The Soccer Thread

[Mark Priors Calves]

I just don't get how FIFA makes up the rules as they go. Shouldn't there be a set standard for how the draw is done? That should be set in advance of any WC qualifiers. I understand the need to be flexible with the pools but the seeding, playoffs, etc. should be established well ahead of time.

[bukie]

I just don't get how FIFA makes up the rules as they go. Shouldn't there be a set standard for how the draw is done? That should be set in advance of any WC qualifiers. I understand the need to be flexible with the pools but the seeding, playoffs, etc. should be established well ahead of time.

The rules are different for every World Cup. It would seem that FIFA basically has in their minds who the strongest teams are, and will find a set of numbers that agree with their estimations to announce the seeds. This year, they absolutely didn't want to have to deal with the backlash of seeding France after the controversial playoff (where they were clearly outplayed), and they likely considered Holland a better team (which they are, by a lot).

[Exile on Waveland]

College soccer news:

 

Indiana fires head coach Mike Freitag. This was a bold -- and correct -- move from new AD Fred Glass. This portrays a sense of urgency I haven't seen from IU athletics (save the ill-fated Sampson soul-selling) in a long time. It would have been easy, and par for the course, to rationalize keeping Freitag as he's won a National Championship and is coming off a Sweet 16 appearance. Good show, Glass, good show.

 

Now: will it be Todd Yeagley (obviously the son of Jerry Yeagley) or Caleb Porter (who, name-dropping, I've played soccer with a number of times)?

[shnsajax]

I just don't get how FIFA makes up the rules as they go. Shouldn't there be a set standard for how the draw is done? That should be set in advance of any WC qualifiers. I understand the need to be flexible with the pools but the seeding, playoffs, etc. should be established well ahead of time.

The rules are different for every World Cup. It would seem that FIFA basically has in their minds who the strongest teams are, and will find a set of numbers that agree with their estimations to announce the seeds. This year, they absolutely didn't want to have to deal with the backlash of seeding France after the controversial playoff (where they were clearly outplayed), and they likely considered Holland a better team (which they are, by a lot).

 

There will also be no extra officals at the WC this summer. Not sure why it would have been so difficult to incorporate that now when its going to happen eventually anyways. Someone's going to get screwed on a call, I just hope its Mexico.

[Guest]

I just don't get how FIFA makes up the rules as they go. Shouldn't there be a set standard for how the draw is done? That should be set in advance of any WC qualifiers. I understand the need to be flexible with the pools but the seeding, playoffs, etc. should be established well ahead of time.

The rules are different for every World Cup. It would seem that FIFA basically has in their minds who the strongest teams are, and will find a set of numbers that agree with their estimations to announce the seeds. This year, they absolutely didn't want to have to deal with the backlash of seeding France after the controversial playoff (where they were clearly outplayed), and they likely considered Holland a better team (which they are, by a lot).

 

There will also be no extra officals at the WC this summer. Not sure why it would have been so difficult to incorporate that now when its going to happen eventually anyways. Someone's going to get screwed on a call, I just hope its Mexico.

 

That's a pretty stupid thing for FIFA to not implement. It's not like it would be hard to do it.

[Guest]

Final draw procedure for the World Cup has been announced:

 

Pot 1 : Brazil, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Argentina, England and South Africa.

 

Pot 2 : Australia, Japan, Korea DPR, Korea Republic, Honduras, Mexico, USA and New Zealand

 

Pot 3 : Algeria, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay

 

Pot 4 : Denmark, France, Greece, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland

 

Worst case scenario for you guys: Brazil, USA, Cameroon, France

Best case scenario: South Africa, USA, Ghana, Slovenia

 

I'm stunned they seeded the Oranje.

 

Best case: SA, USA, Paraguay, Slovakia

Worst Case: England, Cote d' Ivory, USA, Portugal

 

You think England would be a tougher draw than Brazil or Spain?

[USSoccer]

 

I'm stunned they seeded the Oranje.

 

Best case: SA, USA, Paraguay, Slovakia

Worst Case: England, Cote d' Ivory, USA, Portugal

 

You think England would be a tougher draw than Brazil or Spain?

 

Oh yeah. I think we match up more favorably with Spain and Brazil. It's not a big difference, but in group stage play there isn't another team I'd rather not see than England-except maybe Germany. They are a machine under Capello.

 

I feel we match up with South American sides reasonably well-even Brasil, who we usually play well enough against. Spain, for some reason, I think can be had in a group stage game. They don't exactly have a stellar World Cup resume, either, and I think that's in their heads a bit.

 

EDIT:

In order of "most like to face":

 

South Africa

Italy

Argentina

Holland

Brasil

Spain

Germany

England

 

I think Italy is past it. South Africa is the worst host/seeded team since us in 1994. Argentina are a mess under Maradona, have no defense and a poor keeper. The Oranje could win the World Cup or flame out. Then you get the better four teams. Brasil have so much depth-kind of hope if you draw them, you get them in the third game and they've already gone through. Same thing with Spain. Germany haven't not reached the quarterfinals since World War II. England look very, very good.

[Guest]

Your rankings are pretty similar to mine - after SA, I'd most like to get either Italy or Argentina.

 

Spain seems to me like a team that will roll through the group stage without a problem when the opponents are weaker before running into trouble in the knockout round.

[bukie]

I'm envisioning a Holland-France group, just for kicks.

[brinoch]

I want an England-Mexico-France-Algeria group, just to hose France.

[bukie]

I want an England-Mexico-France-Algeria group, just to hose France.

England-Mexico-France-Ivory Coast would do well to hose France and Mexico.

[brinoch]

I want an England-Mexico-France-Algeria group, just to hose France.

England-Mexico-France-Ivory Coast would do well to hose France and Mexico.

 

Works for me. Ivory Coast and Algeria both don't like France, but Algeria *really* doesn't like France.

[shnsajax]

I want an England-Mexico-France-Algeria group, just to hose France.

England-Mexico-France-Ivory Coast would do well to hose France and Mexico.

 

Works for me. Ivory Coast and Algeria both don't like France, but Algeria *really* doesn't like France.

 

I wish we could hose Italy, France, and Mexico all at the same time.

[brinoch]

I want an England-Mexico-France-Algeria group, just to hose France.

England-Mexico-France-Ivory Coast would do well to hose France and Mexico.

 

Works for me. Ivory Coast and Algeria both don't like France, but Algeria *really* doesn't like France.

 

I wish we could hose Italy, France, and Mexico all at the same time.

 

Works for me, too. Italy-Mexico-Ivory Coast-France would be a seriously nasty group, dontcha think?

[shnsajax]

I want an England-Mexico-France-Algeria group, just to hose France.

England-Mexico-France-Ivory Coast would do well to hose France and Mexico.

 

Works for me. Ivory Coast and Algeria both don't like France, but Algeria *really* doesn't like France.

 

I wish we could hose Italy, France, and Mexico all at the same time.

 

Works for me, too. Italy-Mexico-Ivory Coast-France would be a seriously nasty group, dontcha think?

 

Got to cheer for France in that scenario, but it would be fun to watch. Mexico would probably beat Italy who would finish last.

[sethuel1]

all i know is that i am going to be getting jack squat done tomorrow afternoon.

[bukie]

I took a shot at setting up balanced groups (as much as possible, as the group that gets New Zealand or North Korea is automatically going to be weaker than the rest), based on SPI rating rather than FIFA:

 

Brazil (1), Denmark (20), USA (16), Algeria (46)

Spain (2), Slovakia (50), Mexico (19), Paraguay (18)

England (3), Slovenia (37), Australia (23), Cameroon (15)

Holland (4), Serbia (13), Honduras (25), Ghana (36)

Argentina (5), France (11), North Korea (92), Nigeria (34)

Germany (6), Switzerland (31), New Zealand (91), Uruguay (10)

Italy (12), Greece (33), South Korea (42), Ivory Coast (9)

South Africa (65), Portugal (7), Japan (35), Chile (8)

 

The Germany and Argentina groups look a little weaker than the rest, but there's such a disparity in the CONCACAF/AFC pool that there's really no way to be perfectly fair. Essentially, there are 2 SPI top 16 teams in each group.

[shnsajax]

all i know is that i am going to be getting jack squat done tomorrow afternoon.

 

I already know most sites I want to watch tomorrow will be blocked. Still that's I will be doing.

[shnsajax]

Its almost time. I am nervous and excited, and expecting the worst.

 

Here is the order of teams I want:

South Africa

 

Italy

Argentina

Germany

 

Spain

England

 

Holland

Brazil

 

And avoid Portugal in Pool 4.

[bukie]

Out of each pool, here's who I'd like to avoid:

 

Seeds: Brazil, England, Germany, Spain

CAF/CONMEBOL: Chile, Ivory Coast, Uruguay, Cameroon

Europe: Portugal, France, Serbia, Denmark

 

If we get one of each of those, that's officially the Group of Death.

If we get none of those, I like our chances to advance.

[shnsajax]

I really don't fear France at all.

[bukie]

I really don't fear France at all.

I don't fear them either, but I'd rather avoid them than Slovakia/Slovenia/Switzerland/Greece.

 

I suppose as long as they avoid Portugal, it's not bad.

 

EDIT: And the draw is starting...now!

 

EDIT 2: Never mind, ESPN lied and it doesn't start for 45 minutes.

[shnsajax]

I really don't fear France at all.

I don't fear them either, but I'd rather avoid them than Slovakia/Slovenia/Switzerland/Greece.

 

I suppose as long as they avoid Portugal, it's not bad.

 

EDIT: And the draw is starting...now!

 

EDIT 2: Never mind, ESPN lied and it doesn't start for 45 minutes.

 

I wonder when the actual draw starts. Mostly curious to what will be going on in 80 minutes when I leave for lunch and if I can catch any of it on tv.

[bukie]

I really don't fear France at all.

I don't fear them either, but I'd rather avoid them than Slovakia/Slovenia/Switzerland/Greece.

 

I suppose as long as they avoid Portugal, it's not bad.

 

EDIT: And the draw is starting...now!

 

EDIT 2: Never mind, ESPN lied and it doesn't start for 45 minutes.

 

I wonder when the actual draw starts. Mostly curious to what will be going on in 80 minutes when I leave for lunch and if I can catch any of it on tv.

According to the live draw chat, the actual draw starts at 12:45 ET and will last 3 hours.

[brinoch]

Bleh... stop blathering and start drawing little balls.