Why are the South Americans so good?

[Archie's penalty]

Excellent showing from the continent's teams so far. Played 8 w 6 d 2 l 0 f 14 a 3. Is this their best showing ever? Why are they so good? While Europe sleeps the descendants of Simone de Bolivar and Hernan Cortes soar. I ask porque?

[AthleticoSpizz]

maybe they predominantly develop and play South American kids in their South American leagues?

[exileinleeds]

Not being an expert, but I wonder if it is because it seems every South American kid has a football attached to their feet from the day they can walk. Like the Africans I have met, every opportunity is spent playing and honing their skills and tricks in the streets.
Here of course, because kids cannot play on the streets without neighbours complaining, many gardens are so small we worry about broken windows, and our parks are entirely populated by paedophiles, our kids only get to practice once a week at school, and maybe an evening a week if their parents are prepared to put the time and effort and money into taking them to organised training sessions.

[Ian Royal]

Because they focus on technique and movement over physique and athleticism?

Because football is a genuine way for have nothings to make a life for themselves and climb out of shit holes?

[AthleticoSpizz]

...................and a lot of (what once were) school playing fields are now housing estates....housing (of course) kids going to schools without playing fields.

[Row Z Royal]

It's just tekkers m8.

[Archie's penalty]

I'm talking about this tournament. And Ian, that's a bit patronising. Plenty of poor people in Europe too.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

I'm talking about this tournament. And Ian, that's a bit patronising. Plenty of poor people in Europe too.

well in the last world cup, the 4 semi finalists were all European. European teams have never done well outside Europe. And in recent history, it really is only Brazil & Argentina

[Ian Royal]

I'm talking about this tournament. And Ian, that's a bit patronising. Plenty of poor people in Europe too.

Of course there are. But I'd argue that Europe is a different kettle of fish in that respect.

There are shit loads of poor people in England and footballers in England are paid shed loads, but that doesn't mean there is a big drive amongst those people to haul themselves out of the estates by getting a big footballing break.

[Arch]

I do think the money has shittened the european game, but the South American dominance in this tournament may just be an anomaly that has no broader explanation. With the capitulation of the major European teams and the underachievement of the Africans, the gauchos just happen to be the last people standing.

[Millsy]

In Europe we spend more time playing the Wii than we do going out keeping fit and playing football.

In South America they have no electricity so go out.

[Dirk Gently]

Read this and all will be revealed :

[cmonurz]

It's not rocket science. Fast, passing football >>>>>>>>> kick and run, especially with these balls.

[Urinal Mint]

Not being an expert, but I wonder if it is because it seems every South American kid has a football attached to their feet from the day they can walk. Like the Africans I have met, every opportunity is spent playing and honing their skills and tricks in the streets.
Here of course, because kids cannot play on the streets without neighbours complaining, many gardens are so small we worry about broken windows, and our parks are entirely populated by paedophiles, our kids only get to practice once a week at school, and maybe an evening a week if their parents are prepared to put the time and effort and money into taking them to organised training sessions.

everything but the silly paedophile comment.

[Sun Tzu]

Because they focus on technique and movement over physique and athleticism?

Because football is a genuine way for have nothings to make a life for themselves and climb out of shit holes?

There is more to Europe than Britain, many European countries have exactly that emphasis on technique right from the earliest age. And countr4ies like France, Spain and Holland have fairish record in world football.

And of course Germany - who perhaps tend more down the athletic / physique route.

So not sure that is the answer !!!

[Maguire]

There are many facets to football and a degree of comfort with the ball at your feet is but one of them.

There's no point constructing a team of fleet-footed, wiry skillsters if they haven't got the nuts to stand up and head away corner after corner with 6ft+ bruisers hanging off their shirt. The best teams still have tough centre-backs like eg. Walter Samuel.

I guess in countries like Spain and Portugal there are fewer full-sizes grass pitches (for either climatic or economic reasons) and so people play a lot more 5,6 and 7 a side football where the emphasis is on skill rather than aggression. I've played football in both of those countries and you do notice how much more comfortable everyone is with the ball than we are. Taking that as a microcosm of the differences between English and eg. Spanish or Brazilian football, it makes sense that multiplied up to the standard of international football then we see a fundamental difference in our approach to the game.

[Magnus]

Read this and all will be revealed :

Not reading all that. Can you summarise in a couple of sentences?

[Hoop Blah]

In terms of just their immediate success at this tournament it seems a little odd.

I'm not sure how the fixtures have fallen for the South American teams so far but with the number of games played by now they must've played a reasonable mix. The European big guns have all stuttered so far so that highlights the good start the South Amercians have made but it does seem a bit odd.

Does the altitude have anything to do with it perhaps?

Is the South American qualifying just doing a bit more to provide teams that little nbit better? Don't forget there are 13 (??) European teams in the competition and only about 6 from South America so Europe must have a few more weaker teams in there.

Perhaps the South Americans are also that bit more motivated to make an impression to earn the big money moves to the major European leagues?

[havoc]

Read this and all will be revealed :

Not reading all that. Can you summarise in a couple of sentences?

South Americans are gr8 coz they all grow up in favelas and cramped ghettos so have to hone their skillz coz they're playing in tight/small areas with no room just to hoof the ball about.


kinda pisses on the arguments above ^ that we're shit coz we built over all our parks.

[brendywendy]

cos they learn to play with bare feet and oranges on the streets of sao paolo/buenos aires/lima etc


we need to scrap our yoof football leagues, and start a new orange league