TALK about unlikely, as Cape Verde have now been joined by Curacao, a tiny dot off the coast of Venezuela, in reaching next summer’s World Cup.
Curacao has a population of only 156,000 — about the size of Cambridge — and is by far the smallest country to have ever made it to the World Cup finals.
Famous for its blue liqueur, Curacao’s inclusion in the finals does raise a question mark over qualification.
I mean, who is next? San Marino? Andorra?
That tiny uninhabited island, hundreds of miles from anyone in the Pacific, where Tom Hanks spent years growing a beard and eating coconuts in the movie Cast Away.
Getting to the finals used to be a tough assignment, but when Curacao take their place in the 48-nation tournament next June I’m not convinced it is any longer.
And by the way, the next finals in 2030 are almost certainly going to be even bigger — as Fifa ponder a 64-team expansion which will mean a third of all member nations will be at the World Cup.
This is surely becoming a joke.
I’ve nothing against nations getting to the finals on merit — just look at the amazing reaction we have had from Scotland supporters this week.
But I would argue there has to be a limit on numbers — otherwise the whole tournament just becomes hopelessly diluted.
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Already through to the finals are those powerhouses of the beautiful game Uzbekistan, Jordan, Ecuador, Panama and Haiti and they could be joined by the likes of Albania, Kosovo, New Caledonia and Suriname.
Where does this all end? It feels suspiciously like a land grab by Fifa.
And while we are on the subject, Italy boss Gennaro Gattuso has got his cappuccino all frothed up.
Italy lost home and away to Norway and finished second in their group, meaning they must now negotiate their way through the play-offs in order to reach the finals, hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Gattuso highlighted how Italy won six of their eight games and have not been rewarded with a guaranteed place, whereas South America gets six direct qualification slots and Africa nine.
What annoyed him further was seeing Bolivia lose ten group matches, yet they could still make the finals.
“The system needs to change,” says Gattuso and I have some sympathy with the fact that South America has only ten competing nations, yet seven of them could make the finals. No wonder Brazil always get there.
My maths tells me that 60 per cent of South American countries get automatic slots to the finals, while Europe’s figure is less than 30 per cent.
World Cup qualifiers raise questions
Mind you, Asia are guaranteed eight slots, but only four nations out of 46 are in the current world’s top 50.
This all suggests there is some merit to Gattuso’s griping, but I suppose if you lose twice to Norway by a combined aggregate of 7-1, you have only yourself to blame.
As for Curacao, they will be managed in the finals by the legendary former Dutch player and manager Dick Advocaat.
So is Curacao’s qualification good for the game? Yes — but only up to a point.
Football needs fairytales, but it also needs jeopardy. If we invite too many to the party, sooner or later the story loses its tension.
For now, though, let’s enjoy it. Curacao are in the World Cup. Italy are sweating. Bolivia are somehow alive. Scotland are singing.
And the rest of us? We’re just along for the ride — which, with 48 teams involved, might take a while.
