African Teams at This World Cup

Abel Tasman

Well-known member
Can’t score can they. 4 games 0 goals. Over to you Ghana.

I seem to remember AFCoN this year and the tournament was devoid of goals. They must practice without goalposts.
 
It seems about half the games are stinkers - (involving African teams) and half are good, either because of shocks or goalfests by the better team. Is that in line with previous World Cups?
 
Expect Ronaldo to score a handful against Ghana, the lowest ranked side in the competition, and make a huge deal out of it.
 
Alot of their more promising players are moving north at younger ages and end up in european or middles eastern international systems, many that just werent or arnt quite good enough for the big european teams but still quality are holding fire on switching alliance back as well where in the past they maybe didnt. Ghana have struggled alot recently and were rejected by quite a few players across England, Germany and Belgium in the build up to this world cup.
 
Don't think they are too bad, just haven't progressed as much as they would like to have after 2010 world cup.
They are still better than Asian (which is a bigger continent). and North American teams aren't they? They're basically only behind Europe and South America, I'd say.

Set aside the two shock results we've had this week, which don't prove anything yet.
 
Exactly, 20 years ago we were talking about them cleaning up at tournaments by now.
I don't think I remember anyone thinking they'd be cleaning up, there were no signs African economies would particularly strengthen so I never expected the football teams to to that extent.

Pele said in 1977ish that an African side would win the World Cup by 2000, but they came nowhere near and still haven't.

Since 2002, the World Cup is a European shoo in, even the South American sides can't compete economically. I don't think that'll change at this World Cup personally.
 
Are they? After watching USA, Canada and Mexico I would say not.

Their defensive game has come on but at the expense of their creative side it appears
I'm not saying just based on this week though, I mean generally speaking. Still a long way to go even just in this group stage.
 
Couple of English lad's in Ghana's side, Lamptey and Semenyo, hoping they do well today.

Clean sheet against Portugal would be good.
 
True but as noted above the AFCON was something of a snoozefest.
Indeed. But the fact it even gets any attention is significant I'd say, to a degree.

Does anyone even know who won the last Asian Cup?? Clue: they looked pretty rubbish against Ecuador....

I'd fancy most African sides against them.
 
They are still better than Asian (which is a bigger continent). and North American teams aren't they? They're basically only behind Europe and South America, I'd say.

Set aside the two shock results we've had this week, which don't prove anything yet.
I think Senegal are about on par with Japan to be honest. Quality in the continents as a whole though I'd say Asian and North America are probably stronger.
 
Exactly, 20 years ago we were talking about them cleaning up at tournaments by now.

20 years ago a fair few of the better african teams were turning a blind eye to age cheating, as they were doing well in under age tournaments. As soon as the crackdown and proof of age tests started, many ceased to be a threat.
 
20 years ago a fair few of the better african teams were turning a blind eye to age cheating, as they were doing well in under age tournaments. As soon as the crackdown and proof of age tests started, many ceased to be a threat.
Also, quite a few African-born players get 'poached' by European countries with colonial links.
 
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