In Europe, by contrast, certain countries are almost honor-bound to qualify once their name gets a lucky draw in the drawing of lots to decide the groupings. Italy and the Netherlands became the continent’s first qualifiers this week, both from groups in which it would have been difficult to fail. Germany is a game away from joining them, and Belgium is close.

The Asian powers of Iran, Japan and South Korea are already assured of their places, along with Australia, for which FIFA redrew the continental map to make it an Asian contender.

The United States should always qualify in its regional grouping, and did so Tuesday, though that comes at the despair of a Mexico squad that is in less than its usual form. And surely Costa Rica is the real achiever this time around in that region of North and Central America and the Caribbean? Just being there, being a part of the big event in 2014, is its own Holy Grail. But, as you have read from Messi and others, Argentina is eyeing this Cup as a time and a place where it can fulfill potential.

And that is where Alex Sabella is working to finally come out of the shadow of Diego Maradona. As players, they were incomparable, but often it is the player who has to work for his living and who has to apply intellect and teamwork who ends up making the better coach.

Everything that one hears from Messi, and from the players around him, suggests that this is a going to be a less flamboyant, less gung-ho, team than last time around. We will not know the strength of Brazil until next year because, excused from the qualifying process, the home side has had such precious little competitive fare.

Winning the Confederations Cup is like winning the rehearsal. Thrashing the Aussies, 6-0, in Brasília, and following that up with a 3-1 victory over Portugal in Boston is good for the soul. But it isn’t tempered by the real stuff where you win or die by the results.

Hope must spring eternal when you are born in Luxembourg. Not one player there had experienced winning a home World Cup game because 41 years had gone by without the country beating anyone in its modest abode of Stade Josy Barthel. On Tuesday, cheered on by 1,114 spectators, Luxembourg twice came from a goal down to defeat Northern Ireland, 3-2.

“Our performance was unacceptable,” said Northern Ireland’s manager, Michael O’Neill. “But Luxembourg fully deserved it.”