Asia 4 and half !!

[Catenaccio-maldini]

hi all

i am wonder why Asia has 4 and half places in the WC ?
and that 1/2 team from Asia will face who ? North America fourth !!!!!!!

is it because Bin Hammam has alot of "POWER" in the FIFA , Asia has more opportunities ?

how they decide how many team will qualify for the WC ?
Asia 4 and 1/5 ... !!!
North America 3 and 1/5 !!!!!
why !

thanx all ...

[Borruma]

Basically because for WC1998 Asia was given 3.5 places with Saudi, South Korea, Japan and Iran(being the half) filling them, as two Asian teams were hosting WC 2002 fifa decided to give them 4 spots which annoyed the Asian football confedration which demanded 5 and almost boycotted the world cup (which given China and Saudi Arabia's *ahem* performances might not have been a bad thing) - in the end Fifa gave in and Asia were given a half spot for 2002 which went to Iran who then lost to Ireland in a play-off. After the world cup the AFC demanded to keep it's spot mainly because of South Korea's run ( :rolleyes: ) and Blatter being what he is - gave in.

As for Concacaf's 3.5 spots (should be 2.5 at most), who knows? One good world cup do not a good confedration make.

[Caesar]

Asia certainly deserves more spots than CONCACAF.

[blackjack]

Asia certainly deserves more spots than CONCACAF.

Agreed. The US and Mexico are not representative of the quality throughout the region. Teams like Iran, Iraq, China, and Saudi Arabia are of better quality than teams like Guatemala, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Costa Rica.

[Catenaccio-maldini]

thax .. Borruma and Caesar ..
i would love yo see more European teams than asian (most of them are NOT professional) and teams from North America !!

i mean ,,, 3 teams from Asia .. and 2.5 teams from North America .. that will be maximum ...

BUT, any one know how they divide the "cake" ?
i know there is yearly UEFA Calculations point that give countries number of teams can be participate in the Champions League and UEFA cup >>

does FIFA use the same idea ? or just sit around the table and talk !!! (which is the only way i can see it !! ) .

[deejay]

Hard to give CONCACAF less than 3 specially since that's what we've had since last world cup and we did OK. Otherwise, I agree. 3.5 is not really warranted.

Possibly it's insurance to keep Mexico, a huge soccer market, in the World Cup? Also, all those votes don't hurt.

[SweetLew]

Agreed. The US and Mexico are not representative of the quality throughout the region. Teams like Iran, Iraq, China, and Saudi Arabia are of better quality than teams like Guatemala, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Costa Rica.

Gotta disagree with you on this one.
Am betting that 4th place in CONCACAF beat
the 5th in ASIA zone

[scaryice]

Costa Rica and Guatemala are better than Saudi Arabia and China. Those two got destroyed in the World Cup.

[Sagy]

Agreed. The US and Mexico are not representative of the quality throughout the region. Teams like Iran, Iraq, China, and Saudi Arabia are of better quality than teams like Guatemala, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Costa Rica.
How many ways can one be wrong?
Let me count the ways:

Since the expansion to 32 teams (and 3+ teams to AFC and CONCACAF):




1998 One AFC and one CONCACAF team finished 0:0:3; 0:1:2 "honors" went to teams from AFC and UEFA (2 each) and one from CAF.
2002 Two AFC teams, and a UEFA team finished 0:0:3 and two CAF teams and a UEFA team finished 0:1:2.
It is hard to claim that a team with a victory or two ties in 3 matches was "outclassed". We can say that in the last two WCs 5 out of 8 (62.5%) AFC teams were outclassed while only 1 out of 6 (16.7%) CONCACAF teams earned this dubious distinction. I sure hope I counted right ;)
We are at one.
To complete the list, CAF is 30% (3/10), UEFA 13.3% (4/40) and CONMEBOL 0% (0/10).

AFC is better head to head.
This time I didn't have to count (http://www.planetworldcup.com/STATS/stat_confed.html) :)
AFC Vs. CONCACAF 1 win, 1 tie, 4 loses. Using 0:1:3 points system AFC 4 - CONCACAF 13. I don't think AFC is even close.
Now it is two.

Yea, but we need to look at the overall picture, AFC teams have done better against the rest of the world.

AFC-World 9:11:40 Success rate of 21.1% (38/180)
CONCACAF-World 19:17:52 Success rate of 28.0% (74/264)
Take away the head to head
AFC-World 8:10:36 Success rate of 21.0% (34/162)
CONCACAF-World 15:16:51 Success rate of 24.8% (61/246)
Well, no they didn't.
Make it three.

But AFC did better vs. UEFA.

AFC-UEFA 6: 7:28 Success rate of 20.3% (25/123)
CONCACAF-UEFA 12:14:37 Success rate of 26.5% (50/189)
Wrong!
Can we say four.

But CONMEBOL is the real top confederation, AFC did much better then CONCACAF against them.

AFC-CONMEBOL 0: 2: 7 Success rate of 7.4% ( 2/ 27)
CONCACAF-CONMEBOL 3: 2:13 Success rate of 20.4% (11/ 54)
and wrong again!
We are up to five.

CONCACAF is just the US and Mexico...

1990: Costa Rica 2:0:1, made it to the second round.
1994: Only US and Mexico in the WC.
1998: Jamaica 1:0:2 , beat Japan
2002: Costa Rica 1:1:1, beat China
20 years ago it was probably just Mexico, in the last 15 years it isn't.
Six. Is half a dozen enough? Do you want me to keep counting?

Having said all that, most of the above data is for games on neutral ground, in a home and home series anything can happen. I think that both confederation deserve no more than 3 spots in the world cup (given that Australia will join AFC).

[Shaydee]

I'll take Costa Rica over most Asian sides outside Korea and Japan

I think Asia can thank Korea for their performance last time for the increased amount of spots

[El CHarro_NEgro....]

Hard to give CONCACAF less than 3 specially since that's what we've had since last world cup and we did OK. Otherwise, I agree. 3.5 is not really warranted.

Possibly it's insurance to keep Mexico, a huge soccer market, in the World Cup? Also, all those votes don't hurt.
More like an insurance to keep USA.

[almango]

Basically because for WC1998 Asia was given 3.5 places with Saudi, South Korea, Japan and Iran(being the half) filling them, as two Asian teams were hosting WC 2002 fifa decided to give them 4 spots which annoyed the Asian football confedration which demanded 5 and almost boycotted the world cup (which given China and Saudi Arabia's *ahem* performances might not have been a bad thing) - in the end Fifa gave in and Asia were given a half spot for 2002 which went to Iran who then lost to Ireland in a play-off. After the world cup the AFC demanded to keep it's spot mainly because of South Korea's run ( :rolleyes: ) and Blatter being what he is - gave in.

As for Concacaf's 3.5 spots (should be 2.5 at most), who knows? One good world cup do not a good confedration make.

CONCACAF teams have consistantly performed better at World Cup tournaments than another continent that gets 5 spots. AFC did manage 1 team in the last 4 and two in the last 8 in the last tournament. Another confederation that has 5 spots only managed one through to the second round (that team went on to the last 8). Indeed the confederation with 5 spots usually sees most of those teams returning home at the end of the first round.

[Trussy in Oz]

I do not believe that AFC will retain their 4.5 spots for the 2010 WC, because it will be held for the first time is Africa and as hosts I don’t expect them to retain their current 5 spots.
1 spot host [Africa] 4 spots African groups
Asia 4 spots
North America 3 spots
Oceania 0.5 spots, still with playoff against South American fifth placed team.
South America 4.5 spots
European 15 spots, this is compensation for having to play away in some foreign confederation.

[Borruma]

CONCACAF teams have consistantly performed better at World Cup tournaments than another continent that gets 5 spots. AFC did manage 1 team in the last 4 and two in the last 8 in the last tournament. Another confederation that has 5 spots only managed one through to the second round (that team went on to the last 8). Indeed the confederation with 5 spots usually sees most of those teams returning home at the end of the first round

When Did I say I was in favour of the amount of spots Africa gets?

Personally, I'd prefer if the WC went back to 24 teams but as that's not going to happen this would be my preferred spot arrangement.

16 Europe
5 South America
2.5 North America
0.5 Oceania
3.5 Asia
4.5 Africa

With all the half spots being decided in a final pool held in a neutral venue with the top two qualifying

[Sempuukyaku]

Agreed. The US and Mexico are not representative of the quality throughout the region. Teams like Iran, Iraq, China, and Saudi Arabia are of better quality than teams like Guatemala, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Costa Rica.


China? Better than COSTA RICA??



HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!



Oh man...whew...


That was good.

[Tresbien]

Asia plays far better football than North American and Africa.


hi all

i am wonder why Asia has 4 and half places in the WC ?
and that 1/2 team from Asia will face who ? North America fourth !!!!!!!

is it because Bin Hammam has alot of "POWER" in the FIFA , Asia has more opportunities ?

how they decide how many team will qualify for the WC ?
Asia 4 and 1/5 ... !!!
North America 3 and 1/5 !!!!!
why !

thanx all ...

[Sempuukyaku]

Asia plays far better football than North American and Africa.


Yeah, especially after South Korea showed us who's boss in 2002 :rolleyes:


No to mention there are FAR more asians playing for Europe's biggest clubs than africans :rolleyes:



Dude, Mexico would kill just about any team in that region, period. Stop kidding yourselves.

[Sempuukyaku]

lol, sorry to add another post but this is just too funny.

Well, here's how it's looking right now in the AFC:


Group A Points

Team
Korea Republic 6
Saudi Arabia 5
Kuwait 4
Uzbekistan 1


Group B Points

Team
Iran 7
Japan 6
Bahrain 4
North Korea 0



So, if things go the way I think they will, it'll probably be Iran, Japan, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia with the 4 bids to WC '06. That leaves Bahrain and Kuwait to fight it out amongst themselves for the playoff spot.


Guatemala and Costa Rica are right now fighting for that 3rd WC bid. Unless T&T or Panama REALLY step it up soon, it'll probably come down to those two teams. Neither Bahrain, nor Kuwait HAVE A SNOWBALL'S CHANCE IN HELL of beating either Guatemala or Costa Rica, period. Ruiz is one of the top 5 scores in CONCACAF WC qualifying. If it's tough for us concacaf teams to shut him down, how in the hell do you think Kuwait or Bahrain will do it???


I'm not disrespecting Asia, but to say that either of these countries can hang with Guatemala or Costa Rica is a stretch if I've ever heard it.

[Inter2004]

So, if things go the way I think they will, it'll probably be Iran, Japan, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia with the 4 bids to WC '06. That leaves Bahrain and Kuwait to fight it out amongst themselves for the playoff spot.


Guatemala and Costa Rica are right now fighting for that 3rd WC bid. Unless T&T or Panama REALLY step it up soon, it'll probably come down to those two teams. Neither Bahrain, nor Kuwait HAVE A SNOWBALL'S CHANCE IN HELL of beating either Guatemala or Costa Rica, period. Ruiz is one of the top 5 scores in CONCACAF WC qualifying. If it's tough for us concacaf teams to shut him down, how in the hell do you think Kuwait or Bahrain will do it???


I'm not disrespecting Asia, but to say that either of these countries can hang with Guatemala or Costa Rica is a stretch if I've ever heard it.


You are absolutely right. I can't imagine Bahrain or Kuwait being able to compete with Costa Rica or Guatamela and quite frankly I'm glad. Seeing Bahrain or Kuwait in the WC would be a complete joke. They are a step down from the Saudis who got smashed in '02.

[aloisius]

Take the half-spots from Asia and CONCACAF and give an extra spot to Europe.

3 from CONCACAF and 4 from Asia would be about right.