What's the best soccer country per capita?

[DanRod78]

In few words what country is the best keeping in mind their population.
That's one reason why everybody thinks the US sucks, they have the same population than Brazil.

I would say
1- Uruguay (3.5 million)
2- Costa Rica (3.9 million)
3- Holland (16 million)
4- Paraguay (6 million)
5- Portugal (10 million)
6- Denmark (5.3 million)

I think this is very interesting, because Brazil always screw all the other South American teams because they have so many players to choose from.

[the101er]

No contest: Uruguay. They've won 2 world cups. It doesn't matter that it happened over 50 years ago. They've won it and the others on your list haven't.

[Bumptious Rex]

FIFA Rank / Population

Netherlands 4 / 16 Mil
Czech Rep 6 / 10 Mil
Denmark 13 / 5.3 Mil
Ireland Rep 14 / 3.9 Mil
Belgium 16 / 10 Mil
Croatia 20 / 4,4 Mil


Ireland gets my vote

[sinner78]

china
bangladesh
scotland

[Stinkey Turner]

Originally posted by DanRod78
In few words what country is the best keeping in mind their population.
That's one reason why everybody thinks the US sucks, they have the same population than Brazil.


It is? All this time I thought people just thought we sucked becasue we just sucked...we'll if that doesn't just take all!
:rolleyes:

[Scotty]

Uruguay, Croatia, Rep. of Ireland

[Justin O]

If you want the best per capita soccer country in recent years it has to be Iceland. In qualifiers for EURO 2000 Iceland drew with France in France's first meaningful match after WC '98. In group play they went on to beat Russia and tie Ukraine in Kiev. They weren't mathematically eliminated until the last day. In qualifying for EURO 2004 they were winning their group, ahead of World Cup finalist Germany, going into the last match day. They ended up dropping to 3rd behind Germany and Scotland.

All that with 275,000 people. No, I didn't forget any zeros. That's fewer than Luxembourg, Cyprus, Malta and others. Most countries they play have several cities with more people than that.

[Stinkey Turner]

Originally posted by Justin O
If you want the best per capita soccer country in recent years it has to be Iceland. In qualifiers for EURO 2000 Iceland drew with France in France's first meaningful match after WC '98. In group play they went on to beat Russia and tie Ukraine in Kiev. They weren't mathematically eliminated until the last day. In qualifying for EURO 2004 they were winning their group, ahead of World Cup finalist Germany, going into the last match day. They ended up dropping to 3rd behind Germany and Scotland.

All that with 275,000 people. No, I didn't forget any zeros. That's fewer than Luxembourg, Cyprus, Malta and others. Most countries they play have several cities with more people than that.

gotta admit, that's very impressive!

[RoverMax]

Ireland develops a lot of talent for a small country. John O'Shea, Roy Keane, Robbie Keane, and Damien Duff are all very good players, and there are a bunch of other good Irish players as well.

Holland develops a lot of talent and is a nation of only 16 million.

[nicodemus]

Originally posted by DanRod78
That's one reason why everybody thinks the US sucks, they have the same population than Brazil.
Brazil's population (182 million) isn't even remotely close to that of the US (290 million.)

[Craig the Aussie]

Especially given that in Ireland there is major competition from gaelic football, hurling & rugby.

[sinner78]

Originally posted by USAMax34
Ireland develops a lot of talent for a small country. John O'Shea, Roy Keane, Robbie Keane, and Damien Duff are all very good players, and there are a bunch of other good Irish players as well.

Holland develops a lot of talent and is a nation of only 16 million.

alot of irelands team is english with distant irish heritage .
Even the irish born players are largely developed by english clubs.

[DanRod78]

Damn, that's very impressive from Iceland.

I stick with Uruguay and Ireland.

After Argentina and Brazil, I believe Uruguay is the toughest team from South America.

In the FIFA webpage it says:
Ireland has participated in 3 WCs (1st time in 1990)
Zero continental titles

Uruguay has participated in 10 WCs
14 times Copa America champions
Uruguayan stars: Diego Forlan(Manchester) and Alvaro Recoba (Inter)

[Wolves_67]

Originally posted by Justin O
If you want the best per capita soccer country in recent years it has to be Iceland. The first place I thought of when I saw the thread title.

[Bizzo]

Originally posted by sinner_ronald_monk
alot of irelands team is english with distant irish heritage .
Even the irish born players are largely developed by english clubs.

I would dispute using the word 'distant'. You can only go back as far as your grandparents. They are hardly the only country that is helped by players who weren't necessarily born, raised & developed for their country they represent.

[DanRod78]

Originally posted by Bizzo
I would dispute using the word 'distant'. You can only go back as far as your grandparents. They are hardly the only country that is helped by players who weren't necessarily born, raised & developed for their country they represent.

Could you explain that a little better, because it would make a difference on the discussion that we are having.

[Justin O]

Originally posted by DanRod78
Damn, that's very impressive from Iceland.

I stick with Uruguay and Ireland.


In terms of recent results, I don't think Ireland, Uruguay or anyone come close to Iceland. Assuming the above posts are true, Ireland has 3.9 million while Uruguay has 3.5 million. That's 14 and 12 times more people than Iceland respectively. I don't know how one precisely calculates such things, but I can't imagine any form of calculation that would rate Ireland or Uruguay's recent performances 12 or 14 times better than Iceland's!

[kckicker23]

All I have to say about Iceland is: DAMN! That's really impressive.

They get my vote...

[DanRod78]

What are they eating in Iceland?

[tophergannon]

Originally posted by sinner_ronald_monk
china
bangladesh
scotland

China?