Euros get easier road to second round??

[ghazi]

I am not big on conspiracy theories and I don't think really think the US got screwed over by anyone in the Seeding scenario.

However, it seems pretty reasonable to say that the geographic restriction in grouping creates a scenario where the Euro teams are inherently favored to advance over nonEuro teams.

European teams get to play two "weak" teams from Pots 2 and 4, guaranteeing them two "softer" opponents.

Meanwhile, despite its ranking under FIFA or seeding, a team like the US has to play:
- 2 Euro teams (or a Brazil/Arg and a Euro)
- no Asian teams.

It just seems funny to me, that a team like Switzerland or Poland be given statistical advantage to a team that has been ranked in the top 10 for years.

(I aint whining. . bring it, World. :D )

[rollo]

I am not big on conspiracy theories and I don't think really think the US got screwed over by anyone in the Seeding scenario.

However, it seems pretty reasonable to say that the geographic restriction in grouping creates a scenario where the Euro teams are inherently favored to advance over nonEuro teams.

European teams get to play two "weak" teams from Pots 2 and 4, guaranteeing them two "softer" opponents.

Meanwhile, despite its ranking under FIFA or seeding, a team like the US has to play:
- 2 Euro teams (or a Brazil/Arg and a Euro)
- no Asian teams.

It just seems funny to me, that a team like Switzerland or Poland be given statistical advantage to a team that has been ranked in the top 10 for years.

(I aint whining. . bring it, World. :D )

Well, the Euro's could complain (and they do) that they have a more competitive confederation to qualify from and restricting the number of intra-confederation group games is only fair by mixing the groups (confederations) from the qualifying rounds.

That said, I'm in favour of using the same ranking used for seeding to set up the groups with the restriction that the confederations are separated as best as possible. The real injustice IMHO is not the separation of confederations, but the random draw into groups. If the draw was not random then Switzerland would get paired with stronger teams (Euro and non-Euro) while the US with the highest non-seeded rank would get paired with relatively weaker opponents.

[ghazi]

It is your wisdom and ability to formulate rational thought that will prevent you from ever replacing Sepp Blatter, my friend. :D

[The Big Ticket]

The Euros are simply stronger than the US Dollar. It's currently $1.18 for every 1 €.

[Bonji]

You forget that qualifying out of Europe can be seen as harder than it is out of CONCACAF as there are many more teams competiting. Maybe the finals compensate for that.

[ghazi]

True, Euro qualifying is harder in general. However that IS compensated for by the fact that nearly half of the spots in the World Cup are allocated to European teams.

I am not sure if that necessarily makes everything hunky dory, but it certainly is designed for their benefit. . and rightfully so.

[SgtSchultz]

What should scare the Euros more than anything else is how opposing teams from other confederations will fare in this world cup. Can you imagine if a bunch of the so called lesser teams have a good World Cup on European soil? I really do look forward to this world cup and I hope the collective world kicks euro asses.

[monster]

Yeah, it's really a crock when a federation that has had nine countries provide 11 of the last 16 World Cup semifinalists gets precedence.

:rolleyes:

They don't get an easier road. They have earned it through historical results.

[Kernel KlinK]

I too don't buy the conspiracy theory stuff but I do get a bit pissed at the difficulty we will most likely have to encounter. In the end, the odds say that the seeded teams advance and thus are more or less seeded next time.
Etc., Etc.

However, I am confident in out abilities no matter what comes. We have a good team, a quick team, a balanced team. We now have size and speed - - Just think this one example through: Jeff Agoos (I do love him, but...) 2002, Gooch 2006? We have a great coach who will out analyze any others out there and every member of the team knows that HE'S the boss. We will play a balls to the walls team game. We will bring a speed game when necessary, a control/size game when we need to and a combo if that is what is called for. All of our guys will be involved in some way, shape or form. If the world was surprised in '02, they'll be stunned Germany. Give us your best FIFA.
We have an answer.

[Ombak]

I too don't buy the conspiracy theory stuff but I do get a bit pissed at the difficulty we will most likely have to encounter. In the end, the odds say that the seeded teams advance and thus are more or less seeded next time.That's exactly how it should be, Until someone knocks some of those teams down, and earns the spot from them.

[england66]

Yeah, it's really a crock when a federation that has had nine countries provide 11 of the last 16 World Cup semifinalists gets precedence.

:rolleyes:

They don't get an easier road. They have earned it through historical results.


stop talking so much sense....you'll piss some people off....

[england66]

What should scare the Euros more than anything else is how opposing teams from other confederations will fare in this world cup. Can you imagine if a bunch of the so called lesser teams have a good World Cup on European soil? I really do look forward to this world cup and I hope the collective world kicks euro asses.


...you may have to wait a long time for this dream to become reality....at a World Cup played in europe....just the facts jack....the euro's would be all in favor of Global qualification....but then of course you'll likely have about 20 euro's in every world cup....

[ty webb]

England 66 - I think it would be over 20. Of course we would have Brazil and Argentina. So, it would be at least 30 or less Euro teams.

Also, for the posters screaming for FIFA prejudice, the European teams are better than the other teams in the world on average. They have a number of teams that did not qualify that are better than teams from lesser confederations that did qualify. In this WC and past WC's FIFA does not want more than two Euro teams in one group. So, that is why they set up the confederations in different groups. I too hope to see CONCACAF AND CONMEBOL do well. However, the seeding is set up to produce brackets no different than in past tourneys. 2 or less Euro teams per group. Who would want to see four Euro teams in one group? The WC is supposed to pit teams from different confederations against others...

[dna77054]

I am not big on conspiracy theories and I don't think really think the US got screwed over by anyone in the Seeding scenario.

However, it seems pretty reasonable to say that the geographic restriction in grouping creates a scenario where the Euro teams are inherently favored to advance over nonEuro teams.

European teams get to play two "weak" teams from Pots 2 and 4, guaranteeing them two "softer" opponents.

Meanwhile, despite its ranking under FIFA or seeding, a team like the US has to play:
- 2 Euro teams (or a Brazil/Arg and a Euro)
- no Asian teams.

It just seems funny to me, that a team like Switzerland or Poland be given statistical advantage to a team that has been ranked in the top 10 for years.

(I aint whining. . bring it, World. :D )

I understand what you are saying and have had similar thoughts, but then I ask myself "what is the alternative?" The answer is 3-4 Euros in a group, and that would guarantee Euro advancement. So the current set up is the lesser of two "evils", in the mildest sense of the word.

[IASocFan]

Remember two of the seeded favorites from 2002 - France and Argentina!!! :rolleyes:

[uclacarlos]

England 66 - I think it would be over 20. Of course we would have Brazil and Argentina. So, it would be at least 30 or less Euro teams.
:eek:

Brilliant, brilliant math there.

O.k.: how many Euros qualified for the 2nd round in '02? So why would you even suspect that a full 20 Euros would qualify if the ones that DID can't even make it past the first round?

Do you think that in a "world wide playoff" that all the Euros that put 10 guys behind the ball and hope and pray to God for a tie vs. the big boys... would survive vs. the globe?

I honestly despise the WCQ and EuroQ b/c Italy, England, Spain, Germany and Holland rarely get to play, you know, soccer. W/ 2 teams that are actually trying to, you know, score a goal.

Also, for the posters screaming for FIFA prejudice, the European teams are better than the other teams in the world on average. They have a number of teams that did not qualify that are better than teams from lesser confederations that did qualify.
And they also have a number of teams that, frankly, are inferior to teams that are in the tournament and I'd venture to say some teams out of the tournament.

[Ives]

And they also have a number of teams that, frankly, are inferior to teams that are in the tournament and I'd venture to say some teams out of the tournament.

Who is the "they" in this sentence?

[uclacarlos]

Who is the "they" in this sentence?
UEFA teams.

[Adam Zebrowski]

there are 14 uefa sides...

expectations says 7 should advance to the 2nd round...

if the euro snobs are correct, then 8 or more uefa sides need to advance to illustrate the superiority of uefa

[Ives]

UEFA teams.

Who, in your opinion, are the weak UEFA teams and what eliminated teams are better?