When Football Follows Its Own Logic

Germany, Brazil, Uruguay, and Portugal are, by widespread consensus, the major disappointments of this World Cup. While it's easy to say that now, despite high expectations, all four teams exhibited serious underlying issues. At the root of Germany's problems lies an identity crisis within Teutonic football, impacting the very genetic makeup of its players, coupled with a generational gap in the defensive sector. Julian Nagelsmann further compounded this with leadership-compromising decisions, including unfulfilled promises and his handling of the Neuer situation.

Brazil had to integrate Neymar to elevate the genius coefficient of a Seleção that lacked a leading Vinícius Júnior to carry them deep into the tournament. There were tricks, feints, great passes, and some goals, but more is always expected from such a game-changer. The crucial step of uniting everyone around a singular objective has yet to be taken. In the interim, Neymar was little more than a luxury accessory. "Finished," as Jorge Jesus famously declared. Interestingly, among these four cases, only Ancelotti retains the faith of his club's management.

Meanwhile, Marcelo Bielsa attempted to evolve the Uruguayan squad from individual duels and direct football to a more sustained, possession-based game. 'El Loco' got lost in an overload of information, his tactical choices—such as chaining Valverde to a flank—and even his messaging, never truly harnessing the 'garra charrúa' spirit in the Americas.

Portugal was never a favorite, nor even a true contender, lost in misunderstandings and the 'status quo'. Their football was poor and timid, and a genuine team capable of expressing such incorporated talent never truly materialized.