Do we play the best Group team last?

[ghazi]

Because we are Pot 4, does that mean that we will face our seeded team in the final game of group play?

What that would mean is that a powerhouse team with two wins in hand, may not put a topnotch squad against us.

Or am i wrong? :confused:

[Ombak]

Because we are Pot 4, does that mean that we will face our seeded team in the final game of group play?

What that would mean is that a powerhouse team with two wins in hand, may not put a topnotch squad against us.

Or am i wrong? :confused:You're wrong. Group positions 2, 3 and 4 are drawn randomly in order to vary the matchups.

The USA could be drawn into, say, group H, as H2, H3 or H4.

[ghazi]

Aye caramba! :eek:

[Ombak]

OTOH, what if you draw Italy as a seed?

They may be one of the stronger seeds but they are, historically, slow starters. I'd rather play them first if I were a non-seeded team.

Of course 2002 was an exception as they steamrolled Ecuador in the first game.

[DCUPopeAndLillyFan]

As has already been pointed out, positions 2, 3, and 4 in agroup are randomly drawn.

In theory, you want to play the best team in the group last - the idea being that if they win their first two and clinch a spot in the next round they'll rest some players against you. Of course, this worked completely the opposite for us in 2002.