Quote:
Originally Posted by CroFlames
You are changing your argument now. At first the argument was there is less "intrigue" without the traditional big nations of Italy, Holland and USA there, which is false because they suck now.
Now you are saying ratings/sponsorships/dollars will suffer, and you'd be absolutely right. TV packages, broadcasts rights, etc will all be scaled back in those countries with hefty populations, especially the USA and Italy.
Personally, I couldn't give less of a heck if FIFA rakes in less money from this WC. Italian, Dutch and USA fans will be sad, but I doubt anyone outside those nations is sad. I certainly won't miss watching 11 Italians diving and crying all over the field for a month.
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It’s funny because you kind of proved his point.
The way you speak of the Italian team shows you do care about them, and liking a team isn’t all that causes intrigue, disliking a team also does that. While Italy and the US have large populations that cheer for them, they also have lots of casual fans across other countries (moreso Italy), and lots of fans that hate them (Italy and the US).
It’s that fan engagement that creates the intrigue and interest - it’s why people are even on here having an argument about the Italians & Americans , while nobody outside of the fans in their own country gives two ####s about Tunisia,
Panama, Switzerland, etc being at the World Cup.
And for as much as Italy now “suck” they still had more points than 5 other teams that qualified (including Croatia) , and were still quarterfinalists at the last euro (only losing to Germany on PKs). There is no argument to be made that it’s a better tournament without them there.