I do love that the fact that Dest even knows that the Copa America is traditionally played in SA is seen as some sort of ding against him. That's the kind of reach will pull a muscle in your back. lol.
This quote by the late Giorgio Chinaglia answers your question [bolded]: "It's the money, you moron" (a frequently spoken, with attribution, by Charlie Stillitano on SiriusXM FC's 'The Football Show')
That wouldn't explain the three S American countries that aren't a part of CONMEBOL. If CONMEBOL had to take those three plus half of the Caribbean nations they would be a lot more likely to want to combine with CONCACAF. Even CONCACAF would be better if we just chose the 10 biggest (maybe I should say best) countries and qualifying consisted of home and way matches.
Whelp. I didn’t realize there were South American countries that were not in CONMEBOL. My point still stands: it is silly to host the CONMEBOL tourney in a non-CONMEBOL country. Obviously it makes financial sense or they wouldn’t do it, but it is weird and an unnatural situation to do so. What other region does that?? African Cup in Romania? Asian Cup in England (football coming home!)?
The US does offer the most neutral environment of the countries involved in the tourney. Mexico has the greatest home court advantage when they play in the US, but otherwise, not even the US will dominate the crowds or the environment.
I agree with Dest's comments generally, though I also agree that they sreflect a certain lack of understanding. He is a very wealthy young man because football is (run like) a business. I think the problem - CONMEBOL's problem, FIFA's problem, our problem - is that hosting big tournaments has become so expensive (in proportion to the uncertain economic rewards) that only the wealthier countries and/or those with the requisite stadiums and infrastructure already existing can afford to host.
In non-Copa news, he starts: Your PSV side today! 🔴⚪️#PECPSV pic.twitter.com/m4cOblOMo4— PSV (@PSV) February 24, 2024 Match is on ESPN+.
His assist today: link Another fantastic cross. You just can't give someone who crosses like that that much space.
There’s also pretty large diasporas of many of the CONMEBOL countries who will definitely turn out for games.
My hope for Dest in the 2024-25 season - another full year on loan at PSV, with Barcelona covering his salary in his final season under contract with them. It would be amazing to take a week or two and go to South America to support the US in the Copa America, so I agree with Dest here. I've wanted to travel to support the US in a major tournament for over a decade now. I unfortunately was not able to go to Brazil in 2014, and because of that I've basically had 0 other opportunities, as I never considered going to Qatar (or would have considered going to Russia). Generally, you're right IMO. World Cups seem like they will rotate among the rich countries of North America, Europe, and the Pacific Rim, along with any authoritarian governments who want to spend on prestige projects.
Remember when GB used to get criticized for playing Dest at left back or saying he could be the backup there in case of injury?
It seems pretty clear to me that he is better offensively playing on the left. He still needs to work on his technique when getting to the endline to defend crosses IMO... but I like him a lot at LB. Nice to see Scally getting some minutes there too for Gladbach. Really nice to have FBs that can be trusted on both sides of the pitch.
Folks were mad that he didn't take but one left back to the WC. It was pointed out that both Dest and Scally could both play there. It was a big disagreement here at the time.
You have look at the players in combination. GB wasn’t wrong in theory, but he was in practice. Dest didn’t play LB in Qatar, and Scally didn’t play at all. Dest was not 90’ fit himself, so 1) he was only able to run himself into the ground on the right, while 2) Robinson ran himself into the ground on the left, and 3) Scally stayed on the bench, while sub-optimal subs grabbed Dest’s leftover RB minutes. Bosz seems to have gotten this right at PSV, starting Dest and Teze most frequently, but regularly spelling them with van Aanholt. Of course a lengthy club season is different from a compressed tournament, but the common element is that you have to identify … and trust … backups at each position.