"The Europeans are clearly playing at a different speed than us. They are at dimension that is far ahead of the South American player," said Ivan Zamorano, a former Chile striker who played for Real Madrid and Inter Milan.
Zamorano envies the capacity that European soccer has to find talented players who can "leave a mark for the future."
"There's still that individual skill, the street quality, that makes the South American player unique," Zamorano told The Associated Press. "But we are lacking the resources, the infrastructure, their work methods. So the chances of discovering and developing that kid with unique skills is tougher. That's expensive and so many times in South America gets lost in the way."
But Zamorano also says that this is the first time in at least three World Cups that he has seen Argentina and Brazil in such good shape right before the tournament.
Luiz Felipe Scolari, the coach of the Brazil team that won in 2002 with its "Three 'R's" attack combination of Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho, believes the current European domination is a just phase.
He said Brazil could win it in Qatar, though he thinks the country is more likely to challenge for the title in 2026, pointing at the potential of a new crop of players. That includes Endrick, a 16-year-old striker that last month became the youngest scorer for Palmeiras in the Brazilian league.
"These kids playing now might give the result we expect," Scolari said. "But you can't pressure them to give everything. Maybe in four years we can pressure them to give everything, because then they will hit the pinnacle at age 26, 27."South American soccer leaders are seeking to keep their teams competitive. Alejandro Dominguez, the president of continental soccer body CONMEBOL, is hoping to reach an agreement with UEFA that will allow teams from South America to compete in the Nations League.
"It's not easy to cut a 30-year-old gap. It's just not titles but the expertise that has strengthened in Europe and what we're trying to establish in South America," Dominguez told a small group reporters in Buenos Aires. "Sadly our young players depart way too early. ... We're trying to generate more revenues so the clubs are not desperate to sell them."