GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS &PERFORMANCE OF COUNTRIES

AT 2014 FIFA WORLD CUP

The Global Competitive Index (GCI) by the World Economic

Forum (WEF) "assesses the ability of countries to provide high

levels of prosperity to their citizens. This in turn depends on how

productively a country uses available resources. It also measures

the set of institutions, policies, and factors that set the

sustainable current and medium-term levels of economic

prosperity”. (Wikipedia)

In my opinion, a country with strong institutions would

automatically have a viable and developed economy bringing

prosperity to its Citizens. Similarly, since Football is a competitive

sport, I assume a competitive economy should reflect in the

quality of performance of such a country’s football team – my

hypothesis.

Particularly, I hope to establish a relationship between Country’s

performance at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and their

respective GCI as released by WEF for the year 2013-2014.

VARIABLES:

METHODOLOGY OF STUDY

The performance of each Nation paired

from group matches to the final match at

the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil will be

compared with their Global Competitive

Index rating, in order to establish a

possible degree of predictability of

performance from Competitiveness.

– Global Competitive Index of each participating Country

– Performance of each Country at the World Cup

HYPOTHESIS

H0: Competitive Nations have better

chance of success against Non-

competitive Nations.

H1: A Competitive and Non-

competitive Nations have equal

chance of success.

32 16 8 4 2 1

32 Teams

1 Champion

Games

DB C

32 COUNTRIES IN

2014 FIFA WORLD CUP

Australia

Chile

Netherlands

Spain

Colombia

Greece

Ivory Coast

Japan

Costa Rica

England

Italy

Uruguay

A

Brazil

Cameroun

Croatia

Mexico

HF G

Argentina

Bosnia-H

Iran

Nigeria

Ghana

Germany

Portugal

USA

Algeria

Belgium

South Korea

Russia

E

Ecuador

Honduras

France

Switzerland

32 COUNTRIES &

2014 GCI RANKING

DB C

Australia (21)

Chile (34)

Netherlands (8)

Spain (35)

Colombia (69)

Greece (91)

Ivory Coast (126)

Japan (9)

Costa Rica (54)

England (10)

Italy (49)

Uruguay (85)

A

Brazil (56)

Cameroun (115)

Croatia (75)

Mexico (55)

HF G

Argentina (104)

Bosnia-H (87)

Iran (82)

Nigeria (120)

Ghana (114)

Germany (4)

Portugal (51)

USA (5)

Algeria (100)

Belgium (17)

South Korea (25)

Russia (64)

E

Ecuador (71)

Honduras (111)

France (23)

Switzerland (1)

Table showing:32 Countries that participated in 2014 FIFA World Cup,Score of all matches playedGlobal Competitive Index of each Nation,Deduction on how GCI affected score line.

The deduction goes thus:Results of matches compared against GCI ranking

A more competitive Nation (with lower GCI) wins a match against a less competitive Nation (with higher GCI)

A more competitive Nation (with lower GCI) loses a match against a less competitive Nation (with higher GCI)

Match ended in draw

WORLD CUP TEAM & GCISwitzerland is the most competitive Nation at the FIFA 2014 World Cup – GCI ranked No. 1 in the World.Germany (4th), USA (5th), Netherlands (8th), Japan (9th), and England are the GCI ranked top 10 Nations in BrazilIvory Coast is the least ranked competitive nation at the World Cup – GCI ranked 126th

Group B; comprising of Netherlands (8th), Australia (21st), Chile (34th), and Spain (35th) is the most competitive GCI ranked group at the World CupWhile Group F; comprising of Argentina (104th), Nigeria (120th), Bosnia-H (87th), and Iran (82nd) is the least competitive GCI ranked group at the World Cup

GROUP STAGES

Total match played in group stages – 48Total win recorded –39Total win by competitive Nations against less competitive Nations –24 (62%)Total lose by competitive Nations –15 (38%)

ROUND OF 16

Total match played in round of 16 – 8

Total win by competitive Nations against less

competitive Nations – 5 (62.5%)

Total lose by competitive Nations to less

competitive Nations – 3 (37.5%)

QUARTER & SEMI FINALS

Total match played in Quarter and Semi finals – 6

Total win by competitive Nations against less

competitive Nations – 4 (66.7%)

Total lose by competitive Nations to less

competitive Nations – 2 (33.3%)

THIRD PLACE & FINALS

Total match played – 2

Total win by competitive Nations against less

competitive Nations – 1 (100%)

SUMMARYGroup

StageRound of 16

Quarter &

Semi Finals

Third Place

& FinalOverall

Competitivedefeat less competitive

62% 62.5% 66.7% 100% 63.64%

Competitivelose to less competitive

38% 37.5% 33.3% 0% 36.36%

This implies, a competitive Nation has

approximately 64% chance of winning a

match against a less competitive Nation

H0 is TRUE!

It therefore shows in some degrees, that a competitive Nation has 64% chance of

defeating a less competitive Nation.This fact is even more evident as teams qualify

for more competitive stages.Particularly, Germany ranked 4th in the World defeated Argentina ranked 104th in the 2014

FIFA World Cup Final.The farther apart competing Nations are on the GCI ranking, the more a competitive Nations is

likely to win.

SUMMARY

Data Source:

- www.FIFA.com

- www.LIVESCORE.com

- Global Competitive Report, 2013-14

Analysis by: Wale Micaiah

e: walegate@yahoo.com

b: walemicaiah.com

w. www.statisense.com