China win through, after an absolute classic 2nd leg China 2 - 2 South Korea AET, Agg: 4-3 www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZLqJehO4bM Cameroon v Chile 1st leg (Final agg: 1-2) www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXz-0eYSyC0
Despite how common a group stage USA-SWE match is in the WWC, it's only happened once in the OG group stage, in the very first year (1996). I seriously hope it can be avoided this year. It's a 50/50 shot this year.
It seems that Brazil automatically go to a group with Netherlands. And chances of USA + Sweden is 50% (who am I kidding? one can already consider it as a fact). And Canada go to a group with Japan.
Probabilities of opponents for top seeds: Japan: Pot 2: Sweden 50%, Great Britain 50% Pot 3: Canada 100% Pot 4:New Zealand 33,3%, Chile 33,3%, Zambia 33,3% USA: Pot 2: Sweden 50%, Great Britain 50% Pot 3: Australia 50%, China 50% Pot 4: New Zealand 16,7%, Chile 66,7%, Zambia 16,7% Netherlands: Pot 2: Brazil 100% Pot 3: Australia 50%, China 50% Pot 4: New Zealand 50%, Zambia 50%
I can't see why Chile can't be in Netherlands group, because, with Brazil as the only allowed pot 2 team, there can't be two CONMEBOL teams in the same group. But why should this affect the chances of having Chile in Group B and not in group A?
Probabilities of opponents for pot 2 teams: Sweden: Pot 1: Japan 50%, USA 50% Pot 3: Canada 50%, Australia 25%, China 25% Pot 4: New Zealand 25%, Chile 50%, Zambia 25% Great Britain: Pot 1: Japan 50%, USA 50% Pot 3: Canada 50%, Australia 25%, China 25% Pot 4: New Zealand 25%, Chile 50%, Zambia 25% Brazil: Pot 1: Netherlands 100% Pot 3: Australia 50%, China 50% Pot 4: New Zealand 50%, Zambia 50%
Japan is in Group E (Women`s groups are E,F and G). I expect that they will draw Group E first. All three options from pot 4 are possible so that the possibility for Chile in Group E will be 33,3%. If Chile is not drawn in Japan`s group their only option is the USA group because Brazil is in the Netherlands group.
Probabilities of opponents for pot 3 teams: Canada: Pot 1: Japan 100% Pot 2: Sweden 50%, Great Britain 50% Pot 4: New Zealand 33,3%, Chile 33,3%, Zambia 33,3% Australia: Pot 1: USA 50%, Netherlands 50% Pot 2: Sweden 25%, Great Britain 25%, Brazil 50% Pot 4: New Zealand 33,3%, Chile 33,3%, Zambia 33,3% China: Pot 1: USA 50%, Netherlands 50% Pot 2: Sweden 25%, Great Britain 25%, Brazil 50% Pot 4: New Zealand 33,3%, Chile 33,3%, Zambia 33,3%
Probabilities of opponents for pot 4 teams: New Zealand: Pot 1: Japan 33,3%, USA 16,7%, Netherlands 50% Pot 2: Sweden 25%, Great Britain 25%, Brazil 50% Pot 3: Canada 33,3%, Australia 33,3%, China 33,3% Chile: Pot 1: Japan 33,3%, USA 66,7% Pot 2: Sweden 50%, Great Britain 50% Pot 3: Canada 33,3%, Australia 33,3%, China 33,3% Zambia: Pot 1: Japan 33,3%, USA 16,7%, Netherlands 50% Pot 2: Sweden 25%, Great Britain 25%, Brazil 50% Pot 3: Canada 33,3%, Australia 33,3%, China 33,3%
It might be an advantage for the US to have Sweden in its group because it would eliminate the possibility of meeting Sweden in a quarterfinal (I think) Nice work.
Olympics can still be cancelled https://www.dw.com/en/could-japan-cancel-tokyo-olympics-over-coronavirus/a-57223286 Recent comments from a high-ranking Japanese politician have driven speculation that the Summer Games could be called off. As COVID infections rise in Japan, public support for the games is dropping there.
Have any non-English players been invited to train or play with the England national team that will play as Great Britain in the Olympics? I haven't noticed any. Does this mean that Kim LIttle (Scotland) and Jess Fishlock (Wales), to mention two prominent names, won't play with Great Britain? Wouldn't they have been invited to a camp or two by now? Seems a bit strange as we're talking about two very good players in Little and Fishlock.
They are training with their respective NT during the international breaks. I don't think the Scottish and Welsh FA like Team GB, they just "allow" their players to participate. The plan is one friendly in Europe for Team GB and then they surely will organise a bcd one while preparing in Japan.
I wonder if, now that Northern Ireland have qualified for Euro 2022, it is possible that some of their players are considered for team GB. Ok, I know the anser is a "No". I thought that even just wondering was funny!
The FA has cut down the long list to 35 with 26 English players named as the 24 who were on the original list for England France and England Canada plus Houghton and Parris. Therefore there are 9 non English players in the list. The only two NIR players worth of a chance are Furness who broke her fibula against Ukraine and Magill. There are better English forwards than Magill imo.
Games between group opponents at Olympic Games: JPN-CAN 2:1(2012) GBR-CAN 0:2(2012) BRA-CHN 2:3(1996) BRA-CHN 3:0(2016) USA-SWE 2:1(1996) USA-SWE 1:1aet pen:3:4(2016) USA-AUS 1:1(2004) USA-NZL 4:0(2008) USA-NZL 2:0(2012) USA-NZL 2:0(2016) SWE-AUS 1:1(2000) SWE-AUS 2:1(2004) USA vs New Zealand will be the second pairing that is played at four different Olympic Games (Germany vs Sweden 2000,2004,2008,2016).
Very early prediction Group E---------------------Group F----------------------Group G 1.JPN-----------------------1. BRA-------------------------1. SWE 2. GBR----------------------2. CHN-------------------------2. USA 3.CAN-----------------------3. NED-------------------------3. AUS 4. CHI-----------------------4. ZAM--------------------------4. NZL QF JPN - NED SWE - CAN BRA - USA GBR - CHN SF JPN - SWE BRA - CHN Gold JPN - BRA Bronze SWE - CHN I will edit those (or not) after June friendlies
GROUP E 1. Japan 2. Canada 3. Great Britain 4. Chile GROUP F 1. Netherlands 2. Brazil 3. China 4. Zambia GROUP G 1. USA 2. Sweden 3. Australia 4. New Zealand QF Japan def. China USA def. Great Britain Netherlands def. Canada Sweden def. Brazil SF Japan def. Sweden Netherlands def. USA GOLD Japan def. Netherlands BRONZE USA def. Sweden
After reading how the knockout stage is set-up, this is my prediction: QF Japan def. China USA def. Great Britain Netherlands def. Sweden Brazil def. Canada SF Japan def. USA Netherlands def. Brazil GOLD Japan def. Netherlands BRONZE USA def. Brazil