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The incredible thing that separates football from any other game in the world is that the best team doesn't necessarily win at the end of the day. It fairly (or unfairly) gives the opportunity for weak teams to succeed with their own share of crazy moments, metamorphosing underdogs into superstars overnight.
However, that upset usually comes at the expense of some big blunders from the stronger team.
In football, putting the best players together doesn't equate to the best team in the world. The success of a team depends upon a number of factors: skills, techniques, tactics, intelligence, man-management, work ethics, and discipline.
Bigger the level of the competition, bigger is the amount of pressure. As far as the World Cup is concerned, the pressure is at an all-time high, as the players shoulder the huge expectations of the fans of their nations.
While some teams write their name in golden letters on the glorious pages of history, some teams choke under the immense weight of their dreams. Here's a look at 5 such golden generations that failed to win the FIFA World Cup:
#5 Portugal (2000-2006)
A national team comprising Luís Figo, Deco, Dimas, Pedro Barbosa, Vítor Baía, Rui Costa, Jorge Costa, João Pinto, Ricardo Sá Pinto and a budding Cristiano Ronaldo had a shot at not one but two World Cups - only for the dream to never materialise.
The journey of most of the players of this golden generation began when Portugal won consecutive FIFA U-20 World Cups in 1989 and 1991, setting the tone for the arrival of a new breed of superstars into the national team.
This golden generation matured from 2000, when they reached the semifinal of the Euro Cup thrashing heavyweights like England and Germany en route to the semifinal before they were eliminated by France, thanks to the extra time penalty converted by Zinedine Zidane.
After a dismal display in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, this generation touched its zenith when they stormed into Euro 2004 final, only to be defeated by Greece in front of their own fans. Afterwards, Portugal reached the semi-final of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, again to be blocked by France.
In their defense, Portugal were awarded the "Most entertaining team" in the 2006 World Cup.
Most players of this golden generation were playing for the clubs based in Portugal at that time. Nonetheless, back then Portuguese clubs were as competitive as their European counterparts - which can be attributed to the fact that FC Porto won the UEFA Champions League in 2004.
#4 Hungary (1950-1956)
Regarded as the most influential golden generation of football, the Hungary national team was so dominant during 1950-56 that they suffered only one defeat in 6 years - and that was in the 1954 World Cup final at the hands of West Germany, famously known as "Miracle of Bern".
Despite taking two early leads, Hungary - the no.1 ranked team at that time, succumbed 2-3 to West Germany, a team with amateurs, as the country had no national league back then.
Known as the Mighty Magyars, the golden generation included players like Ferenc Puskás, Sándor Kocsis, Nándor Hidegkuti, Zoltán Czibor, József Bozsik and Gyula Grosics. This team had won the Gold medal in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.
Apart from that, this generation had also played some of the most famous matches in football history. In 1953, they outplayed England team at Wembley stadium beating 6-3, which is often referred to as "the match of the century".
The match had such a widespread impact on English football that it changed the tactics and training of English clubs forever, accepting the more continental practices.
In what is widely known as " the Battle of Berne", Hungary demolished Brazil in the 1954 World Cup quarter-final, amid a series of fouls and fights on the pitch. The Brawl continued off the pitch, into the tunnels and even in the players' dressing rooms.
This golden generation was put to an abrupt end by the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, leaving the country without the taste of a World Cup.
#3 England (2001-2010)
The most underachieving golden generation the world has ever seen must be the England national team. They never even came close to living up to the expectations of England, as well as fans of the Premier league. The generation hit rock-bottom when they unexpectedly failed to qualify for 2008 Euro Cup.
In the last decade, English national team has consisted of players like David Beckham, Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes, John Terry, David James, Jamie Carragher, Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville and a lot more.
They were all legends at the club level, but never replicated their club level heroics for the national team. Some pundits blame this failure to the club level animosity among the players, and many fans agree with the sentiment.
On England's golden generation, recently Pep Guardiola went on to say "I could not imagine the generation of Lampard, Carrick, Scholes, Gerrard, Terry, Ferdinand were not able to do something more. As a spectator, I don't understand."
Rio Ferdinand claimed that the pressure of the 'Golden Generation' tag had a negative effect on the players, restricting their ability to perform to their full potential for the national team.
"It upped the expectations because people called us the Golden Generation and people expected us to win silverware. We had the players capable, but never set up in the right way," he said. " It was a combination of things. The system was not right. I don't think we played with freedom in an England shirt. We were trying to stop teams all the time."
Sadly, he is right.
#2 The Netherlands (the 1970s)
Proponents of "Total Football", led by legend Johan Cryuff and coach Rinus Michels, the Dutch national team mesmerized the entire World by their outstanding brand of beautiful football.
The golden generation included players like Johny Rep, Rob Rensenbrink, Ruud Krol, Wim Suurbier, Willem Van Hanegem, Wim Jansen, Arie Haan, Jan Van Beveran, Jan Jongbloed, Johann Neskeens.
The team was built around Johan Cruyff and most of the team members were part of a great Ajax team, which was the trailblazer of "total football" and won 3 UEFA European Cups consecutively.
This great team reached back-to-back World Cup finals in 1974 and in 1978, only to lose to West Germany and Argentina respectively by the skin of their teeth.
The fluid style of football of this generation fascinated Carlos Alberto, the captain of the Brazilian team that won the 1970 FIFA World Cup, so much that he conceded "The only team I've seen that did things differently was Holland at the 1974 World Cup in Germany. Since then everything looks more or less the same to me... Their 'carousel' style of play was amazing to watch and marvelous for the game."
#5 Argentina (2006- Present)
Can anyone imagine that a national team having players like Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, Angel Di Maria, Javier Zanetti, Javier Mascherano, Carlos Tevez, and Javier Pastore didn't win anything?
The story of this golden generation started when they won consecutive gold medals at the Athens and Beijing Olympics. Apart from that, they won FIFA Under-20 World Cup in 2005. But that was all at the youth level. As far as the senior national team is concerned, they have been 4-time runners-up of the Copa America and one time runners-up of the World Cup.
Since the 2006 World Cup, Argentina has been shown the exit door by Germany every time. In 2014, Messi, regarded by many as the best player in the world, almost took the team to the title single-handedly, before facing Germany once more.
Despite being filled with superstars, this team has been a one man show i.e. Messi. It was Messi's hat-trick that ensured Argentina even hada spot in this World Cup.
Nevertheless, this is a team where the likes of Mauro Icardi and Paolo Dybala don't get regular playing time, owing to the quality in depth. Although this golden generation still has a shot at the World Cup in Russia, to change the inglorious history of this subdued golden generation is easier said than done.
