EOP: Qatar 2022 and dynamics of human development

By Uche Chris

A clear and very significant lesson in the process of human development has emerged after the Group round of matches in the on-going 2023 World Cup competition being hosted by Qatar. It is a lesson that has also defined history and the rise and fall of civilisations.

So many things around us, both natural and social, teach us something about the dynamics of life and creation. It may appear seemingly trivially unconnected to speak of lessons of human history and civilisation from the outcome of the round-leather game; but a perceptive observation of the events so far suggest this fact so conclusively.

Many commentators have already described the competition as one remarkable by its “surprises”, while others declared it as the triumph of the “under-dogs”. I say, it is the dynamic of growth. Never in the history of the World Cup have so many soccer giants be put to the sword by minions as in Qatar. Most game bettors must have burnt their fingers and counted huge losses in this WC.

In fact, Brazil’s in-coming president, Lula, may already be the first casualty of this Mundial after predicting a 2-0 trashing of Cameroun by his country, which the Africans eventually won 1-0. It was a victory of tremendous significance and an eloquent proof of this emerging transition or evolution in soccer civilisation. It may still be early in the day, but it’s a process that began over 30 years ago, and we may be entering its crystallisation.

Although, Cameroun’s victory over Brazil, a five-time champion, may be the crescendo of this development, it was by no means alone. Saudi Arabia had beaten Argentina, a two-time winner, and twice finalist, in a fairy tale game. Iran had beaten Germany, a three-time winner. Poland qualified with Argentina in a Group that had Mexico.

The Socceroos of Australia, which never won any game at the WC, not only beat Denmark, a former champion of Europe, but also qualified at their expense.

Tunisia beat France, a two time winner, and defending champion. Morocco, another African team, is the only team that finished the Group matches with seven points, in a Group that had Croatia, 2018 finalist, and Belgium, the second highest ranked team before the Games, behind Brazil.

This is also instructive of the emerging dynamics, and the competitive nature of the competition, which used to have few power houses sweeping through with hundred percent record. In Group E, Japan did not only top their Group, which had Spain and Germany, both four-time winners – Germany 3, Spain one – but also beat both of them. Portugal, another European champion, suffered a historic defeat by South Korea.

History teaches us that civilisations rise and fall not necessarily with a bang, but often imperceptibly through evolutionary process of every day occurrences. It may take a century to happen but, like the proverbial journey of a thousand miles, it begins one day. The Roman empire did not vanish the day its decline started; neither did the USSR. At one point or the other in history, countries, such as Britain, Spain, Dutch, Portugal etc were global maritime powers. Today, they are no longer so.

At the time America was putting man in the Moon, China was a back-water agrarian economy unable to feed itself and raged by the misguided Cultural Revolution that took them decades backward. Today, America is struggling with the same China 40 years later, for dominance in space technology. After the Second World war, Japan was on its knees, and depended on the U.S. to regain its bearing. Today, Japan is ahead of the U.S. in auto and electronic making, and advanced technology, such as Artificial Intelligence, (AI).

Events in Qatar is a social corollary of historical developments, which suggests that man and society are progressive in nature, and advance toward a predictable direction given sufficient motivation and competition. Before now, sports was essentially a leisure undertaking that offered little economic opportunities.

But that has changed and sports, particularly, the WC and Olympics, has become a huge business opportunity for both countries and players, which have dramatically altered the motivation. In early time, emphasis was on participation; today, because of history records, financial incentive, and national pride, the motivation is changing, and teams are preparing better, and playing to win.

Obviously, one of the usual culprits, rather candidates, may still win the competition, because of their experience, and pedigrees, but it cannot be predetermined as President Lula has shockingly discovered. Every team must work hard for their victory. The book makers must have learned their lessons the hard way by now.

In Russia 2018, France won the competition against an unlikely opponent, Croatia, which must have confounded the book makers. Traditional winners, such as Brazil, Argentina, Germany, and Italy were dumped along the way. In fact, countries like Spain, Portugal, France, USA etc used to be considered outsiders to the top contenders. Indeed, Spain and France were regarded as big under-achievers in soccer. Today, the story is different having joined the exclusive club. It only starts one day.

But it will not stop with them. Japan, South Korea, Cameroon, and the North Africans are also knocking at the door, and it is only a question of time before they burst in. Sadly, Nigeria would have been amongst this emerging heir- apparents, but our politics and leadership challenge is perniciously demotivating and disincentivising. But time will however, tell, and that time is now!

Whatever happens in Qatar at the end of the competition, a process may have started that promises a future progressive change. The major lesson is that the days of teams’ invincibility are over, and buried in the sandy dunes of the Arabian desert. Every team is now beatable and there are no more minions as we used to think and believe.

It is no more about participation; when you prepare, then you can expect a good result regardless of the opposition. It’s simply foolish to assume that you can win anyhow; no, you can’t. When you do the right things, you are reasonably assured of the right result. Let the game continue!