Groups targeted on World Cup, not politics, had simpler passage to final 16 – Wenger

AL RAYYAN, Qatar : The end result of the World Cup group phases confirmed the groups that superior with out complication had been these finest ready mentally and never distracted by political points, in keeping with former Arsenal supervisor Arsene Wenger.

Referring to shock exits by Germany, Belgium and Denmark, Wenger, talking throughout a technical evaluation of the group phases by world governing physique FIFA, mentioned it was notable the groups that targeted on soccer and began nicely, like Brazil, France and England, had simpler passage to the final 16.

“The groups who weren’t disappointing of their first recreation efficiency – as a result of whenever you obtained to the World Cup you already know you haven’t to lose the primary recreation – are the groups with expertise, they’ve outcomes ….they performed nicely in first recreation,” Wenger mentioned on Sunday.

“The groups as nicely who had been mentally prepared and had the mindset to give attention to the competitors and never on political demonstrations.”

The Qatar World Cup has seen an uncommon quantity of political dialogue from groups, with some voicing considerations in regards to the host’s therapy of migrant labour, its method to LGBT rights and FIFA’s threats to penalise gamers for political statements.

Germany’s soccer federation was probably the most vocal in urgent for anti-discrimination “OneLove” armbands to be worn by gamers and mentioned “excessive blackmail” led to Germany, Denmark, Belgium, Netherlands, Wales, England and Switzerland abandoning plans to put on them.

Earlier than their shock opening defeat by Japan, the German crew posed for a pre-match photograph with their palms on their mouths, alluding to them being silenced by FIFA.

Denmark additionally made a stand over the armbands and final month wished to make use of coaching package with slogans in help for human rights.

Hypothesis had swirled over a menace by Denmark to withdraw from FIFA over the armbands, which its federation dismissed as a media misunderstanding.