WC stays 32 - Oceania LOSES spot!

[o_l_coach]

From Soccernet:

PARIS, June 28 (Reuters) - FIFA's Executive Committee has rejected a proposal to expand the 2006 World Cup finals to 36 teams, but to do so backtracked on its promise to give Oceania an automatic place in the tournament.

The South American confederation CONMEBOL had proposed the increase from the current 32 teams after its allocation was reduced by 'half a slot' - a place in a playoff - to give Oceania an automatic finals place.

However, to placate the South Americans FIFA agreed on Saturday to return their half-place at the expense of Oceania, a decision that led to the furious Oceania delegation storming out of the meeting.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=270695&cc=5901

[blkbrnrvr]

I will say this for Oceania; yes, the confederation is a two horse race (Aussies and NZ) and outside of those two, it is pathetically weak, but how can FIFA recognize Oceania as a region yet not guarantee them one measley spot?

[Bauser]

FIFA solved this very well. Thankfully we are not screwing up the competition schedule by introducing play-offs after the groupstage which would have been the solution with 36 teams and 9 groups, and thankfully Conmebol gets its 0.5 spot back.

[um_chili]

Originally posted by blkbrnrvr
I will say this for Oceania; yes, the confederation is a two horse race (Aussies and NZ) and outside of those two, it is pathetically weak, but how can FIFA recognize Oceania as a region yet not guarantee them one measley spot?

Where is it written that confederation status merits a given number of spots? If you look at the confederations, the number of spots they get reflects the quality of their teams.

Giving Oceania a half-spot well reflects their quality as a confederation. Guaranteeing a spot in the WC for Aus or NZ would be absurd. I just hope that they will be given a fuller chance to compete for that spot rather than be forced into yet another home-and-away.

[Bauser]

In fairness of Oceania I do believe their winner should play-off against an Asian side and not against a South American.

[markdickson]

Originally posted by o_l_coach
but to do so backtracked on its promise to give Oceania an automatic place in the tournament.



I personally think that this is a good thing. Any team going to the wc needs to have earned the right by beating decent teams to qualify & Fiji, American Samoa, ect aren't decent teams.

Australians shouldn't moan about this. If their team is a good as they say it is they won't have any propblem beating a South American team! :)

You should qualify for the wc because you have a good national team not because your country exists in a region where the other nations are poor.

[olafgb]

That's no fair solution. You can argue if Oceania should get a spot guaranteed, but you cannot rule in 2003 that Oceania gets a spot for 2006 and after one other association complains, you take the spot away again just months after this decision, that's ridiculous. What do we learn? Complain at FIFA and you will be rewarded with an additional spot; maybe some other associations learn from that for the future. Oceania playing against a CONMEBOL is not fair either; they don't have the same conditions for the game in terms of preparing with their first team and at least last time the final qualifyer in Uruguay was a farce regarding the treatment of the Australian team.

[desertfox2]

I don't say this very often, but FIFA did an excellent job here. I am very happy about the 32 teams not only for 2006, but also for 2010. And giving South America the half of a spot back was the right thing to do. Great job.

[Gar7]

It is the World Cup. As far as I can remember, Oceania is part of this world, so they deserve an equal chance to qualify one team to the World Cup. Of all the confederations, CONCACAF has the hardest run to the finals(more than 20 matches in some cases) yet gets 3(now 3.5) spots or has that changed? Too often FIFA allows itself to get bullied by UEFA and CONEMBOL. Both confederations feel the World Cup is theirs and that the other confederations do not matter. I think that after the last three Cups, they should know that CONCACAF and CAF are fully capable of being competitive and even World beaters.

Give Oceania its spot an dtake it away from CONEMBOL or UEFA.

[Scoey]

I read in another article that FIFA considered New Zealand's poor showing at the Confed Cup in taking away the guaranteed birth. Totally asinine. I hope this is a post-hoc rationalization, rather than a bona-fide reason. Oceania doesn't deserve a whole spot, but the Confed Cup results should have played NO role in the decision.

The reason the Oceania playoff will be against South America is probably simple politics. I agree that, from a competitive stand-point, the playoff should be against Asia, but that would require re-tooling more of the system. If Oceania played Asia, then CONMEBOL would have to play CONCACAF. Instead of pissing off just one confederation (Oceania), you'd piss-off three confederations (Oceania -- pissed at losing a spot, CONCACAF -- pissed at having to play CONMEBOL instead of the weaker Asia, and CONMEBOL -- pissed at having to play CONCACAF instead of the weaker Oceania). I'm sure Sepp's love for Jack Warner played a part in the decision. Looks like Oceania is incompetent at playing the politics game.

All in all, this is good, though. This still isn't an ideal allocation (Asia and Africa have too many spots), but it's better than before. Too bad we had to go through all those ridiculous shenanigans to get here.

[Benedict XVI]

I agree that Oceania never deserved the spot in the first place, but to take it back now so soon after giving it (and before a World Cup) is pretty shady.

[MIGkiller]

The wisest decision, IMO.

The bad thing is that they had promissed 1 spot for Oceania and now are taking it back from them. Not the right thing to do.

They could have taken one 0.5 spot from Asia and given it to Oceania.

Another thing is that the FIFA press release doesn't mention who are these 0.5 spots going to compete against in the playoffs. Maybe it's yet to be decided.

The right thing to do would be the 0.5 from Oceania dispute with the 0.5 from Asia, and the 0.5 from Conmebol play with the 0.5 from CONCACAF. It would be the most balanced format.

[russ]

Originally posted by MIGkiller
The wisest decision, IMO.

Another thing is that the FIFA press release doesn't mention who are these 0.5 spots going to compete against in the playoffs. Maybe it's yet to be decided.

The right thing to do would be the 0.5 from Oceania dispute with the 0.5 from Asia, and the 0.5 from Conmebol play with the 0.5 from CONCACAF. It would be the most balanced format.

Absolutely agree that this is the sensible solution.Therefore,it will never happen.This is FIFA,after all...

[SoccerScout]

Well NZ performed horribly at the CC. If they are one of the top 2 in OC than based on their performance it would be a crime to GIVE them a 50% chance of making the WC. I like the decision but also agree that OC should have a playoff with ASIA and not South America.

[desertfox2]

The best solution is this. Give all 6 confederations a certain amount of spots and then a half of a spot. Take the 6 nations (1 from each confederation) and put them into 1 group where they would play a single round robin schedule at the end of qualifying for about 2 weeks in say Germany since they are the hosts with the top 3 qualifying for the Finals. It would give Australia a more fair chance and I don't think anyone would have any complaints with this. What do you all think?

[SwissGCZ]

Originally posted by MIGkiller
The right thing to do would be the 0.5 from Oceania dispute with the 0.5 from Asia, and the 0.5 from Conmebol play with the 0.5 from CONCACAF. It would be the most balanced format.
Indeed. Concacaf & Conmebol play each other all the time anyway. It also makes sense geographically...

[MIGkiller]

The 0.5 from CONCACAF playing the 0.5 from Asia also has security considerations that should be taken into account. What if the US ends #4 in their confederation and had to play, let's say Iran, in home and away playoffs? Not a comfortable scenario, is it?

[ArsenalTexan3]

http://msn.skysports.com/skysports/article/0,,1-1095347,00.html

The whole thing is stupid. Oceania should have a spot. Besides, South America doesn't need more than 3 any ways. Why? Besides Brazil and Argentia, what other countries from that region have made any impact besides going to the 2nd round. I'm talking about as legit, teams that can win the whole thing.

Now should the CONACAF(whatever it is) get 3.5? Not really although it would allow for Jamaica a chance to earn a place.

If nothing else, take that .5 spot away from the CONACAF(whatever it is)and the .5 from the Asia. Put it togather and you have 1 So then gave that Oceania.

Judging how all this has changed in less than a year makes me believe politics is involved.

[Crazy_Yank]

Originally posted by MIGkiller
The wisest decision, IMO.

The bad thing is that they had promissed 1 spot for Oceania and now are taking it back from them. Not the right thing to do.

They could have taken one 0.5 spot from Asia and given it to Oceania.

Another thing is that the FIFA press release doesn't mention who are these 0.5 spots going to compete against in the playoffs. Maybe it's yet to be decided.

The right thing to do would be the 0.5 from Oceania dispute with the 0.5 from Asia, and the 0.5 from Conmebol play with the 0.5 from CONCACAF. It would be the most balanced format.


Very well said. That is just too logical for Blatter and Pals though.

[SoccerScout]

Besides Brazil and Argentia, what other countries from that region have made any impact besides going to the 2nd round. I'm talking about as legit, teams that can win the whole thing.


URUGUAY... 2 time World Champion, thats who. And dont give me that was a long time a go story, so was Englands only WC win among others.