that isn't true! If a NT wins a major tournament without having a bunch of superstar players, it must be a fluke. ;)

I think the only ones right now are Brazil and Germany. Maybe Argentina.
I do think there are other football powerhouse nations (Italy, England, Spain... etc)... but I'm just talking about the actual national teams.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Is your NT one of them?

Not quite. :(

[copaantl98]

Not a powerhouse for now.

[The Old Lady Hertha]

Not a powerhouse now, but will always be regarded as one when every Euro or WC tournament comes along.

[astabooty]

Nope, not close.

[Ethan Rom]

Us, no longer one! But don't count us out!

U.S., hopefully one day!

[Colm]

Is your NT one of them?

Not quite. :(:D

well i'd consider my country in the top 6 and we have won a world cup, we have lots of footballing stars so i suppose we are a powerhouse

[Ethan Rom]

No, that isn't true! If a NT wins a major tournament without having a bunch of superstar players, it must be a fluke. ;)

I think the only ones right now are Brazil and Germany. Maybe Argentina.
I do think there are other football powerhouse nations (Italy, England, Spain... etc)... but I'm just talking about the actual national teams.


Greece's triumph gives ordinary men hope. People outside of England considered the 1966 win an ugly achievement, but they won it fair and square also non south americans (with the obvious exception of brazilians and brazilian lovers), thought that in 1978 Argentina won the crown undeservedly.
The greeks looked solid, and they beat without having to go to the penalties definnition, the best NTs in Europe, and they took care of the Guese twice in their on soil. So fluke or not they were winners but not a football power. Good point.

[mad theory]

england?

definitely.. :cool:

[MIGkiller]

The biggest of all.

[P1brit]

No, that isn't true! If a NT wins a major tournament without having a bunch of superstar players, it must be a fluke. ;)

I think the only ones right now are Brazil and Germany.

I'm trying to remember the last time Germany beat a european team of any signifficance

[Germanshepherd]

I'm trying to remember the last time Germany beat a european team of any signifficance

Northern Ireland 4:1! :cool: just one month ago.

[king_saladin]

I'm trying to remember the last time Germany beat a european team of any signifficance

What European teams are significant? Greece are the champions of Europe. :rolleyes:

[Rewinder]

What European teams are significant? Greece are the champions of Europe. :rolleyes:

And George Bush is the president of America

doesnt make em special.

[Latin Pride]

I'm trying to remember the last time Germany beat a european team of any signifficance

I'm trying to remember the last time Germany beat ANY team of any signifficance

[Germanshepherd]

lolol, enjoy it people. The day will come. Klinsmann will get the job done.

[GoodDead]

Greece's triumph gives ordinary men hope. People outside of England considered the 1966 win an ugly achievement, but they won it fair and square also non south americans (with the obvious exception of brazilians and brazilian lovers), thought that in 1978 Argentina won the crown undeservedly.
The greeks looked solid, and they beat without having to go to the penalties definnition, the best NTs in Europe, and they took care of the Guese twice in their on soil. So fluke or not they were winners but not a football power. Good point.

are you talking about the English or Greeks?

[argentine soccer fan]

World Cup powerhouses? In my view there are four: Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Italy

I look back at the last ten WC finals. Why ten? I know it's arbitrary, but it is a nice round number, plus they are the tournaments which were held during my lifetime.

Which are the teams which keep showing up time after time?

Brazil 4 times, 3 wins.
Germany/W.Germany 6 times, 2 wins
Argentina 3 times, 2 wins
Italy 3 times, 1 win.

2002: Brazil-Germany
1998: France-Brazil
1994: Brazil-Italy
1990: W.Germany-Argentina
1986: Argentina-W.Germany
1982: Italy-W.Germany
1978: Argentina-Holland
1974: W.Germany-Holland
1970: Brazil-Italy
1966: England-W.Germany

These are also the four countries which have won the most points if we add up WC results based on wins and loses.

I suppose if we want to consider the really old days we could add England and Uruguay for sentimental and historical reasons. But Uruguay has faded, and England needs to make at least a couple more finals to stand with the big four.

Other than that, France won one and Holland came close a couple of times, but they need to do quite a bit more to join the club. Everybody else is a long way away from consideration.

[Paul.eta]

South Korea isn't one of them
In Asia we are considered the powerhouse :D