The report points to the limited sample available to recruiters. A finalist may offer only a handful of matches, while a group-stage exit can leave a club judging a player on just three appearances.
That makes context vital:
The financial pressure is just as dangerous. Once several clubs compete for the same breakout star, the fee can reflect excitement rather than fit.
The report recalls Diouf’s move from Senegal’s 2002 World Cup campaign to Liverpool, where his reputation did not translate into sustained impact.
Renato Sanches offers another warning. After winning the Euro 2016 young-player award, he joined Bayern Munich, struggled to establish himself and was subsequently loaned to Swansea.
Yet Gilberto Silva shows that tournament scouting can work. After helping Brazil win the 2002 World Cup, he joined Arsenal and became an important part of the Invincibles era alongside Patrick Vieira.
Clubs should not ignore tournament form; they should test it. Does the player’s decision-making survive closer scrutiny? Can his physical profile withstand a full domestic season? Will his strengths fit the manager’s structure?
The next World Cup and European Championship will produce new heroes-and new bidding wars. The wisest clubs will celebrate the moment, then return to the longer evidence before opening the cheque book.