MOO #15 – FIFA World Cup – 2022

Well the biggest sporting event came and passed and as always left us with fond memories. The just concluded 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar left us dumbfounded once again as we witnessed Argentina crowned champions for a first time since 1986 in what was a mouthwatering final against defending champions France. The world cup is the world cup. More than just football. Infact football is only a camouflage for culture and diversity and obviously like any competition between men it’s a battle of intelligence. The design of the game of football is such that it is centered around problem solving. The setup on the football pitch is such that the team that solves the problem significantly and efficiently turns out victorious. So as much as many people may not see it this way, football is really about intelligence. It’s a test of intelligence in a group of 11men. The men who manage to get that ball into the opposition net on multiple occasions gets the job done and are declared champions. It is for this reason that football teams all over the globe invest heavily in their routines, have their players and manager paid reasonable wages just to ensure that they are given the best opportunity to showcase their intelligence and yess the fact is some men carry a little bit more intelligence than others and this is why we have occasions like the world cup finals. So again most people don’t see this but the FIFA World Cup finals is a grand stage of judgement. Its at this stage that our eyes are opened to see who is the best and who is obviously struggling. Believe it or not whatever happens at the FIFA World cup tournament is always reality. The success stories, the failure stories, the horrific stories and the disappointments. As far as the 2022 FIFA World cup tournament was concerned, Argentina and the gentlemen from Argentine turned out most successful and hence most intelligent ofcos closely followed by the Frenchmen. This is the judgement that happens at the World cup tournament and there’s no room for pretence or hiding whatsoever. Every participating nation is exposed for their strengths, weaknesses and everything in-between. The 2022 edition of the FIFA World cup exposed so much. Not only did we get to crown Argentina as the nation with the most intelligent men but we were also able to see the other nations that were not as successful. Respectfully speaking its just the design of the tournament showing u who is good and who is not so good. This is the judgement that befalls us every four years.

Kudos to Morocco who exhibited an exceptional performance at the 2022 FIFA World cup in Qatar on behalf of the African continent by getting to the semi-final stage for the first time ever in African history. It was a truly remarkable tournament for the North African giants and it was enjoyed every step of the way by all Africans. The usual suspects for Africa Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana all came up short handed unfortunately in Qatar. Ghana who paly such a beautiful brand of football failed to overcome what has now become a boogey side from South America; Uruguay whom they played in their final group stage game failing to get the much needed victory. Same outcome for the Cameroon the indomitable lions, who also exited the tournament prematurely despite exhibiting a classic and famous victory over the Brazilians in their final group game and even that brilliant display from their captain and talisman Aboubaker was not good enough. Africa’s other hopes lay on the shoulders of the Lions of Teranga; Senegal who were able to overcome the group stage hurdle only to collide with European giants; the three lions of England. This collision at the round of 16 turned out disastrous for the Senegalese as they got blown away in a brilliant footballing display by the English. Not a bad attempt by Senegal but so much more was expected from them with the array of talent, experience and exposure that they do have at their disposal. A lot more is expected from the African nations but it was without doubt a tournament unforgettable for Africa because Morrocco was so close to pulling off the impossible as they got to that semi-final and yess Africa will be hoping to go just one step further in the next edition.

Yess the Europeans are the bosses of world football and history has this on record. The European nations are more often than not relentless and merciless when it comes to the FIFA World cup tournaments. Germany, Spain, France, Italy, England, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Portugal, Turkey, Belgium you name it. These are all footballing powerhouses who show up at a FIFA World cup tournament with expectations none less than a championship or at least a semi-final appearance and these nations for some reason always seem to deliver. This is the level of expectation with these European nations because they are so good. Europe is home to some of the best and most competitive football leagues and also home to the very prestigious if not the most prestigious club football competition in the world – the UEFA champions league which is a dream for every footballer. So Europeans are like the core of World football, expectations at the world cup tournaments are always sky level and there are barely any disappointments. France are the most recent heavy hitters from Europe after that 2018 victory in Russia in that all European final match up. Germany also coming through strong after that unforgettable 2014 tournament where they blew away everyone and ofcos Spain who won the tournament in the first African edition in 2010. The Europeans have earned their respect in the game of football over the years. Well the 2022 World cup tournament in Qatar was not too far from another excellent showpiece for the European teams. A repeat of the 208 edition in Russia we had France and Croatia both making the semi-finals again. As always so much was expected from the Germans but they unfortunately came up short this time round at the group stages. For the nation of Germany this is totally forgivable since we all still hold a vivid memory of that 2014 footballing massacre that they orchestrated in Brazil taking home all the glory. The Dutch are another European powerhouse that always shows up with high expectations. Louis Van Gaal’s troops this time round put up a decent tournament and had almost outsmarted eventual champions Argentina in a dramatic quarter-final clash before loosing out in a penalty shootout and prolonging their wait for a world championship even further. So yess from a Dutch perspective it was yet another disappointing or maybe unlucky tournament. Great expectations also lay on the Belgian team rich with talent and yet again failing to perform and going home at the first time of asking. Great disappointment also loomed large for the English who are now counting 57years since they lifted the prestigious World cup trophy. You get the feel that time is running out for England and maybe just maybe they may never win the world cup ever again. If theres any team in Europe whose world cup disappointments weigh in a little more than others then it has got to be England. The English love and cherish football more than most and never fail to make an appearance at a FIFA World cup tournament. Gareth Southgate again rallied his very decent and very talented squad for Qatar 2022 only to fall short when it mattered most and this remains a mystery for England. It’s a situation for the English FA that’s been prolonged since 1966 with seemingly no solution. Since that memorable 1966 tournament that England won, it has been disappointment after disappointment after disappointment for the three lions at every attempt and sadly 2022 in Qatar was no different. England put on a great footballing display in the group stages to qualify and went on to impressively eliminate African giants Senegal at the round of 16 only to falter at the hands of defending champions France in a manner that was notably forgettable. Skipper Harry Kane’s failure to convert a spot kick and salvage a nation more desperate than most for success at the event was completely inexplicable. God only knows what Harry Kane was thinking as he stepped up to take that penalty against France but definitely no English football fan would ever want to revisit that moment. One could point to the pressure of coming up against club teammate in Hugo Illoris but as England captain that’s no excuse really. So obviously we’ve got to question the mentality and preparations in the England camp. How do they mentally approach a quarter-final matchup against defending champions France, put up a very good game with a brilliant footballing display and then have the captain of the ship sqander a spot kick to keep them in the tournament. This was bizarre and clearly something must have gone wrong somewhere. The penalty lacked composure, lacked ruthlessness and for a nation that’s not lifted the prestigious trophy in over 50years, it was a little reckless from the skipper. So much thinking to do for Gareth Southgate and his English camp because even he French players were a little surprised to walk away from that quarter-final with a victory as they had been outplayed. For England, the long gruelling wait continues. The Italians were the other major disappointment from Europe after failing to make the tournament for the second consecutive time. So much for their pedigree but they were a no show. Kudos to the French national team and star man Kyllian Mbappe for coming so close to retaining a world championship, something that’s never been done before. They were clinical and exceptional in all their games especially in the final coming from behind to force a penalty shoot-out with Argentina. The Croatians too have come a force to be reckoned with from Europe in recent years after making it to two consecutive World cup semi-finals and ofcos that final appearance in Russia 2018.

The Americas also had a great representation at the 2022 edition of the FIFA world cup with USA and Canada from North America whist Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, Colombia representing South-America. The USA did well to make the tournament and played well too before falling to a decent Dutch team at the round of 16. Canada too did well to make an appearance at the tournament but for both nations obviously so much work still needs to be done for any chance of ever getting to the summit of this great competition. They will be the hosts in the next edition of the tournament in 2026 which may present an incredible opportunity to make a strong statement for relevance before the eyes of the entire world.

South American giants Argentina and Brazil need no introduction nor explanation. They are always and will probably always be among the favourites for every world cup tournament and history has it that these 2 nations are 2 of the best and most competitive at the world cup. Their fans always expect nothing less than ultimate victory and anything short of that is always a massive disappointment. Brazil are still the undisputed record holders having presumed victory at the world cup tournament of 5 different occasions. No other nation has been in position to do anything like this. The Brazilian are also responsible for gifting us some of the most memorable and iconic names the world of football has ever seen. The likes of Pele, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldihno, Roberto Carlos, Kaka, Neymar to name a few powerful superstars who have had their roots in the nation of Brazil. Quite significant. Equally significant are the guys from Argentina who were eventual winners at the 2022 edition in Qatar but only just following a close 3-3 game that was concluded in a penalty shootout against defending champions France after extra time. Argentina had started the game well and taken a convincing lead by half time only for their coach Lionell Scaloni to make a few strange and bizarre substitutions that tilted the game in favour of the Frenchmen. Angel Di Maria had been the Argentines best player in the game but as mysteriously substituted a change that opened up the game to the Frenchmen who began to counter a comeback. The Argentines were very lucky to hold on through extra time and eventually hold out in a penalty shootout to be crowned 2022 champions. Similar to Brazil, the Argentines have given the world a few unforgettable footballing icons over the years. The likes of Diego Maradona, Lionell Messi, Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria to name a few powerful names of the game having their roots in Argentina. The Argentines got to lift the trophy this time round and their star man Lionell Messi was able to get his hands on maybe the only accolade that has been missing from his massive collection.

The Asians also had representation at the FIFA 2022 world cup in Qatar. South Korea coming off as the best Asian flag bearer with an incredible 2-1 victory over the Portuguese before respectfully falling to Brazil at the round of 16. Japan was another huge Asian representation at the tournament shocking the entire world with those 2 victories over European giants Spain and Germany and making it to the round of 16 where they narrowly lost to Croatia in a penalty shootout.

There was also relevant representation from the Arab world with the seemingly consistent Saudi Arabian nation making their 6th appearance at a world cup finals tournament and a second consecutive following an appearance in the 2018 edition in Russia. The Saudi Arabians opened their tournament with a shock memorable victory over eventual champions Argentina. Impressive and historic but they were unfortunately unable to make it out of the group stages. Qatar wee the other Arab representation who were automatic entrants in the tournament as hosts making a first time appearance in the tournament since their independence in 1971. Unsurprisingly they played 3games and lost all 3 to Senegal, Netherlands and Equador which were all exceptional footballing teams in all fairness.

So there you have it. The FIFA 2022 world cup tournament in Qatar coming to a dramatic conclusion as Argentina and football icon Lionell Messi were crowned champions for a 3rd time in their history. They got one over European giants and defending champions France who had eliminated them at the quarter-final stage of the tournament in the Russia 2018 edition. So Argentina walking away with the label of champions meant that they walked away from Qatar as the most intelligent men in the world. Yess many will disagree with this but the world cup is a stage of judgement and a test of intelligence. Football is a game of intelligence and the most intelligent team will always prevail. Kudos to team Argentina and Lionell Messi and the next 4years will give us an opportunity to tell if they are still the most in Telligent men in the world at the 2026 edition of the FIFA World cup in the Americas. We look forward to that.

End.

About Author

Kirenda Timothy Cosmas

Hi am Cosmas Timothy African name Kirenda. Am a Ugandan male born on April 1st 1991. Am a proffessional writer and author. This is my part-time contemporary blog page MOO – Matter Of Opinion where i reveal my hard-thought personal opinion on some of the most interesting and most popular global matters. Feel at home!

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