Even at the current Under-20 World Cup we have seen Myanmar and Fiji enjoy their moments in the sun, while Mali and Senegal have qualified for the second round.
In other sports it seems harder for developing nations to break through.
In cricket, the smaller countries have been essentially ignored between World Cups and World Rugby's imbalanced voting structure (where the likes of Scotland and Ireland get two votes each while the Pacific countries get one vote among them) means the likes of Samoa, Fiji and Tonga, for all their talent, remain in much the same place they were in 1991.
Fifa has also largely kept video technology out of the sport, which has been the right call, as the product is unfettered by interruptions and makes allowances for human error.
Their policy of no interviews on the field is also a pleasant change - keeping the field just for the players.
Germany's progress at the Under-20 World Cup looks ominous, as they play with the same fast, efficient and well-drilled style that characterised their senior team in Brazil last year.
They were fortunate to be placed in arguably the weakest group but they will still be the team to fear.
Their strength and development across all levels can be partly traced back to a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of England in Munich in 2001.
That game, where former Liverpool striker Michael Owen scored a hat-trick, was their heaviest loss in more than 50 years and their first defeat in the Bavarian capital since 1973. Coming off the back of a disappointing Euro 2000 campaign, the sport had reached a nadir.
In response, the German Football Association undertook a extensive re-evaluation of their structures and processes, leading to significant overhaul and a greater commitment to youth development.
More than a decade on, it's helped to fashion the uber talent we are seeing in New Zealand right now.
