So at what point of a tournament is it more comforting to get knocked out? Semifinal... Quarterfinal... Group stage... Or not bother to qualify at all?
Perhaps. As a Spain fan that 2009 semifinal defeat hurt, probably more than if they had reached the final and lost to Brazil.
The thing is that when you reach the final, no matter what you can tell to yourself, you necessarily believe you can get the whole thing, because you actually can. France hasn't always been a title contender, I knew a time as a kid back in the 1980's when France was a 2nd-tier footballing nation. And when we reached the final for the first time in 1998, of course I was telling to myself this was already a huge success, no matter the outcome against Brazil. But I was lying to myself. In 2006, we weren't a favourite to win it all, but despite this, losing it was something totally heart-breaking. Of course I should feel lucky enough to come from a country breeding talented footballers who brought titles to their people, but there is something emotional in being so close to the thing and actually losing it which cannot be understood if you don't experience it by yourself. The only thing I can say is that I'm glad to not be Dutch. Because having reached thrice the world cup final to never win it should be something really awful to live.
Can it be, that Bolilo Gomez is now the only couch who made a world cup debut happen for TWO countries? 2002 with Ecuador, 2018 with Panama?
But the streak that every 12 years Italy is either in final or not here at all still holds: 1934- Champion 1946- No world cup 1958- Not qualified 1970- Finalist 1982- Champion 1994- Finalist 2006- Champion 2018- Not qualified
Bora didn't qualify Costa Rica. He took over before the World Cup but it was Marvin Rodriguez who qualified them.
I met Bora at the Chinese embassy here in Doha a couple of years ago. I think he may work with the Qatar youth academies... we were all in the normal line for getting Chinese visas, while he was in the back doing some stuff with the VIPs... on his way out I shouted, "Bora Bora!" and he smiled and shook my hand... and I was like "USA '94!" and he waved on his way out... was pretty cool. You meet a lot of random famous footballers here in Qatar
If Denmark go through today, would that set the new record for most Scandinavian sides at a single WC finals?
Yes, it would. There were three Scandia sides at Euro 2000 (Denmark, Norway, Sweden), but there have never been three together at the World Cup.
There has never been a Golden boot from the same Nation in consecutive World Cups. (I don't count the large gap between Cups during wars.) I am hoping Falcao does it for Colombia this summer though.
Gareca and Peru is an unparalleled situation. 32 years ago, Peru we're nine minutes from a world cup when Gareca scored against them and sent them to the playoffs. Per then lost to Chile. Now Gareca guides Peru to a playoff win and the World Cup.
man, i didnt know about that one... what a downer. interesting that they braced the 4 finals with failing to qualify at both ends of. the streak (last time not there in 58, 12 yrs ahead if the first final of that streak)
Gareca started the streak of Peru not making the World Cup and now he is the main reason why they are back in the World Cup.
It was such a cheat goal also. Gareca goes in with hands up and shoves a defender into the ball. Both ball and defender go into the goal.
2018 is the first WC that Peru has qualified for in which the players will need translators (unless they already speak Russian). All their previous appearances have been in Spanish-speaking countries (Uruguay 1930, Mexico 1970, Argentina 1978, Spain 1982)
I'm surprised Iran is so low. I would have thought they'd have at least a million followers outside of Iran. As for Iran itself, I don't think Twitter is banned there at this time.