Teams who qualify frequently for tournaments but nearly always fail, even to progress from weakish groups. In Europe, I'd say the best examples, reinforced this month, are Russia, Ukraine, Sweden and Turkey. You could add England but they've been a bit better, at least in 2002-2006 and 2018 (dire in-between). Switzerland are borderline but have just gone through in 3rd thanks to the 24 team format.
In World Cups, Saudi Arabia is the obvious one.
In World Cups, Saudi Arabia is the obvious one.
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