THE ball is round, so goes the old saying. It refers to the sheer unpredictability of football, especially in the World Cup, where national pride is at stake.
No one would have expected Saudi Arabia to stun Argentina 2-1 in their opening match in Qatar four years ago, even if the South Americans quickly recovered to win the tournament.
The World Cup this year has witnessed shock and awe come one after another, defying the predictions of pundits and punters alike.
Qatar held big-name Switzerland to a 1-1 draw, while Morocco forced a 1-1 stalemate with five-time champion Brazil.
But the most surprising affair of all came at Atlanta Stadium. Feisty newcomer Cape Verde fended off reigning European champion Spain in an epic match that ended in a scoreless draw.
The hero of the tiny West African squad was veteran goalkeeper Vozinha, who made at least seven spectacular saves. The 40-year-old goalie broke down in tears after the final whistle, while thousands of his compatriots back home poured into the streets to celebrate the memorable debut.
Yesterday, Cape Verde advanced to the knockout stage after finishing second in their group, and is set to meet Argentina on Saturday.
Sure, there is still a long way to go in this World Cup. But few would argue that the string of surprises signals a changing landscape in global football. The likes of Cape Verde have proven sceptics wrong, specifically those who feared a decline in quality after FIFA expanded the tournament from 32 to 48 teams.
While established powerhouses like Argentina, Spain, Germany and France remain strong contenders thanks to a deep-seated football culture, the gap between them and the rest of the world is narrowing.
Japan, for one, has emerged as a true force to be reckoned with. Even before its 2-2 thriller with the Netherlands, the Samurai Blue, ranked 18th in the world and highest in Asia, had beaten Brazil and England in friendlies, and downed Germany and Spain in Qatar.
The Japanese no longer play like underdogs relying solely on defensive grit and counterattacks. Instead, they dictate tempos, press with intelligent synchronisation and exploit space with technical precision, a brand of football built on long-term systemic planning and the steady integration of players into top-tier global leagues.
Likewise, African football is asserting its strength with a depth that goes far beyond a single standout star. Morocco, bidding to repeat its historic semifinal run in Qatar, alongside DR Congo and Egypt, have shown their mettle against red-hot favourites. They are proving that African sides possess the tactical maturity to match their renowned physicality.
For Indonesia, watching this football fiesta from afar provides a harsh but necessary blueprint. If the country harbours serious ambitions for future finals, qualifying for an expanded World Cup is no longer a pipedream, but it demands a radical departure from short-term thinking.
Rather than simply banking on naturalised players, the Indonesian Soccer Association must invest heavily in structured youth development, advanced coaching education and pathways for domestic talent to test themselves in elite competitive environments abroad. This is the exact path other emerging powerhouses in Asia and Africa have forged.
Let us hope the 2026 World Cup leads to a new equilibrium, and that Asean nations, especially Indonesia, are not left behind in this shifting landscape. — The Jakarta Post/ANN
