OT: World Cup Draw Discussion Thread
Getting bored of all the coaching search threads so figured I'd get this going.
FIFA ranks in ():
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Group A: Russia (65), Uruguay (17), Egypt (30), SaudiArabia (63)
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Group B: Portugal (3), Spain (8), Iran (34), Morocco (48)
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Group C: France (7), Peru (10), Denmark (19), Australia (43)
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Group D: Argentina (4), Croatia (18), Iceland (21), Nigeria (41)
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Group E: Brazil (2), Switzerland (11), Costa Rica (22), Serbia (38)
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Group F: Germany (1), Mexico (16), Sweden (25), South Korea (62)
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Group G: Belgium (5), England (12), Tunisia (28), Panama (49)
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Group H: Poland (6), Colombia (13), Senegal (32), Japan (44)
Maybe it's just me but even putting aside the fact the USMNT isn't in it, this looks like a really down WC. No Italy and Netherlands and a host country that wouldn't have otherwise made it means fewer "sexy" matchups and groups.
I don't even see a "group of death" here. Maybe F with Sweden pushing Mexico for a spot?
Other than the battles between Coatia and Iceland, and Switzerland and CR, I don't see a whole lot of groups out of which we could see a surprise team.
Group A is a bit of tossup since there isn't a true top seed.
Thoughts?
December 1st, 2017 at 3:26 PM ^
There is no group of death, but I would agree the Mexico group is the toughest (hahahah). Sadly, Iceland ended up with an extremely difficult draw, but I'll be rooting for them until they're out, nevertheless.
December 1st, 2017 at 3:48 PM ^
Concacaf teams, amigo!
December 1st, 2017 at 4:06 PM ^
In no circumstance this side of hell frozen over should any USMNT fan ever cheer for Mexico.
December 1st, 2017 at 4:20 PM ^
December 1st, 2017 at 4:24 PM ^
maybe because their fans throw bags of piss at people during games??? just spitballin here...
December 1st, 2017 at 5:01 PM ^
December 1st, 2017 at 5:12 PM ^
December 1st, 2017 at 8:40 PM ^
December 1st, 2017 at 4:35 PM ^
much like Michigan vs. OSU, on the field (Mexico is typically more talented, but the two dominate their conference/conferation), geographically (north-south border rivals), and culturally (the southern team is rabid in it's fandom and hatred for the northern team, partially because the northern teams fans are less rabid and have a generally elitist smugness about them).
It's a pretty heated rivalry.
December 1st, 2017 at 5:30 PM ^
Mexico's defense all of the sudden got really soft at the least opportune time for US qualifying. The theory being Mexico let in a few weak ones so the US would not qualify.
December 1st, 2017 at 6:00 PM ^
Down in Mexico their fans have shone lasers in our goalie's eyes. Fuck them.
December 1st, 2017 at 11:29 PM ^
December 1st, 2017 at 3:35 PM ^
There isn't any real group of death, but I'd say the toughest one is probably Group D. It sucks that we're not in this and I guess I'm just going to adopt Iceland for the World Cup. It also sucks to be Morocco and Iran.
Viking War Chant FTW
December 1st, 2017 at 3:38 PM ^
December 1st, 2017 at 4:08 PM ^
average SPI per 538, and I agree that it will be very competitive for that second spot between Croatia, Iceland and Nigeria. There isn't a bad team in the group.
December 1st, 2017 at 4:55 PM ^
December 1st, 2017 at 5:04 PM ^
December 1st, 2017 at 6:01 PM ^
By pairing Spain and Portugal in Group B, it's all but guaranteed that Russia will play one of those in the Ro16, if Russia even advances from the group stage.
December 1st, 2017 at 3:36 PM ^
December 1st, 2017 at 6:07 PM ^
I'm not a die hard Egypt fan but I'm cheering for them to honor my dad. He had something to do with getting them in and he is helping them with their draw. Egypt should advance!
December 1st, 2017 at 3:48 PM ^
I would be mildly upset if I was Chile. Ranked 10th in the world and they don't get to play for the World Cup. That's like a 5 seed not getting to play in the NCAA basketball tournament. Those guys have a realistic chance of winning, but get no shot. Doesn't seem fair.
http://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/ranking-table/men/index.html
December 1st, 2017 at 4:36 PM ^
This isn't Italy's situation where they were in a one-team-qualifies group with Spain and then lost the play-in matches on a 1-0 aggregate.
Yes teams 3-6 were only two points apart in the South American standings, and they ended up #6. Tie or win one more match and they would have qualified. But they went 1-3 in their last three matches, including losses to Bolivia(!) and Paraguay.
If your point is that more South American teams deserve to qualify, then I get what you're saying. Seems imbalanced based on their current level of play and performance in the last World Cup.
Also, I root for Argentina, and after losing on penatlies to them in the last two finals, screw those guys! ...
December 1st, 2017 at 4:37 PM ^
The FIFA rankings are largely meaningless. Don't put too much stock in them.
December 1st, 2017 at 5:14 PM ^
1. FIFA rankings are stupid and should feel bad about themselves.
2. They had a chance to play in the World Cup and didnt take care of business.
December 1st, 2017 at 5:25 PM ^
CONMEBOL qualifying is rediculous. They should get more teams.
December 1st, 2017 at 5:50 PM ^
December 1st, 2017 at 6:17 PM ^
They were thoroughly outclassed 3-0 at home by non-qualifier Paraguay in their must-win game on August 31., just to cite one of their hugely disappointing showings. It's an aging team, full of good players, but most of whom are past their prime.
December 1st, 2017 at 6:53 PM ^
December 1st, 2017 at 3:39 PM ^
December 1st, 2017 at 4:15 PM ^
advanced to the Round of 16 in Brazil in 2014. Lost to France in a pretty good effort that was tied until the 79th minute. They're solid.
December 1st, 2017 at 3:46 PM ^
Group A suggests to me that the draw is a crooked as the rest of FIFA. That's a hell of a draw for a host country with a dogshit team.
All of it, though, suggests a lot of interesting games. And that's the problem with the World Cup - as rotten as FIFA is, the games can be fantastic.
December 1st, 2017 at 3:50 PM ^
that the draw was conducted by Big 10 officials? Or HotelPutingrad?
December 1st, 2017 at 4:25 PM ^
The host team automatically gets a top seed, so when they're as bad as Russia, the overall group is likely to be bad. Uruguay is just about what you'd expect from a second team. They're 11th in SPI and are generally pretty good. Egypt is about a middle-of-the-road third team too.
Saudi Arabia is probably the worst team in the field though so they were fortunate there.
December 1st, 2017 at 4:31 PM ^
apply logic to the situation and anything sounds reasonable
December 1st, 2017 at 4:57 PM ^
I understand the top seed rule, but the rest of that group is pretty cakey. Uruguay advances - but the rest is a crap shoot. For a dogshit team like Russia, a crap shoot is a gift.
I'll put it this way - apart from Group H, I could not see another group you could put Russia in as a top seed and expect them to have a chance to advance.
December 2nd, 2017 at 12:35 PM ^
but for most other countries is a pass to make into round two.
December 1st, 2017 at 3:49 PM ^
December 1st, 2017 at 3:52 PM ^
December 1st, 2017 at 3:53 PM ^
December 1st, 2017 at 3:58 PM ^
Italy, Chile, USA and Netherlands. That's a true Group of Death!
December 1st, 2017 at 4:01 PM ^
Also, South Korea will get crushed every game.
December 1st, 2017 at 4:06 PM ^
and we gonna die.
die three times.
December 1st, 2017 at 5:48 PM ^
오! 필승 코리아!
December 1st, 2017 at 6:06 PM ^
but it will be like MSU in the BCS playoffs.
December 1st, 2017 at 6:12 PM ^
December 1st, 2017 at 4:06 PM ^
Portugal vs Spain will be a great Group play match-up i'm looking forward to.
December 1st, 2017 at 4:10 PM ^
It all comes down to kicking. Whoever can kick the best will win.
December 1st, 2017 at 4:59 PM ^