Lahm: “Europe will respond to Infantino, on and off the pitch” – Football
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The World Cup started with a Europhobic accent. In his pre-world address FIFA president Gianni Infantino attacked Europe. He accused his representatives of arrogance and hypocrisy, self-centeredness and “Eurocentrism”. But he overlooked one point: the center of football is in Europe, historically, culturally and sportingly. Only by passing through Europe can you have a career at the top level of football.
Europe dominates contemporary football. In international competitions it is even more evident than in the past. The last time the World Cup final didn’t have a European contender was three quarters of a century ago. The last four world champions are Italy, Spain, Germany and France and three of their opponents in the final were also Europeans. In 2006 and 2018 the semi-finalists were all European.
The domination in the clubs is even clearer. Everything points towards Europe, the five most important championships in the world are played here and of course the Champions League which has been a catalyst for all talents since 1992. The last world-class footballers to grow totally outside Europe were Pele and Zico. Maradona he spent his best years in Spain and Italy. Messi arrived in Barcelona as a child, Neymar at 21 years old. Of the starting team of the Brazil champion of 2002only one did not play in Europe, the goalkeeper Marcos.
Talent is distributed equally across the globe. South America and Africa raise some great players. But everyone has to make a final pass in a European championship. The last world champions far from this model are Brazil and Argentina from the 70s.
Now the representatives of Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay they are made up almost exclusively of players who come from the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga. Teams with different profiles have almost zero chance of making it to the semi-finals, let alone aspiring to the title. The “built” national team of the Qatar has been scaled down sinceEcuador that he could count on Enner Valenciastriker forged on the Premier League fields
The first impression is that Europe will respond to Infantino on the ground. England has showed weaknesses in defence, but scored six goals for Iran. Holland defeated the African champions of Senegal. For the France, Australia won’t be the last opponent to outclass in any position. There Spain once again he showed his unique style of ball possession up front. The 7-0 against Costa Rica proved to be an unequal match. Belgium, Denmark, Poland, Wales and Croatia they are well organized teams. European players know how to perform at their best and make their tournaments attractive to outsiders.
Italychampion of Europe, did not qualify, just as there are no historical finalists such as Sweden and Hungary (or Czech Republic and Slovakia which, united in one country, reached the final twice). Erling Haalanda striker who will define the next decade, will not be in the tournament as the competitive environment in qualifying proved too tough for the Norway. If the admission criteria were only sporting, Europe would have much more than 13 places out of 32.
Only there Germany missed the shot: leading 1-0 over Japan Hansi flick he changed three players who play for Bayern, one for Manchester City and one for Chelsea by choosing substitutes who have never played in the Champions League. Germany beat themselves a bit, given that the two Japanese players who scored play in the Bundesliga.
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From a political point of view, all the European federations present in Qatar have had a very clear position, giving their own politicians a clear line to follow. If anything, if one can reproach them, it is for having betrayed the very values they defend as a continent. For many years the focus has been on individual gains and not on the responsibilities football should assume towards society.
But what happened to the Fifaan institution founded in Europe and based in Zurich, born from the desire for international solidarity of eight countries: Sweden, Belgium, France, Holland, Denmark and Switzerland?
Football needs new representatives who know how to deal with the crisis of credibility. We have to go back to the origins. A century and a half ago it began its triumphal march in England, Scotland, Switzerland, soon followed in Spain and Germany. It also caught on because it was part of the Labor Progress and Democratization movement. He made social achievements possible and imposed the rules of fair play internationally and in clubs.
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Up to the present day, these roots remain the strength of football. Now the mission is to defend these results. For Europe, it is a matter of survival. Cooperation is necessary, football is a team sport.
The first steps have already been taken. The mistake of handing the World Cup to Qatar 12 years ago has become an established attitude. In Qatar, a group of federations wanted to give a sign of support for diversity with the multicolored armbands for the captains to wear. On balance it was naïve to think that FIFA would be cooperative. In the power struggle with Infantino, the Italian-Swiss chairman of the organization, Europe is lagging behind.
The teams have given up on the flanks, but this can’t be the end of the story. Supported by their performances on the pitch, the federations that recognize themselves in UEFA must react united and find allies in other continents. We have to save the values of football and what this game has expressed. It is a European sport.
*”Opinions of a footballer” is a column born from the dialogue between Oliver Fritsch, of Zeit Online and Philipp Lahm, former captain of the German national team and director of Euro 2024. Translated and published simultaneously in 30 European countries by various newspapers:
Gazeta Wyborcza (Poland), Denník N (Slovakia), Guardian (UK), Sport (Czech Republic), La Repubblica (Italy), Telesport (Croatia), Politiken (Denmark), Voetbalmagazine (Belgium), L’Équipe (France ) Delo (Slovenia), Tribuna (Ukraine and Belarus), Haaretz (Israel), Sports Daily (Russia), El País (Spain), Expresso (Portugal), Aftonbladet (Sweden), Makfudbal (North Macedonia), Postimees (Estonia ), Verdens Gang (Norway), 444 (Hungary), Irish Times (Ireland), Lead (Romania), Morgunblaðið (Iceland), Sankt-Petersburgskie vedomosti (Russia), Gazeta Sheshi (Kosovo), Times of Malta (Malta), Efimerida ton Syntakton (Greece) Ilta-Sanomat (Finland), Zeit Online (Germany), Die Presse (Austria)
Copyright Oliver Fritsch, Zeit Online
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