Top Latin American players may come from a village half the size of a US university campus to play in Monaco, Paris, Moscow. Nigeria's coach Bora Multinovich speaks four languages and has coached four different countries from as many continents to the World Cup. Watching African players being interviewed in Spanish reminds us that language need not stop us from communicating. This mobility has worked to the benefit of the developing world as well. This is why in almost any major city you see so many non-Brazilians wear that country's green and yellow.
Nations do establish an identity.
Brazilians mesmerize their opponents with samba-like shakes, shimmying toward a win. When Spain lost the opening game, I consoled my Spanish friends over a German beer and a Chinese meal. Some European teams call to mind the old order of superpower states, exuding confidence. The Germans were efficient, smooth. England plays at times as if it was without emotion.