Brazil and Argentina have the challenge of avoiding the sixth Cup with semi-finals only between Europeans, the second consecutive. Morocco has the same mission, against Portugal, but let’s say that for South America it’s a question of honor, because the champion has been coming from Europe for 16 years.

The early eliminations of Spain, Germany and Belgium provoked hasty reflections, as if it were a mistake to repeat that the elite of the game are in the old continent. See the Club World Cup. Before, the Libertadores champions attacked and the Champions League defended. The axis reversed nearly 30 years ago, after Bosman’s conviction.

It is important to note the difference between club and national team tournaments and pay attention to the fact that De Arrascaeta was the only player from a South American team to score a goal in Qatar.

The World Cup is when the stars of European clubs unfold to defend their selections. Love stories, like that of Hakimi, Spanish by birth, Moroccan by culture, and Brazilian and Argentinian players, who like to play for their country. Or contract spells, like those naturalized to play for Qatar.

Champions League teams hire the best Spaniards, Italians, Portuguese, Germans, Brazilians, Argentinians, Moroccans like Ziyech from Chelsea, Algerians like Mahrez from Manchester City, Canadians like Davies from Bayern.

The richest spend more. Thus, for 12 years, it has been possible to reveal the champion of the Champions League before the start of the tournament: Real Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Bayern or an Englishman.

Among the clubs in America, only the Campeonato Brasileiro can become competitive, be part of the first tier of football.

In the Cup, it changes. Argentina have Messi, Brazil have Neymar and Vinicius Junior, Morocco can beat Belgium, eliminate Spain and dream of sending Portugal to Lisbon.

That’s why Brazil are favorites against Croatia and Argentina have a chance to beat the Netherlands.

Pay special attention to the Dutch. Van Gaal has never lost a Cup game. He finished third in Brazil in 2014, with five wins and two draws. In Qatar, they have won three and drawn once.

He is obsessed with being a champion and does not give up the rigid defensive principles, the fierce counterattack. Cruyff was his biggest critic. The two are said to have fallen out over dinner in 1989, but the truth is that Johan thought Van Gaal was a supervisor of young players, trapped in Ajax’s apprenticeship system, which the legend created and that Van Gaal transformed.

Despite enemies, Van Gaal followed in Cruyff’s footsteps all his life. He managed Ajax three years after Cruyff and took over at Barcelona two years after his departure.

Johan Cruyff, football’s greatest thinker, waited and was not asked by Rinus Michels to take charge of the Netherlands in the 1990 World Cup, despite requests from Gullit and Van Basten.

Van Gaal dons an orange tie for the third time.

He is sure that he can be world champion, as his master – and enemy – never did.