Euro 2016 witnesses a sport in upheaval

From the 2014 World Cup to the newly ended English Premier League season, the Davids of the football world have been challenging the Goliaths with greater frequency. The current sport extravaganza, UEFA Euro 2016 is being more closely watched than ever because so many people believe that this is where the slow but apparent shift of power will be confirmed. If it happens, the most popular game on the planet will greatly benefit. 

Euro 2016, which began yesterday, is being staged not with Germany or Spain or Italy as the world's highest-ranked team. According to the latest announcement by football’s governing body Fifa, Belgium are the top team at Euro 2016. If someone had claimed 10 years ago that Holland would not make it into this competition but Belgium would be ranked highest, they would have been pronounced insane.

The experts still don’t fancy Belgium’s chances of winning, but most agree that Euro 2016 could be the tightest football tournament ever, with the hardest outcome to predict. 

European nations have always been highly competitive when it comes to football, but it’s widely expected that the competitiveness will be bolder than ever in this tournament because, thanks to a variety of factors, topped by globalisation, the sport is seeing a long-overdue blossoming of talent.

The 2014 World Cup in Brazil provided tantalising signals that the game might be about to change. Germany’s humiliation of Brazil eclipsed everything else, but it was a tournament in which all the minnows fought particularly well. Iran were seconds away from registering a shock draw against Argentina. Chile helped send 2010 champions Spain home early. 

Costa Rica almost reached the semi-final but for a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat by Holland. The United States, not known for their football, joined the other underdogs in remarkable attempts to prove that football is a team game.

Then came the just-ended English Premier League season that saw Leicester City, a poor team with no star and with pitiful salaries and an ageing “has-been” coach, clinching the title. Nor were the second runners-up, Tottenham Hotspur, among the league's giants. 

Big teams have continued to dominate other European leagues, but most certainly have underdogs nipping at their heels.

More kids are playing football than any point in history, and this has resulted in an exponential jump in the number of talented players. Technology has helped by providing access to highlight clips and online tutorials. Despite scandals rocking football's governing body, there is never a shortage of inspiration on the pitch. If the world has always been passionate about football, technology has just made it an effective talent factory.

For football’s sake, the rise of the minnows is good. Superstars add the colours, but true inspiration must come from relatively nameless footballers. The game, vaunted as one that fosters team spirit, has been in reality overshadowed by big stars for too long. When teams lacking stars win major tournaments, it’s often described as a fluke. It’s not good for the sport in the long run if a team believe they have a divine right to win just because Christiano Ronaldo plays for them.

Star-studded teams, Belgium included, have come to Euro 2016, but there are strong teams without big stars, too. Who will fare better? We should find out a month from now.