There's no basis to generalise that the big teams have gotten worse. Belgium genuinely has, having been stuck with long over the hill golden boys and a manager too weak to drop them. Everybody with a bit of knowledge about the game could name them as the big team most likely to fail even before the tournament.
Denmark had a nightmare of a tournament that nobody really expected, being considered the most likely dark horse going deep into the tournament. Without knowing finer details from behind their scenes, it looks like it's more down to circumstances surrounding this particular tournament, rather than them becoming generally so much weaker in a year and half.
Germany has now failed in three strait tournaments, but this time they didn't really play badly at all. But the defence was suspect and Japan was almost freakishly good at taking advantage of better teams lapses of concentration. And also had huge slice of luck with that second goal against Spain. Given how hopeless they were when facing a tightly packed defence against Costa Rica, I wasn't exactly happy seeing Japan advance instead of Germany.
Uruguay probably is somewhat weaker than in last two or three World Cups, but were only eliminated because of two dodgy penalty decisions going against them as well as South Korea having more favourable order of games, with them being able to face a heavily rotated Portuguese side already certain of going through in the last group game.
Other big teams present are all through to knock-out rounds with Netherlands and Argentina already in quarters, despite their earlier wobbles. In our local sports media there is a lot of talk about gap closing between traditional power houses Europe and South America and the likes of Asia and Africa. When actually looking behind the simple results and number of teams in knock--out rounds from those continents, then there is little to support that theory.
England has always been overrated. The last two major tournaments they’ve had cupcake draws, and they played all but one Euro 2021 game at home. In 2018 they finished 4th, but barely got by Colombia, and were outclassed by both Croatia in the semis and Belgium in the match for 3rd.
Portugal barely made it to the WC. Macedonia totally caved in to the pressure in the final match to decide who would make it. Italy lost to Macedonia in the previous round.
France are looking good right now. Netherlands are solid, but we’ll see how they deal with Argentina next.
Brazil has the fitness and skill, they could very well make the final.
Spain looked good in the first two games, then bottled it against Japan, who, despite 18% possession, scored two goals.
Croatia is under the radar again, and their squad is made up of veterans, but they play Japan. They could make another deep run.
I am rooting for them and anyone not from Europe.
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