The World Cup has turned into a nightmare for the so-called traditional great nations of football. Several countries that have won titles multiple times and regularly qualified have failed to make the cut, including Italy, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Ukraine. Other football lords and stadium gods have been humiliated: Germany eliminated by Paraguay, the Netherlands knocked out by Morocco, Uruguay eliminated in the first round along with Turkey. These performances seem to vindicate FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who initiated the 48-team World Cup format. Many were skeptical about the level of play with teams like Cape Verde, Haiti, and Curaçao, but results have proven doubters wrong. Even Haiti, a country without a president or government, did more than just participate—52 years after its first appearance where it suffered heavy defeats. Brazil itself struggled to dispatch Japan, while Spain was not dominant against Cape Verde, a small African island whose population doesn't equal a quarter of licensed players in a major Spanish city. In football, the gap has narrowed significantly between traditional powerhouses and emerging nations. But the decline of great nations like Germany and the Netherlands is surprising. The Mannschaft today comprises mostly unknowns except for a few recognizable names like captain Kimmich, goalkeeper Neuer, and forwards Wirtz and Havertz. Once, everyone knew every player's name, measurements, birth date, club, and goal tally. Germany has been painful to watch for years, as have the Netherlands, composed merely of good players with nothing exceptional. Brazil's game has become Europeanized and lost its remarkable identity passed down through generations. After Pelé, Vava, Didi, Garrincha, and Djalma Santos from 1958 to 1970, came Tostao, Gerson, Rivelino, Clodoaldo, Jarizinho, and Carlos Alberto. After a gap in 1974 and 1978, Brazil returned to form in 1982 with Zico, Eder, Socrates, Falcao, and Junior—one of Brazil's finest teams, rivaling the 1986 generation with Careca. It took until 1994 to see a brilliant, magical Brazil with the Romario-Bebeto duo. Brazil reclaimed its crown in 2002 with a talent-laden team led by phenomenal Ronaldo, alongside Ronaldinho, Fabiano, Rivaldo, Cafu, Dunga, Carlos Roberto, Kaka, and Robinho. Today, Brazil wins without brilliance or conviction, even with Neymar. It's just a good team whose qualification leaves one perplexed. The Netherlands faces the same impasse, playing without enthusiasm, talent, or confidence. The Oranje search for their glorious past. All things considered, FIFA was right not to broadcast every match. So far, there's been no exceptional spectacle—just grueling matches where favorites control the ball while underdogs shut down the game and park the bus. Result: most matches are bland. Only France and Argentina offer entertainment worth watching. The rest resembles a turkey, as they say.