Honestly, the crowds have been majority large and much better than group stages africa 2010. Look at the Canada, Tunisia, and Morocco games and they definitely traveled in massive numbers, and of course, Argentina/Mexico/Brazil/USA/Wales got the usual huge support. People really do have short memories or are just thinking of Euros crowds. World CUP is the biggest sporting event but Group Stage Crowds vary depending on location. For example, the Dutch start traveling in droves once knockouts start if the location is a bit far(africa 2010, this year).. They travel for EUROS during Group Stages because of easier logistics. Dutch Crowds didn't arrive in Africa until KO ROUNDS as well... This is the same with Spanish crowds.
It's interesting because, despite Spain's success, they don't have much local or global support so they heavily rely on their home crowds traveling. Argentina and Brazil got behemoth-level global support anywhere they go so their games will always be packed (native Argentinian/brazilians+all other nationalities rooting for them). I think a lot of posters here are from EUROPE so they don't quite realize how big the global support for even some countries like Morocco is compared to say Spain (despite the talent gap). Look at how many Morocco fans are there against Belgium today.. It's not all from Morocco, it's from support all over the World.
Italy is another country that relies heavily on traveling Italians so if you go back to their Group Stage games throughout the years at international tournaments, it's usually smaller crowds than say Germany or England group stage games.
South America Uraguary don't travel as much until KO stages compare to say Colombians who travel en mass even during Group Stages...(hence you see much smaller crowds for Uraguary games compare to Colombia)
None of this is a slight on Netherlands/Italy/Spain/Uraguary's football passion of course.. these countries just like most of the World' have football as their major sport and the nations are heavily invested in the national team's successes. Just they like to cheer on their countries more from the comforts of the bar or their home if the location is not ideal (2010/this year,at least initially until ko rounds)
It's interesting because, despite Spain's success, they don't have much local or global support so they heavily rely on their home crowds traveling. Argentina and Brazil got behemoth-level global support anywhere they go so their games will always be packed (native Argentinian/brazilians+all other nationalities rooting for them). I think a lot of posters here are from EUROPE so they don't quite realize how big the global support for even some countries like Morocco is compared to say Spain (despite the talent gap). Look at how many Morocco fans are there against Belgium today.. It's not all from Morocco, it's from support all over the World.
Italy is another country that relies heavily on traveling Italians so if you go back to their Group Stage games throughout the years at international tournaments, it's usually smaller crowds than say Germany or England group stage games.
South America Uraguary don't travel as much until KO stages compare to say Colombians who travel en mass even during Group Stages...(hence you see much smaller crowds for Uraguary games compare to Colombia)
None of this is a slight on Netherlands/Italy/Spain/Uraguary's football passion of course.. these countries just like most of the World' have football as their major sport and the nations are heavily invested in the national team's successes. Just they like to cheer on their countries more from the comforts of the bar or their home if the location is not ideal (2010/this year,at least initially until ko rounds)
