Why should they? Because they have better players, better tactics and just play better football than New Zealand. I call it as I see it.
16. Iceland: One of the feel-good stories of the tournament. Have some interesting players (Sigur∂sson FTW!) and based on this past Euro and the WC qualifiers, they're chronic overachievers. I could see them upsetting a "bigger" team and getting to the round of 16, like Slovakia did a few years ago. Are they deep enough, though? 17. Serbia: The Serbs are back! They're usually fun to watch and are talented, but have terrible luck when it comes to their rivals on the group stage, will it continue? 18. Portugal: We know what Ronaldo can do, but does he have enough of a supporting cast? The defense is very old. 19. France: Young talented team that became even better with the development of the kids that were with Monaco last season. Griezmann is awesome. Dark horse. 20. Uruguay: Suárez and Cavani are great and in their prime. The midfield doesn't exactly impress me at the moment. Needs an infusion of youth. The defense has good talent. Round of 16. 21. Argentina: If they decide to play up to their talent level and not force Messi to save their asses all the time, they could win it all. If they don't, round of 16. I like Sampaoli as a coach, I kinda hope the guys let him truly implement his system before Russia. 22. Colombia: Falcao and James FTW. They have for the most part a lot of talent and young depth across the line. Even if they're not as good as three years ago, they seem like another dark horse. 23. Panama: Glad for them for making their first WC, but they're ********ing old, lack talent and won't be playing at home anymore. Need to incorporate younger players across all lines ASAP. Weakest team in the tournament by far.
It will be interesting to see how things turn out. In some ways the team is not as good as last WC cycle. But in other ways it is better. Having that experience helps many players who are back hungry to go further in the tournament. Also, it was bitter sweet for Falcao to watch his brothers go out there in 2014 without him. Missing the World Cup must have been painful in many ways. Now he knows that this may be his last chance at playing in a World Cup so I think he will be on a mission to show the World he is back and better than ever. (God willing he stays healthy!) But it all depends on so many variables. And the same goes for every team, not just Colombia. A lot can change in 8 months or so.
I hate to be one of those bias guys but I feel I have no choice. When your team has Andre Silva, Bernardo Silva, Joao Mario, Pepe and William, and think the answer is simply yes. As long as Ronaldo is on the team the simple truth is everyone else gets over looked, partly because the media will brain wash you whether or not people admit it. Portugal does not have 1 loss in 29 competitive matches just because of Ronaldo. Teams like Inter Milan, AC Milan, Barcelona and Manchester city don't spend a pretty penny for average players. It's starting to come to light a bit, but still you can tell people are conditioned to only think of CR7. Winning in France wasn't enough to prove it, but I have a feeling after WC 2018 there will be no more denying it. I try to always be as objective as I can but I can't help but feel the need to say my piece sometimes. I don't think we are favourites like Brazil, Germany or Spain, but in the next tier following that with the likes of France, Argentina and Belgium.
I can't speak on behalf of everyone but it is difficult for me personally to get a read on Portugal because of how they played in 2014 and in the Confederations Cup. I know they won the Euro but they did it finishing in Third place in their Group and focusing on not losing rather than winning. They also looked up and down in the Confederations when they had the talent to win it. If I had to say how far they go it would probably be parallel with Colombia. Quarters can happen for them both but they both can also go further if key players show up. (But I would not be shocked to see either get upset before the Quarter-Finals too.)
Yeah I get it, they aren't going to excite many neutrals and with Santos it's safety first. However they have talent and more importantly the mentality and self believe. 2014 is out the window, literally a different team outside of Ronaldo and Pepe. I guess it is similar in ways to Colombia, as in some nights they look like world beaters and others they look like they spent the night partying. Still find it shocking that Colombia and Portugal have never played, maybe 2018 is finally the time.
Nine out of ten friendlies lack the intensity to make it worthwhile. At least in my opinion. Personally I am happy if the only time Switzerland plays friendlies is right before a major tournament. Luckily Petkovic and the Swiss FA largely agree and we have only had one single friendly since the Euros last year. No, we need real games. Not glorified kickarounds with endless substitutions that are an insult to the viewer on TV let alone the paying spectators in the stadium. Yes, I dislike friendly matches that much.
Playing in friendlies other teams at a level, miles below of their own, it will probably not help that much. But playing similar level teams, helps teams prepare for those times when there will be more important things in play. Also gives experience to many players, specially the most newer ones to blend in with the rest of the team mates that have more time in the team, whom already have had time to develop that playing chemistry between them (even if it is for very short lapses of a few minutes per match, reasons why at friendlies there is lots of substitutions; in official matches coaches don't have that luxury). Best teams, aren't among the best for the individual players that they may have. To be among the best teams, you need that each and everyone of their players, know how to be part of a team. Football is not an individual sport, but a team one instead. Having great individual players helps a lot, but if they can´t play together, at most they'll be average. And being average, usually doesn´t get you very far, when it matters. In any case, friendly matches, most of the times really aren't for those who want to see the best football around. Many fans want to believe that they are an extenssion of what their teams are, and want to believe that their teams will play the same when it really matters, but most coaches have it very clear, as they usually aren't used for that purpose. Their main purpose, is to help teams for the future. So it doesn't matter if you lose in them, as long as you learn from them, which is lots more important.
I truly question the coaching insight and player experience derived from games played at half-speed. Too much experimentation may also mess with the chemistry of the starting eleven. In any case, I for one am glad that the UEFA Nations League is about to remove a number of friendly dates for Switzerland.
FWIW - The October 2017 rankings (that will be used in the seeding draw) have been released. Although we already knew it, this is what the seeding pots will look like (seeded assuming the highest ranked team triumphs out of any undetermined matches for spots). POT 1 (All decided) Russia (65 - host) Germany 1 Brazil 2 Portugal 3 Argentina 4 Belgium 5 Poland 6 France 7 POT 2 Spain 8 Winner Inter-confederation play-off: PER/NZL (10-122) Winner UEFA play-off: SUI/NIR-SWE-IRL-GRE (11-23-25-26-47) England 12 Colombia 13 Winner UEFA play-off: ITA/NIR-SWE-IRL-GRE (15-23-25-26-47) Mexico 16 Uruguay 17 POT 3 Winner UEFA play-off: CRO/NIR-SWE-IRL-GRE (18-23-25-26-47) Winner UEFA play-off: DEN/NIR-SWE-IRL-GRE (19-23-25-26-47) Iceland 21 Costa Rica 22 Winner CAF A: TUN/COD (28-35) Egypt 30 Winner CAF D: SEN/BFA/CPV/RSA (32-55-64-74) Iran 34 POT 4 Serbia 38 Nigeria 41 Winner Inter-confederatoin play-off: AUS/HON (43-69) Japan 44 Winner CAF C: MAR/CIV (48-61) Panama 49 Korea Republic 62 Saudi Arabia 63 J
Sorry to say it again but FIFA rankings are truely messed up in putting Poland 6th over Spain 8th. With Spain, Colombia and potentially Italy in the 2nd pot, we have very strong chances to get a group of death in the end. From JLSA's pots predictions, here's would be the worst group of death: - Brazil - Spain - Sweden (which eliminated the Netherlands) - Nigeria (which has won what was already the CAF qualifying group of death) According to Elo ratings, here would be the toughest group: - Germany (1st) - Spain (3rd) - Croatia (17th) - Japan (26th) I don't really know why, but I would actually see Germany and Spain qualifying easily out of such a group.
Well , you are in luck. Starting in 2026 "Groups of death" will be a thing of the past never to be spoken of again when pertaining to the World Cup. So see this tournament and 2022 as the last chances for such a nostalgic term being used.
hmm... couldn't you still get someone like Ghana or Cote d'Ivoire in pot 3 of an expanded WC? And Pot 2 could include Uruguay and Croatia based on current FIFA rankings. Mind you it would still require some major luck on the day of the draw.
Depends on how they do the draw. With the trend being more and more reliant on FIFA rankings I think it will be more difficult to get anything like Groups of deaths in the past. Maybe the scenario you paint is close enough to be called a Group of death but still not the same.
What I think can happen though are maybe "Brackets of Death" starting in the Round of 32. Similar to what we saw was a residual effect of Euro Expansion where one side of the Bracket appeared to be more difficult than the other. (Or maybe what I should say is that the blue blood historical teams ended up being on one side of the bracket.)
True. With the 48 team WC you could have the top 2 teams in the world facing off in the round of 32. So the brackets could actually be quite deadly! Though this can be avoided if they arrange the groups lettering based on who got drawn into the group, but such seeding has never been done before AFAIK . e.g. If Group A has the #1 team in the world, then the group headed by the #2 team would be Group L. (You could make it such that no teams in the top 8 can face each other until the R16, even if they finish second in their group)
I personally would not mind Seeding the round of 32 based on FIFA rankings and then going from there on out without the re-seeding in the round of 16. It may be a logistical nightmare for fans who are traveling as you have alluded to in the past but it would balance things out.
Seed the round of 32 like tennis . . . . but then again, no. . . . perhaps there's not enough time to do that with travel logistics.
Lots easier, would be to cut the "3 team per group" crap, and make groups with 4 teams, where only the best team in each group goes through, together with the 4 best runner-ups and have a regular round of 16 as always. Instead of having 16 extra matches, you get 24 extra matches (that's only 8 more matches), where everybody gets at least 3 matches to play, instead of just 2.
FIFA, Sponsors and Television Networks would never agree to that. Having an extra knockout stage at 32 will generate more revenue for advertizers and more buzz for television ratings due to the "Do or Die" nature.
If you want more knock-outs, eliminate WC qualifiers and have a full world home and away, knock-out WC. Everyone gets in, everyone gets to host (home matches) and you ease the whole official match calendar. You can have more WC's as well, (1 each year). Lots of "do or die" matches for sponsors and television networks. And no match fixing, as only one team goes through in each stage (we would no longer see Falcao talking with opponents covering his mouth with his hands.....)
With the Euros and the World Cups in the future both having 2/3 teams advancing to the knockout stage, it looks like group stages are losing their value. It seems like they would rather just focus on knockout games.