CONCACAF makes an offer for an additional 1/2 WC slot

[VioletCrown]

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=7521

While I'd like to see CONCACAF get a full fourth spot, I think this is a very good solution for both Oceania and CONCACAF. If Australia/NZ can't beat CONCACAF's #4, they they *really* don't deserve to be there!

[GersMan]

The half spots are a copout. FIFA should just put Oceania in there:

host - 1
Oceania 1
CONCACAF 3
CONMEBOL 4
CAF 5
AFC 4
UEFA 14

possible modification, have the extra 2nd place team from UEFA (team 14) playoff with the 5th placed CONMEBOL team. No more playoffs for the less successful feds.

[eldiablito]

Actually, I think it's premature to suggest a play-off between Oceania and Concacaf. It might be more fair, but it's still premature.

What really irks me is Asia demanding 5 slots, based on Korea's "performance" and Japan making the final 16. Excuse me, isn't somebody forgetting about China and Saudi Arabia, the two biggest embarassments at a world cup in quite some time?

I understand the rationale: if you ask for one additional spot, you might get a 1/2 berth. Therefore Asia's fifth place team could play Oceania's winner, which would be much nicer for Oceania (IMO) than playing CONCACAF's 4th place team.

So I could foresee FIFA dismissing TFC's suggestion for a play-off as not serious.

[Postmaster]

http://espn.go.com/soccer/news/2002/0814/1417788.html

'FIFA president Sepp Blatter spoke Wednesday in favor of giving an additional World Cup soccer berth to Asia and an automatic bid for a country from the Oceania region.'

I don't like the additional Asian slot or the automatic for Oceania, but it's hard to imagine Blatter will lose on this.


I'm moving to Antarctica, starting a federation, and a team. The hard part is deciding what position I'd like to play at the World Cup!

[thurd]

Originally posted by Postmaster
http://espn.go.com/soccer/news/2002/0814/1417788.html

'FIFA president Sepp Blatter spoke Wednesday in favor of giving an additional World Cup soccer berth to Asia and an automatic bid for a country from the Oceania region.'

I don't like the adddional Asian slot or the automatic for Oceania, but it's hard to imagine Blatter will lose on this.


I'm moving to Antactica, starting a federation, and a team. The hard part is deciding what position I'd like to play at the World Cup!
wow, imgaine your homefield advantage there? lol

[kasai]

More than likely Oceania will get its full spot. The other half spot left will likely go to the AFC to give them 5 full spots. I don't see the CONCACF getting 3 1/2 spots because the AFC is a much larger confederation population vise and FIFA has more potential for making money in China than they do in Honduras.

[Newman]

Funny how Concacaf gets fewer spots than Africa and Asia when more concacaf teams have made the second round over the last 5 cups.

Asia deserves three spots, tops.

[Stogey23]

And we have two teams in the top ten.

[M]

Originally posted by Stogey23
And we have two teams in the top ten.

True, but not particularly interesting in deciding whether CONCACAF warrants another spot. The judgement that needs to be made is whether, for example, a fourth CONCACAF team would be stronger than an Oceania team or fifth Asian team etc.

[Jasonma]

Originally posted by M


True, but not particularly interesting in deciding whether CONCACAF warrants another spot. The judgement that needs to be made is whether, for example, a fourth CONCACAF team would be stronger than an Oceania team or fifth Asian team etc.

I'm pretty sure that Honduras could have beaten China or Saudia Arabia, much less the 5th place team from AFC. Not to mention Australia...

[MLSNHTOWN]

I am sorry but this just makes no sense to me. The rewards seem to be based more on Money, i.e. the big China market than what is best for the actual competition. CONCACAF I think has proved that if Asia, CONCACAF, or Oceania are up for an additional WC spot it should go to CONCACAF. Any way you cut it.

Oceania should play Asia for one of the spots.
CONCACAF should either play UEFA or get the other spot.

[M]

Originally posted by Jasonma


I'm pretty sure that Honduras could have beaten China or Saudia Arabia, much less the 5th place team from AFC. Not to mention Australia...

Agree with you about the Asian teams, but it's by no means obvious to me that Honduras would beat Australia in a competitive game. When Australia has managed to select its best players, it's performed pretty well.

[Eliezar]

Australia has had a good squad for the past 5 years at least. Its really a shame that they haven't made a cup. I think it was in 98 when they were all but in and then the game got delayed by a protester and when they started the match back up with 10 minutes to play Australia was just flat and gave up 2 goals to get knocked out on away goals I think it was.

The only reason Oceania shouldn't get a spot is because its really only 2 teams. Oceania should just have a qualifying tournament to find 2 teams that will then play in a final round of qualifying with the Asian teams and let Asia have 4 spots. Asia won't want to go for this though as it will likely be Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand as the top 4 teams. Although I can't say that NZ is actually better than say China or Saudi Arabia.

[spot]

Originally posted by M


True, but not particularly interesting in deciding whether CONCACAF warrants another spot. The judgement that needs to be made is whether, for example, a fourth CONCACAF team would be stronger than an Oceania team or fifth Asian team etc.

This is exactly the question. My impression is is that FIFA has as much interest in it though as people who on these boards stumping for their federation.

It is interesting to think. Honduras v. Australia seems like a tough call. Honduras v. Saudi Arabia though?

Maybe the half spots aren't such a bad idea. Maybe the playoff should be broader. For instance Asia gets 2 spots with 3 1/2 spots, concacaf gets 2 spots and 3 1/2 spots. Oceania gets 2 1/2 spots.

Something like this might get the better teams to the cup, but that doesn't really seem to be the goal.

[dheck]

Originally posted by M
When Australia has managed to select its best players, it's performed pretty well.

Except when it really, really counts.

They have consistently lost when a spot in the WC is on the line. The competition has been decent, to be sure, but Australia just can't seem to get it done when they need to.

[chaski]

Originally posted by M
The judgement that needs to be made is whether, for example, a fourth CONCACAF team would be stronger than an Oceania team or fifth Asian team etc. That is why the 1/2 slots with playoffs make sense. The fifth CONMEBOL team was stronger than Australia, so they got to go to WC2002.

[dheck]

I would actually like to see all the confeds get X and 1/2 spots and have a random draw for the home and home playoffs. Take the 5 teams that just missed out in AFC, CONCACAF, CAF, UEFA and CONMEBOL and throw in the Oceania top finisher. Draw them out in pairs and let them play. It would make for some very interesting and meaningful cross-confed matchups prior to the World Cup, and you just don't see those that often outside the WC finals.

[VioletCrown]

Originally posted by Postmaster
http://espn.go.com/soccer/news/2002/0814/1417788.html

'FIFA president Sepp Blatter spoke Wednesday in favor of giving an additional World Cup soccer berth to Asia and an automatic bid for a country from the Oceania region.'

I don't like the additional Asian slot or the automatic for Oceania, but it's hard to imagine Blatter will lose on this.


Well, there are plenty of other insane statements that Blatter has made that haven't come to pass. I'm praying that this will be found to be another one.

It would be the height of competitive absurdity to give Asia another slot.

Then again, it would sure increase the number of goals scored in the first round.

[Red Card]

I like that idea of a pre-World Cup WC with 5 runner-ups plus Oceania champion to play off for the last few spots. It could be held in the country where the WC would be held, weather permitting. But then the draw would be delayed a month.

[glove]

Hate to say it but Kasai said it all earlier"Money is what FIFA is looking at and a central american country will not bring extran money into FIFA's pocket like say China.Saudi A. I think our hope lies in that Jack Warner supported Blatter and he may feel he owes TFC at least a shot at the playoff. Here's hoping but I don't like the smell of Blatter he is like a cheap whore who sells out to highest bidder. Zen Ruffin lost his job and new he might so allegations may have had some weight to them just like Olympic commities I am sure FIFA takes bribes on some scale. I wish Blatter would go away he really is going to divide continents rather than bring them together. Put in runner ups from each fed into a pool and play off round robin style or put some friggin ping pong balls into the bowl and have PELE pick one"VOILA ve have ze vinner und das es....