Slots for Next World Cup in Germany

[DoyleG]

Originally posted by Alex_1
Before 2002 I would have thought the same thing. But I'm starting to doubt that based on Oceana's general performances + the fact that it would only be one match. The key is, who gets the playoff with them? That's why I think it might end up being an African club playing off with Oceana.

Canada has faced Australia twice in playoffs for international competition. In both instances, it came down to the match in Australia that decided it. In both cases, Australia came out on top.

Originally posted by sidspaceman
The US had already qualified before there match with T&T. If Honduras had beaten Mexico than Mexico would of been the odd man out.

The US had 16 points going into the last day of matches, Honduras had 14. Both teams also has a +3 GD going into those matches. A Honduras win would ahve eliminated the US, which drew with T&T, because Honduras would have had a better GD and more goals scored.

[maverick]

Originally posted by DoyleG
The US had 16 points going into the last day of matches, Honduras had 14. Both teams also has a +3 GD going into those matches. A Honduras win would ahve eliminated the US, which drew with T&T, because Honduras would have had a better GD and more goals scored.

No, you should go back and look at the table before making foolish statements. This is a HALF-truth. Sure, a Honduras win in the final match would have qualified Honduras, but at MEXICO's expense, NOT the U.S.' expense! Every result must be put into context, because ANY point won is a point TAKEN from another Hexagonal participant...

Because Mexico and Honduras were head-to-head, any points Honduras would have won would have been 1 or 3 LESS points for MEXICO, which needed points to pass the U.S. on the hexagonal table.

Look, the U.S. qualified with one match to spare, BEFORE Mexico did. The fact that Mexico ultimately finished the round with more points than the U.S. means NOTHING. Qualification is all that matters -- the earlier, the better. Your arguments better be factually valid before you post, or else someone is going to call your horse-crap factor.

[Sachin]

Originally posted by DoyleG


Then again, you guys should be thanking Mexico for beating Honduras, or you would have been sitting on the outside.



I assume you're talking about the 10th matchday. That match was winner take all. The USA and Costa Rica already had qualified.

Sachin

[DoyleG]

My bad on that last part.

But face it, you guys want that 4th spot? Then you will have to Axe the Hex.

[sidspaceman]

I think the leadership of CONCACAF would gladly axe the hex for a extra spot.

[Alex_1]

Originally posted by sidspaceman
I think the leadership of CONCACAF would gladly axe the hex for a extra spot.

I wonder how that would work. Would there still be the three groups? First three advance, the next four finishers have a playoff "mini-tournament" or soemthing of teh sort? Interesting.

[Ismitje]

I appreciate everyone's various perspectives.

The reality is that FIFA is a political organization. Therefore any of the scenarios presented herein must be considered in that context. Markets, population, votes in the FIFA congress - these must carry equal weight (maybe more actually) than who beat who or who is better than who.

I know we all have "seems fair" scenarios - but would they work in the FIFA poitical world? That's the key.

[Qdog]

Originally posted by Ismitje
I appreciate everyone's various perspectives.

The reality is that FIFA is a political organization. Therefore any of the scenarios presented herein must be considered in that context. Markets, population, votes in the FIFA congress - these must carry equal weight (maybe more actually) than who beat who or who is better than who.

I know we all have "seems fair" scenarios - but would they work in the FIFA poitical world? That's the key.

Very true. But right now Blatter owes Warner a bone for delivering CONCACAF votes. Based on the article that started this thread I would say we get the half slot. But Warner should still push for the forth. You never get more if you don't ask.

[CrewDust]

http://sports.yahoo.com/m/world/news/reuters/20021217/reu-fifa20021217.html

It's three and a half. I still think giving Oceania its own spot is BS.

[photar74]

Sweet. Bring on the Octagonal!

[Davids26]

Originally posted by photar74
Sweet. Bring on the Octagonal!

The Octagonal would mean 4 more games that Euro-based players would have to be called over. THeir has been discussion to combine two matchdays and put them in the same week to reduce travel, but I think the qualifying system should stay the way it is and take the 4th place team from the hex. with the Octagonal it would seem you would have a few more meaningless games for most teams.

[Qdog]

Originally posted by Davids26
The Octagonal would mean 4 more games that Euro-based players would have to be called over. THeir has been discussion to combine two matchdays and put them in the same week to reduce travel, but I think the qualifying system should stay the way it is and take the 4th place team from the hex. with the Octagonal it would seem you would have a few more meaningless games for most teams.

Agreed. The current system will work just fine. I am glad our 4th place team goes against Asia. The fifth best team in Asia is probably China. I like the odds of Honduras against them.

[nicodemus]

I posted this in another thread, but I think it bears repeating. The hex is superior, because split qualification groups often means that a fluke will squeeze through. Chances are that you aren't going to fluke your way through the hex.

Asia does split qualifying and we all know Iran is superior to China, but just because of the weird system, they ended up having to face Ireland and sat at home while China got squashed by all opposition.

[Pirrip]

Originally posted by nicodemus
I posted this in another thread, but I think it bears repeating. The hex is superior, because split qualification groups often means that a fluke will squeeze through. Chances are that you aren't going to fluke your way through the hex.

Asia does split qualifying and we all know Iran is superior to China, but just because of the weird system, they ended up having to face Ireland and sat at home while China got squashed by all opposition.

I wonder if this would be your opinion if, a couple of Marchs ago, Mathis had not scored while the US was down a man? The US would have been eliminated in the Semi's...The difference is, the fluke occurs in the semi's. CONCACAF's hex is a silly system that eliminates the vast majority of CONCACAF nations 2 years before the World Cup and does no favours for soccer generally in this region. Its foolish frankly and does not account for an aging team loosing its step or a younger team finding its game, for example. 2 years is a long time in international football.

[ndcheg]

Originally posted by Davids26
The Octagonal would mean 4 more games that Euro-based players would have to be called over. THeir has been discussion to combine two matchdays and put them in the same week to reduce travel, but I think the qualifying system should stay the way it is and take the 4th place team from the hex. with the Octagonal it would seem you would have a few more meaningless games for most teams.

The Octagonal would actually reduce the number of games played by the top teams if the top 3-4 were given byes directly to the Octagonal. Every Octagonal plan I've seen pre-Crash, pre-Hack included these byes. So an octagonal would actually reduce the number of meaningless games played by the top teams.

Why do you think the Hex is so great? Personally looking at the results of the last qualifying I think Guatamala was as good as Honduras. But Guat was already eliminated by two of the top teams in region before the Hex even began. All Honduras had to do was qualify from a group that had Jam, El Sal, and St. Vincent's. Not a hard group compared to Guats. An Oct would increase the chances that a team that deserves a shot at qualifying would actually be able to face it's competition head to head.

[Sachin]

But then you're not making the top teams prove themselves against the minnows first. Teams should go through 2 rounds.

Sachin