Heavyweights stumble as World Cup underdogs close the gap in opening games

The opening games of the World Cup have delivered a stark reality check to some of soccer's traditional powerhouses, with surprising results indicating that the established hierarchy may be shifting. Teams that entered the tournament as favorites have struggled to assert dominance against seemingly weaker opposition, leading to a series of draws and underwhelming performances.

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I do believe that the distance that separates the teams - when we look at the African teams, they're progressing, which is a good thing. We keep working on it.

European champions Spain were unable to find the net against World Cup debutants Cape Verde. Similarly, Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by the Democratic Republic of Congo, who were participating in the tournament for the first time in 52 years. Belgium also drew their opening match, and France, despite eventually winning, were frustrated for over an hour by Senegal.

The increasing number of teams stumbling suggests that this World Cup may be less about the aristocracy of soccer and more about a narrowing gap between the elite and the rest. Senegal's coach, Pape Thiaw, noted the progress of African teams and the ongoing work in coaching development, acknowledging that while no African team has won the World Cup, Morocco reached the semi-finals in 2022.

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Also the training of our coaches and head coaches, we've been working on that. We haven't seen an African team winning the World Cup and we did see that last time a team reached the semi-finals (Morocco in 2022).

The expanded 48-team tournament was anticipated by some to dilute the competition, but instead, nations once considered peripheral are now equipped with players honed in elite academies or top European leagues. The technical and tactical disparities that once allowed favorites to coast through group stages have largely vanished. Smaller nations now play with defensive structure and attack with purpose, posing a significant challenge to elite teams who struggle to convert possession into meaningful chances against compact defenses.

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We knew it was a game that required patience. They sat back and they dropped back very quickly. We couldn't put it in. We created chances, but couldn't finish... That's how they play. They don't get past midfield.