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Subject: World Cup 2014 Qualifying stage - Europe
Switzerland has second time in a row the easiest group ever.
Actually it was death group.. team from last pot goes to playoffs :D
Actually it was death group.. team from last pot goes to playoffs :D
Belgium was weak against Wales. Lots of chances, only one goal. One counter, and 1-1. If they play like this at the World Cup, they should stay home.
Play-offs
Seeded:
A: Croatia
C: Sweden
F: Portugal
G: Greece
Unseeded:
D: Romania
E: Iceland
H: Ukraine
I: France
So those teams are correct, except that Ukraine is seeded instead of Sweden (because they lost to Germany).
Seeded:
A: Croatia
C: Sweden
F: Portugal
G: Greece
Unseeded:
D: Romania
E: Iceland
H: Ukraine
I: France
So those teams are correct, except that Ukraine is seeded instead of Sweden (because they lost to Germany).
I hope Iceland get Greece and go to Brazil :)
and it would be nice to see game between France and Portugal at this stage
and it would be nice to see game between France and Portugal at this stage
I don't. I want to see both those nations at the WC.
I'm hoping for France, Portugal, Sweden and Croatia to go through.
I'm hoping for France, Portugal, Sweden and Croatia to go through.
Who is ukraine star?
After me, Konoplyanka and Yarmolenko.
After me, Konoplyanka and Yarmolenko.
At least Italy did poorly in the last WC, but Holland is current runner-up and did perfect in qualifiers. Bottom line: world cup performance is the least important factor for world cup seeding nowadays...
I mean, it's good that they moved out of the previous system based essentially in corruption )i.e., FIFA redesigning the seeding mechanism before each world cup and after knowing the qualified teams in order to hand-pick the seeded teams). But right now we moved from 80% corruption, 20% stupidity to 100% stupidity. Nobody cared about the FIFA ranking when it was useless, but now that it's become key, it's shameful to look at how it is constructed...
Colombia and Belgium were not in the last world cup(s), no performance in continental cups, then good qualifiers and they're seeded. Italy is Europe's runner up, good qualifiers, no seed. I already mentioned Netherlands. Now I'm thinking of this "Pope friendly" we won 2-1 against Italy: if they had managed to win or even draw that match, given that Argentina is 2nd in the rank (?), maybe they would be seeded right now?
Actually, Uruguay will probably improve its rank even further thanks to playing against Jordania :P
Who would have thought we would miss the days in which FIFA cared about business instead of fairness... :p
I mean, it's good that they moved out of the previous system based essentially in corruption )i.e., FIFA redesigning the seeding mechanism before each world cup and after knowing the qualified teams in order to hand-pick the seeded teams). But right now we moved from 80% corruption, 20% stupidity to 100% stupidity. Nobody cared about the FIFA ranking when it was useless, but now that it's become key, it's shameful to look at how it is constructed...
Colombia and Belgium were not in the last world cup(s), no performance in continental cups, then good qualifiers and they're seeded. Italy is Europe's runner up, good qualifiers, no seed. I already mentioned Netherlands. Now I'm thinking of this "Pope friendly" we won 2-1 against Italy: if they had managed to win or even draw that match, given that Argentina is 2nd in the rank (?), maybe they would be seeded right now?
Actually, Uruguay will probably improve its rank even further thanks to playing against Jordania :P
Who would have thought we would miss the days in which FIFA cared about business instead of fairness... :p
first easiest qualify group ever and now first pot, FIFA wants to make Switzerland World Champion, lol
Hey, we had Iceland from pot 6 where others had San Marino :p
It's good to have Blatter at FIFA :D
It's good to have Blatter at FIFA :D
FIFA ranking is stupid. An example: losing against Spain by a one goal margin gets you the same amount of points as losing against San Marino with a ten goal margin. The strength of the opponent only plays a role if you don't lose. The goal difference never plays a role. Friendlies count too much.
Elo ratings are way better (though not perfect: the United States are above Belgium for instance). Then pot 1 would be: Brazil, Spain, Germany, Argentina, Netherlands, England, Uruguay and Italy.
Also, for Europe, the qualification format is not a good one. Absurd seeds (like Norway, who were 12th in the FIFA-ranking at that time while not having played a major tournament since 2000; that this seed is absurd can be seen in their results: 3 wins, 3 draws and 4 losses in a group with Cyprus, Albania, Slovenia, Iceland and Switzerland) and (and because of) not enough competitive matches to make a difference.
(edited)
Elo ratings are way better (though not perfect: the United States are above Belgium for instance). Then pot 1 would be: Brazil, Spain, Germany, Argentina, Netherlands, England, Uruguay and Italy.
Also, for Europe, the qualification format is not a good one. Absurd seeds (like Norway, who were 12th in the FIFA-ranking at that time while not having played a major tournament since 2000; that this seed is absurd can be seen in their results: 3 wins, 3 draws and 4 losses in a group with Cyprus, Albania, Slovenia, Iceland and Switzerland) and (and because of) not enough competitive matches to make a difference.
(edited)