Group C definitely not the group of death now. Gretzky is embarrassing Canada with his pronunciation.
What is the reason no pot 4 team could join a group that would have had France, Senegal and Uzbekistan?
Radio coverage in the UK happy that England are in a group kicking off late. Usually they want as much time between matches as possible, meaning a group that that starts on early. This time they reckon it is an advantage to have a bit more rest before the first game. Especially if players are involved in the Champions League Final. Not sure I agree. If you go deep in the tournament the matches will be squeezed into fewer days.
Am thinking Group D (USA) is the weakest. All 3 hosts got good draws, but I think the US got the easiest UEFA playoff team, if no big surprises in those playoffs.
This seems shady, but I think it had to do with avoiding multiple members of a confederation (other than UEFA) appearing in a single group.
They had to create a group with 2 UEFA and 1 CAF from the first 3 pots to accommodate the SUR/BOL/IRQ playoff. At that point, putting Norway in Group I was the only remaining way to make that happen.
USA also has the easiest path to the QF, having drawn Belgium as its likely R16 opponent if both win their groups (and R32 matches).
True, that might be the weakest now that you mention it. I don't know anything about the Egypt team though, other than they tend to underperform in WCs considering what they have accomplished in African Nations tournaments.
Egypt isn't very good right now. Canada could have a pretty tough group if Italy qualify. US group is easy compared to what it could have been.
At this point there was one African team remaining (I think Algeria) and they could have fit in group with England and Croatia. Maybe the group with England and Croatia was the only remaining fit for Panama?
I'm still stuck on this one. POT 3 Norway Uzbekistan Panama Group I: France , Senegal , (?) , (?) Group K: Portugal , (?) , (?) , Colombia Group L: England , Croatia , (?) , (?) POT 4 Jordan Cape Verde Ghana Curaçao Haiti New Zealand UEFA Path A winner UEFA Path B winner UEFA Path C winner UEFA Path D winner IC Path 1 winner (DR Congo / New Caledonia / Jamaica) IC Path 2 winner (Iraq / Bolivia / Suriname) Okay, I think I got it now.
Agree. But a lot of that is because Canada aren't very good. If you look at it from Switzerland's POV, they should advance easily with or w/o the inclusion of Italy.
The question is whether or not you evaluate groups by how good their Pot 1 team is or by how weak their Pot 4 team is. The hosts are the weakest Pot 1 teams, but all ended up with strong Pot 4 teams from the UEFA playoffs. Canada got a minnow from Pot 3, but the strongest possible Pot 4 team, whereas the USA and Mexico did not get any minnows.
Canada is a good team. No Switzerland should not advance easily. I actually favor Canada at home in that match.
Algeria was picked before Uzbekistan. Algeria couldn't go in Group I because of Senegal. At that point there were no more CAF teams and one UEFA team in the pot, so the spot had to be reserved for Norway.
Yes, you are right. During the draw I was sure the England group was the only one for IC PO 2. I didn't have the group with France and Senegal in mind, so I was surprised when they put Algeria somewhere else.
From an England perspective the prospect of facing Mexico in Mexico City for the round of 16 is daunting. That requires both teams to win their group and progress. I reckon Mexico are favourites to win their group due to home advantage. Probably 60:40 likelihood they win it. For England winning the group is probably 50:50. I attended Mexico v Croatia in 2014 and wouldn't mind if I watched them play each other again on TV. Of course I haven't worked out the permutations for England if we finish 2nd and I probably wouldn't like it if I did. Working out all the options is a path to madness so I will stop now!
No real GOD in the end, the way the draw worked out. All groups either have at least one real minnow, or are relatively balanced like Groups A and D. Soft draws for Mexico and USA. Canada probably marginally more difficult if it ends up being Italy from that playoff path (far from guaranteed), but still think I'd favor them to get at least 4 points in that group and advance considering the pot 2 and 3 opponents.