Spain, the current European champion, is preparing for the World Cup with a draw that is raising doubts: 0-0 against Iraq, a country that ranks only 56th in the FIFA world rankings. Is the “Fury” far from its best? And France, which suffered a surprising defeat against Ivory Coast, also does not inspire confidence for the most important event in world football.
But is it really wise to draw hasty conclusions based on these pre-season results? Recent World Cup history shows us that friendly matches say little to nothing about what is to come. Here are some examples that debunk the expectations created before the tournament’s opening whistle.
In 2018, France drew 1-1 with the United States in Lyon, in a match that drew boos from the French fans at halftime. Mbappé only managed to equalize in the 78th minute, following an American goal from Julian Green. Despite 19 shots compared to just 2 from the Americans, “Les Bleus” left many supporters anxious. The result? They won the World Cup in Russia, demonstrating that the signs given beforehand did not reflect their true strength.
Also in 2018, Poland thrashed Lithuania 4-0, with two goals from Lewandowski, and was seen as one of the surprises of the championship. However, at the World Cup, the team fell at the group stage, finishing in last place without a single goal from their star.
In the 2014 edition, Germany had a rather unconvincing start to their preparations, drawing 0-0 with Poland and 2-2 with Cameroon. Coach Joachim Löw admitted to difficulties in the final third of the game and in finishing. However, the team woke up in time, thrashing Armenia 6-1 before the World Cup and achieving a historic 7-1 victory over Brazil in the semi-finals, culminating in the title win.
Portugal, with Cristiano Ronaldo emerging from a phenomenal season at Real Madrid, entered the 2014 World Cup buoyed by a 5-1 triumph over Ireland. However, their performance in the tournament fell far short of that display, with only three goals scored and an early elimination after a heavy defeat against Germany.
England, who in 2006 had thrashed Jamaica 6-0 in their last game before the World Cup, saw that confidence quickly dissipate. The start of the tournament was lackluster, with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Paraguay, and the team ended up eliminated in the quarter-finals, far from the expectations of the so-called “Golden Generation.”
Finally, in 2006, Italy drew 0-0 with Ukraine in a rather uninspiring friendly, but went on to win the World Cup weeks later, proving that a lukewarm result in the preparation phase does not determine final success.
These examples highlight that preparation matches are often mere superficial indicators. Spain and France may be raising the suspicions of fans, but the real test only begins when the World Cup kicks off. Therefore, it is essential to remain calm and not underestimate teams that seem to falter before the starting whistle. After all, in football, history teaches us that pre-World Cup results are not always reliable predictors of the final outcome.
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