By now you’ve probably heard that this is not Europe’s World Cup and maybe they don’t deserve the 13 spots allocated to them. Here are the numbers that prove Europe should cede some spots to other continents.
Japan will hold its lead and qualify for the next round. If there are no major surprises tomorrow, Brazil (6 points) and Portugal (4 points) will qualify in group G, and Chile (6 points) and Spain (3 points) in group H.
That means only six out of 13 European teams will qualify to the round of 16. In comparison, all five South American teams competing in the World Cup have qualified for the second round. Even North America is doing better, sending two out of three.
Combined, North and South American teams are sending seven out of eight teams.
Percentage of European teams qualifying for the second round: 46.
Percentage of North and South American teams qualifying for the second round: 87.
Other notes: African teams had a poor World Cup; it looks like only one (Ghana) out of six will make it. Europe, on the other hand, plays well on home soil. At the 2006 World Cup in Germany, the four finalists were European teams. The 2014 World Cup will be in Brazil.