The fact that some highly ranked football nations in the world did not make it to this 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup competition, would have sent the clear message that there no longer are minions in this global football space and stage.
Great football nations like Italy – FIFA ranking: 12, Denmark – FIFA ranking: 20, Nigeria – FIFA ranking: 26, Ukraine – FIFA: ranking 32, Poland – FIFA: ranking 35
While Cape Verde that is ranked 67th by FIFA is there.
Though Argentina won, but …
When one seats and considers the qualifying match between highly ranked Argentina and lowly Cape Verde, and how Argentina huffed and puffed, and eventually extricated them selves from a near shock lose from the cluches of a the little African team, one can only conclude that though Argentina eventually won, but … This is a match that went solidly into the added time. Tot he shock of the watching world.
This is also the case of England that rescued themseves from the steely hands, or feet of the D R Congo team.
We also saw this repleted in the match between Belgium and Senegal, the controvercial African AFCON finalists or champions, considering how one looks at that case. This is a match if one believes that there is something like white juju, then it was applied in this case. Belgium, out of the blues levelled a two zero deficit eight minutes to the end of the match. They even went on and won that match, to the congratulations of the world and the unmatching glee of all Belgians.
The competition continues into the finals stage, with unexpected countries like Switzerland and Norway still there. Meanwhile, Brazil, Germany, Netherlands and some other highly rated countries are gone.
