[keller4president]

Ok, so it's been made clear we're not going to get a seed in WC 2010. So here's the next question: which seeded team do we match up best against? Remember, all we likely need is a draw against the seeded team to advance (assuming we get the necessary results against the other two teams).

So here are the teams that will be seeded, in order of preference for being in their group:

1. South Africa - They've got home-field advantage, but we already beat them at home in 2007. They had a decent Confed Cup, but not great. Clearly (or perhaps not so clearly) drawing South Africa would be the best scenario. I don't think the home advantage will help them that much, we were able to tie S. Korea in 2002 without too much difficulty (well, thanks to Mathis.)

2. France - They're vulnerable without Zidane, and with an aging Henry. But we haven't played them since the eighties, so we lack familiarity with them. But that works both ways, they've never played us (in recent memory) so they won't quite know how to handle our confounding North-American style. Of course, Ribery and Benzema could give us fits. I'm counting on Jermaine Jones and Michael Bradley to shut them down. But see 2002 when they went out in the first round - they are very hit or miss. I'm counting on their coach Domenech to screw things up and for us to eke out an upset.

3. England - Yes, we lost to them in a friendly last summer. But yes, Eddie Johnson played in that game and Donovan didn't. I think we would have a good shot against them in a World Cup. Gerrard isn't getting any younger, and Beckham's already over the hill. Rooney is containable, Crouch is a robot. Walcott is their only serious weapon. Dempsey's handled these guys before, he'll handle them again. And Lando will want big-time revenge against Beckham for screwing the Galaxy.

4. Italy - We tied them in 2006, what's to say we couldn't get a draw in 2010? If we can keep all our men on the field (big if) we have a good shot. Egypt beat them 1-0, there's no reason why we can't do it.

5. Spain - I know we just beat them, but I don't want to play them again. They would come out with a fire I wouldn't want to contend with. Plus, they'll probably have Iniesta next time.

6. Germany - They're big and tall. So what? So are we. Granted, they did destroy us 4-1 in our last friendly, but that was in Germany. We've grown a lot as a team since them. If Jermaine Jones starts, you can bet he'll have extra incentive to play his heart out. And Donovan will want to prove to the Germans he can beat them.

7. Argentina - 0-0 tie at the Meadowlands in 2008 (I was there). We can hang with this team. We even scored first against them during Copa America in 2007 when Eddie Johnson drew a penalty. We'd have a shot at the draw, but little shot at the win.

8. Brazil - They're much, much better than us. Still, the fact that we came close in Confed Cup Final would give us some hope. But they're still the best team in world, and the last team I would want to draw for the World Cup.

[Bluecat82]

Originally Posted by keller4president

Ok, so it's been made clear we're not going to get a seed in WC 2010. So here's the next question: which seeded team do we match up best against? Remember, all we likely need is a draw against the seeded team to advance (assuming we get the necessary results against the other two teams).

So here are the teams that will be seeded, in order of preference for being in their group:

1. South Africa - They've got home-field advantage, but we already beat them at home in 2007. They had a decent Confed Cup, but not great. Clearly (or perhaps not so clearly) drawing South Africa would be the best scenario. I don't think the home advantage will help them that much, we were able to tie S. Korea in 2002 without too much difficulty (well, thanks to Mathis.)

2. France - They're vulnerable without Zidane, and with an aging Henry. But we haven't played them since the eighties, so we lack familiarity with them. But that works both ways, they've never played us (in recent memory) so they won't quite know how to handle our confounding North-American style. Of course, Ribery and Benzema could give us fits. I'm counting on Jermaine Jones and Michael Bradley to shut them down. But see 2002 when they went out in the first round - they are very hit or miss. I'm counting on their coach Domenech to screw things up and for us to eke out an upset.

3. England - Yes, we lost to them in a friendly last summer. But yes, Eddie Johnson played in that game and Donovan didn't. I think we would have a good shot against them in a World Cup. Gerrard isn't getting any younger, and Beckham's already over the hill. Rooney is containable, Crouch is a robot. Walcott is their only serious weapon. Dempsey's handled these guys before, he'll handle them again. And Lando will want big-time revenge against Beckham for screwing the Galaxy.

4. Italy - We tied them in 2006, what's to say we couldn't get a draw in 2010? If we can keep all our men on the field (big if) we have a good shot. Egypt beat them 1-0, there's no reason why we can't do it.

5. Spain - I know we just beat them, but I don't want to play them again. They would come out with a fire I wouldn't want to contend with. Plus, they'll probably have Iniesta next time.

6. Germany - They're big and tall. So what? So are we. Granted, they did destroy us 4-1 in our last friendly, but that was in Germany. We've grown a lot as a team since them. If Jermaine Jones starts, you can bet he'll have extra incentive to play his heart out. And Donovan will want to prove to the Germans he can beat them.

7. Argentina - 0-0 tie at the Meadowlands in 2008 (I was there). We can hang with this team. We even scored first against them during Copa America in 2007 when Eddie Johnson drew a penalty. We'd have a shot at the draw, but little shot at the win.

8. Brazil - They're much, much better than us. Still, the fact that we came close in Confed Cup Final would give us some hope. But they're still the best team in world, and the last team I would want to draw for the World Cup.

I'd rank them:

South Africa
Italy
Germany
England
France
Argentina
Spain
Brazil

If they get a seed, the Dutch would probably rank between Argentina and Spain.

[ty webb]

Originally Posted by Bluecat82

I'd rank them:

South Africa
Italy
Germany
England
France
Argentina
Spain
Brazil

Is this ascending or descending order?

[Craig P]

Easiest to most difficult

South Africa



Less physically-styled teams: Italy, Argentina, Spain, probably in that order, we can play with any of these teams and have shown that over the last four-plus years

England, Germany
(Netherlands... not seeded as of now, but first in line if someone falters)
Brazil

I'm really not sure where to put France. We haven't played them in a very long time. On form, they'd belong toward the front end of the list, but I don't know how their style would end up meshing with ours.

[equus]

Whoever it is, we have to be able to relieve the pressure with midfield possession and counterattacks. Timmy is good, but he can't stop the onslaught of shots on goal the entire time like he had to do against Spain and Brazil.

We beat Spain because we made few, if any, defensive miscues against Spain's constant pressure. That's not going to happen every time.

[BringSoccerToIndy]

I'd say

South Africa
Italy
Germany
France
Argentina
England
Brazil
Spain

[Eleven Bravo]

IMO, the only other team capable of making a seed are the netherlands...they may sneak in on England, France, or Argentina.

1. South Africa. obviously, the team we hope to get seeded against because the only team we're clearly better than.
2. France
3. England
4. Italy
5. Germany
6. Argentina
7. Spain
8. Brazil

with that in mind, the other teams we could face (looking at who's in the lead now)

Europe (including all 2nd place teams): 1-Denmark, Greece, Slovakia, Serbia, Netherlands 2-Hungary, Switzerland, Northern Ireland, Russia, Bosnia, Croatia/Ukraine, France, Ireland, Scotland [teams that are in qualification trouble but still would give us fits are: Portugal, Sweden, Poland, Czech Republic, Turkey, Austria, Romania, Bulgaria]

I really want to avoid: Russia, Serbia, Croatia, Netherlands
I'd hope to get: Slovakia, Hungary, Northern Ireland, and Bosnia
*Switzerland, Ireland, Scotland, Ukraine, Greece, and Denmark would be a hard match but a match i think we should come out with at least a point.


Asia/Oceania (unlikely):
Australia, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Saudi Arabia/Bahrain/New Zealand

I really want to avoid: None
I'd hope we get: North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, New Zealand
*Australia, South Korea, and Japan i think we could and should beat, but they could EASILY upset us if we aren't careful.

Africa
1-Gabon, Tunisia, Algeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast; Hon Ment-Burkina Faso, Egypt, Zambia, Nigeria, Togo, Morocco, Cameroon

I really want to avoid: Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana
I'd hope we get:Burkina Faso, Zambia, Togo, Algeria
*Gabon, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Cameroon are in that category that it could go either way.


so...ideal group:
-SEED-South Africa, France
-UEFA-Slovakia, Hungary, Bosnia, Northern Ireland
-CAF/AFC-North Korea, Bahrain, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Burkina Faso, Zambia, Algeria, Togo
-CONCACAF-USA

worst group:
-SEED-Brazil, Spain, Argentina, Germany, Italy, England
-UEFA-Netherlands, Russia, Serbia, Croatia
-CAF-Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Ghana
-CONCACAF-USA

[aquablue]

If we get a group with the netherlands in it, I think we are probably going home because we might get a hard african team too and perhaps Brazil, Spain, etc..

[KALM]

England (at present form) and Brazil are the toughest. Seriously have you people been watching this Capello led England play in the past year? South Africa is the easiest, and we've beaten them the last two times we've played them.

France I'm not sure about because we haven't played them in ages.

Everyone else we have a shot against. Actually, we've gotten results against all of the rest of the teams in the past decade, and for some reason we manage to pull off big upsets in tournaments (from Colombia in 94 to Spain in 09) more frequently than we manage to secure the expected results (losing to Nigeria after drawing and outplaying the Netherlands in the Olympics, losing to Ghana after drawing Italy, losing to Poland after beating Portugal, losing to Bolivia before beating Argentina in 95, etc.).

[GVPATS77]

I think based on talent, we all want South Africa. That being said, when is the last time the host nation has failed to make the knockout stages? Has it ever happened?

There is actually a very legit chance that France won't be there. Serbia would have to implode for France to take first in this group and over a two legged playoff, anything can happen.

I would love to play France. I'd hate to play the Dutch.

We've shown that we can hand with Italy. Quite frankly we were the better team that day until Rico got sent off. And even down a man we got jobbed on a penalty call that Donovan drew,.

I think physically we match up just fine against England and Germany, but I wouldn't be thrilled about playing either of them. And we are familiar with Argentina and Brazil, but I wouldn't want to mess with them either.

Let someone else beat Spain.

If I have to ranke them...preferred to least preferred

South Africa
France
Italy
Germany
England
Argentina
Spain
Brazil

If the Dutch get in there instead of France, slot them between Germany and England, remove France and slide everyone up.