[tomwilhelm]

I agree with both of you (now there's a rare event!)...

[IASocFan]

Originally Posted by El CHarro_NEgro....

CAF is a weird case. They don't have a consistent solid performer like CONCACAF does, but randomly one team explodes and goes deeper into the WC.

CAF is a weird case, because, unlike CONCACAF, it doesn't have three large countries and thirtysome much small smaller countries. CAF has 50 countries. About 30 of them are of similar sizes and soccer capability. Many of the countries suffer from instability and poverty. It's hard to maintain a domineering dynasty in such an environment.

[tomwilhelm]

Originally Posted by IASocFan

CAF is a weird case, because, unlike CONCACAF, it doesn't have three large countries and thirtysome much small smaller countries. CAF has 50 countries. About 30 of them are of similar sizes and soccer capability. Many of the countries suffer from instability and poverty. It's hard to maintain a domineering dynasty in such an environment.

All true. But they could at least develop a less irritating qualification system.

[Andy TAUS]

Originally Posted by IASocFan

CAF is a weird case, because, unlike CONCACAF, it doesn't have three large countries and thirtysome much small smaller countries. CAF has 50 countries. About 30 of them are of similar sizes and soccer capability. Many of the countries suffer from instability and poverty. It's hard to maintain a domineering dynasty in such an environment.

CONCACAF is not very dissimilar to the AFC countries profile (number & size). IMO the AFC falls between CAF & CONCACAF in these metrics.

[Andy TAUS]

Originally Posted by tomwilhelm

All true. But they could at least develop a less irritating qualification system.

They could also develop a less irritating view of other confederations (and their place allocations) until such time as they fix their own crappy system AND actually perform well & consistently where it counts ....... at the WC Finals.

[vancity eagle]

Originally Posted by Andy TAUS

They could also develop a less irritating view of other confederations (and their place allocations) until such time as they fix their own crappy system AND actually perform well & consistently where it counts ....... at the WC Finals.

glad to know that I alone speak for all of CAF

I am not even suggesting that AFC lose a place, merely that they keep their current 4.5 and have a playoff with CAF, apparently you guys are so arrogant that you feel if NZ moves to AFC they should just be awarded a full spot. What a joke.

[Celtigo]

Originally Posted by Andy TAUS

CONCACAF is not very dissimilar to the AFC countries profile (number & size). IMO the AFC falls between CAF & CONCACAF in these metrics.

Really? I think the population/economic structure of the regions are vastly different. Japan, Korea, and Australia don't overwhelm other Confederation members the way the US and Mexico do. Those two countries make up 80% of the population of the region and are far and away the two wealthiest national federations.

I mean CONCACAF only has 5 member countries with populations greater than 10 million people. Asia has what, 30?

[scotch17]

Originally Posted by tomwilhelm

2 hosts and a team you had to steal away from another confed. Great work there.

Besides, do you really want us to get the statistics out?

You can come up with as many excuses as you want. The fact is that AFC doesn't suck any more than CAF and concacrap in WCs. TnT and Costa Rica were easily 2 of the worst countries in 2006, and not just because of their low points but their antifootball style.

Now with that out of the way, I've said before I don't really care about the .5 spot AFC has. It could go just about anywhere, concacrap wouldn't be a bad spot since you're undervalued at 3.5 -- but not because it's better than AFC. It isn't.

And to get back to the topic you were originally moaning about... if you want an 0.5 soooo bad why not push to absorb OFC yourselves?

[scotch17]

On the issue of populations, etc. -- every Confed is very unique to itself.
There aren't a lot of sound comparisons to be made with demographics, pop sizes, economies, etc.

[cmedina1983]

Originally Posted by tomwilhelm

At least those two whining confederation fans (CAF and Concacaf) have a track record to back up their claims.

The worst (by far) confederation already has 4.5 spots. That's plenty, thanks...

The track record of the AFC speaks for itself:

They have the only non-UEFA/CONMEBOL nation that's progressed to the semi-finals of the World Cup in recent history. Talk about screw jobs all you want - that's life, that's football - all that matters is that if CONCACAF or CAF make it to the semi-finals in 2010, or any other World Cup beyond that, for that matter, then that's when they can start talking.