What have we learned so far - World Cup 2018

We should have learned something new by now - the whole group stage is about to be over after all. There is supposed to be more logic in the modern format of the World Cup, accidental teams are less likely to advance far enough - Turkey can't possibly be playing in semi-finals and neither can England. Accordingly, first three games by each team should be sufficient to make qualified conclusions.

As I'm watching the Argentina-Nigeria game, 1-1 at the moment, I'm realizing once again how important it is to have a good manager - no matter the star power you may be packing. It seems to be an obvious thought, doesn't it? Nothing new here. Except time and time again the management is ceded to the superstars of the game, and time and again the approach proves to be wrong. While Argentinian players believe they should control the lineup, the Spanish Federation thinks apparently that no manager is needed at all. Who's gonna manage Diego when he's to be provoked by defenders of the next opponent who know all the well about his fiery temper, or make necessary changes when Argentina creates a mess like the one I'm watching right now? Stars being stars, surely both teams score beautiful goals. Still, neither team is going anywhere - quarterfinals to be the top finish for Spain this year and the next round likely to make us witness Argentina ushered out.

A good manager, on the other hand, ensures a team comprised of zero stars to put in a solid performance - Iran being a perfect example of that on this particular tournament, and Greece winning Euro 2004 to be THE example of all time. Maybe it takes a great manager rather than just a good one to accomplish all that, but so does winning the World Cup - a phantom coach like Herrero wouldn't do here, neither choleric Sampaoli. It is especially sad to observe a team like Spain, which actually has a potential of winning the cup, to not even reach the final because the Federation had to make the whatever a bullshit point they had to make.

What else?

Well, we learned that as it always is the case the German national team are likely to sneak their way into the semi-finals or even the final no matter how bad they may be. Then it might take one Kinsmanesque dive and there they go again - winning the whole thing! Nothing new here either. Arguably, it isn't in German character to sneak around like this, not really - but paradoxically that is exactly how the Germans had won all the cups but the last one. Honestly, the 2014 World Cup is probably the only one they fully deserved to win. Which they did in a spectacular manner - no questions there. There are questions amounting about all their previous wins however... well, if you ask me...

We also learned that Russia was a fluke, another thing that we have always known, and that Portugal and Uruguay are as solid as it gets - nothing unexpected. France is a pleasure to watch and seems to be progressing with every game, but lacks the killer instinct - as every French squad with no Zidan in it ever has been. Brazil is too soft, it is the same as the previous edition and likely will be beaten by the likes of Croatia or Belgium, also possibly by Uruguay or Portugal - unless Coutinho starts wielding magic, the kind that everyone is in fact expecting from Neymar.

We have also once again witnessed the American commentary to the game, and once again it made sure to hardly make any sense. Stating repeatedly that Croatia come from nowhere, or celebrating initial wins of Russia and England as if they were something of an epoch-making importance, or actually expecting Mexico to go all the way - is annoying to say the least for anyone who somewhat knows the game. Not to disparage Mexico's win over Germany in any way, of course - because anyone who beats Germany or Brazil enters a special Hall of Fame of Giant Slayers and remains there forever...

So, the delusional commentary aside, in the factual world you need to have a perfect team to win the World Cup, with everything in place, whether it's a coach, or a depth of the bench, or a megastar at the heights of his game. You don't get yo win the World Cup unless you have Zidan, or Maradona, or Pele, or Iniesta, or Ronaldo de Lima, or Romario, or Kempes, or Rossi in the squad. Yet you may not win it even if you happened to have Roberto Baggio, or Platini, or Cruyff, or Neymar, or Messi. All the stars should be aligned in a perfect pattern: the whole squad, the management, the federation playing the right tune... only then you've got a shot at it. Then again, if you are Germany then you can tone every of these constituents down a notch and still go for it - they won't blame you, it's your Nordic right...

There are two teams that come close to perfect on this World Cup - it's Croatia and Belgium. This is actually news! Granted, Belgium was indeed expected to do very well, neither it would surprise anyone Croatia to put up a good fight. It seems now however that these are in fact the best two teams of the tournament, with two more possible additions such as Portugal and Uruguay. Has there ever been time quite like this before - national teams representing four small countries to be main contenders to the World Cup? Not in living memory!

There are of course the bracket gods who are gonna reshuffle the cards in their own way... and then there is also Germany... and perhaps Brazil too - two juggernauts that seem to always benefit from these gods. Still, if we don't see Croatia, Belgium, Uruguay, and Portugal all lined up in the semi-finals, I'm sure we will see at least one of them in the final or perhaps even winning the 2018 World Cup altogether.