World Cup 2006 Draw

[89Hen]

This Friday at 2:15 EST, I think on ESPN. Sounds like there is no chance the US will be in the first pot, so they will once again be in a group with one of the big boys. I want Brazil. :asswhip:

[AppGuy04]

This Friday at 2:15 EST, I think on ESPN. Sounds like there is no chance the US will be in the first pot, so they will once again be in a group with one of the big boys. I want Brazil. :asswhip:

so we win a couple games, then move to the elimination round and lose in the very first game like always

[DinoDex200]

so we win a couple games, then move to the elimination round and lose in the very first game like always

Ask the Mexicans if we "lost in the first game as always" back in '02...then watch out for flying ziploc bags full of urine!

This thing is lame...we won our qualification region, and the damn Mexican'ts are going to get a seed over us. BS!! :bang: :bang:

[Tribefan]

This really blows because I was hoping we would head a group consisting or Trinidad and Tobago, Australia and Iran. That would have guaranteed advancement :D

I think we'll take care of business against whichever seed we end up with in our group. They will definitely overlook us, just ask Portugal.

[DinoDex200]

This really blows because I was hoping we would head a group consisting or Trinidad and Tobago, Australia and Iran. That would have guaranteed advancement :D

I think we'll take care of business against whichever seed we end up with in our group. They will definitely overlook us, just ask Portugal.

Well...we might get Australia, unfortunately, there is no chance of getting the other two. I just hope we aren't in a group with Brazil and Holland! We were 1 point away from a seed...that blows. I still don't understand why Mexico is always ranked higher than us...we have dominated them over the last 5 years.

[89Hen]

whichever seed we end up with in our group. They will definitely overlook us, just ask Portugal.
#8 in the world and having advanced to the quarters last time I doubt that anyone will overlook the US. The US will most likely be known as the best team to not get in the first pot unless the Dutch don't.

[TexasTerror]

Worst case scenario...

USA
Portugal or Netherlands
Ecuador or Paraguay
Any of Top Seeds

That'd be a group of death. Portugal would be POed based on previous USA/Portugal. I wouldn't want to face any South American team, would rather African and then of course, any of the top seeds are pretty dangerous...

[89Hen]

Pots are out...

Pot 1 - Brazil, Germany, England, Spain, Mexico, France, Argentina and Italy

Pot 2 - Angola, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Tunisia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Australia

Pot 3 - Croatia, Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and Ukraine

Pot 4 - Japan, South Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, United States, Costa Rica and Trinidad & Tobago

Serbia and Montenegro was placed into a pot of its own to ensure the cap on two European teams per group.

Pot 1 is the only one that has to do with rankings. The other pots are put together to be regional as teams aren't supposed to be in a group with another team from their region (Europe being the exception).

Name the worst and best draws for the US.

[89Hen]

Worst... Brazil, Equador, Nethelands, US

Best... Spain, Tunisia, Switzerland, US

[dbackjon]

So why did Mexico get a seed instead of us?

[bandl]

So why did Mexico get a seed instead of us?
Because they're dirty Mexicans. LOL

[DinoDex200]

Name the worst and best draws for the US.

Based on recent form (WC Qualifiers): France, Australia, Switzerland, US

2 winnable games, and a dogfight for a tie with France...they ain't as young as they used to be.

[89Hen]

So why did Mexico get a seed instead of us?
History.

[DinoDex200]

History.

Pretty much, we got left out because we sucked it up in the WC in '98...and because Mexico gets an almost yearly invite to the Copa America, which we do not...gives them a chance to pick up a few victories against stronger competition.

[dbackjon]

History.

Thanks.

that sucks - that seems it would be like the I-AA committee giving Georgia Southern a seed because of their "history"

[89Hen]

that sucks - that seems it would be like the I-AA committee giving Georgia Southern a seed because of their "history"
Yeah, we're pretty much the Coastal Carolina of FIFA.

[DinoDex200]

Thanks.

that sucks - that seems it would be like the I-AA committee giving Georgia Southern a seed because of their "history"


The Eagles still haven't forgiven the NCAA for voting that proposal down. :)

Seriously...there were some GSU fans that were furious that they had to travel to Texas St. for the first round. I guess we can see why now.

[TexasTerror]

Best... Spain, Tunisia, Switzerland, US

Wouldn't the US prefer Togo over Tunisia? I think so...

[89Hen]

The US will most likely be known as the best team to not get in the first pot unless the Dutch don't.
BTW, I was correct on this. The US was #9 in this year's ranking system. It was clearly the 1998 WC that kept the US from earning a top seed this year. The US had a better showing in 2002 than four of the eight seeds and has a higher world rank than Germany or Italy (Germany was an auto anyway as host). Italy and France are both on the way out if they don't do well this year as the only thing that got them a seed was the 1998 WC.

[89Hen]

Wouldn't the US prefer Togo over Tunisia? I think so...
Perhaps as they are the lowest ranked team in the field, but they're also an unknown quantity as this is their first trip to the WC. Tunisia was in 1998 and 2002 and failed to win a game. We know they're not very good in the Cup. Neither should present a problem for anyone thinking of advancing to the final round.

[Blue Hen Nation]

Here's a nice piece on the USA on FIFA's website.....

USA, an emerging force
Following their disappointing showing at France 1998, few observers expected to see the United States reach the quarter-finals at Korea/Japan 2002. Nevertheless, a potent mixture of intelligence, grit and opportunism saw the United States make it all the way through to the last eight. With Germany 2006 just around the corner, the USA are not among the favourites to take the cherished crown. Nevertheless, Bruce Arena's team have more than enough about them to upset many more established footballing nations.

Their talented coach can call on the vast experience of Kasey Keller between the sticks, shielded by the giant form of defender Oguchi Onyenwu. Pulling the strings in midfield are Claudio Reyna and Landon Donovan, two players at very different stages in their career but who share the same will to succeed. Up front, the contrasting styles of Brian McBride and DaMarcus Beasley can keep any defence on their toes. If everything goes right for them, the American Dream may just come true next summer.

[blur2005]

I'm hoping we'll go deep in the tourney again. It really is the best tournament in the world by leaps and bounds. There's nothing more exciting really. Only the NCAA Basketball Tournament can come close to matching the excitement, but it happens annually, unlike the 4 years we have to wait after each World Cup to see the next one. Plus, it's national pride on the line. Fun stuff.

[LacesOut]

WC soccer is awesome.

The only thing I hate is when a match is decided by...........penalty kicks. Ugghhhh. I know, I know, it's exciting. But I don't like it. Keep playing til a goal is scored. The Golden Goal. At least have it this way in the quarter/semi's/finals. Maybe not the opening matches.

[blur2005]

WC soccer is awesome.

The only thing I hate is when a match is decided by...........penalty kicks. Ugghhhh. I know, I know, it's exciting. But I don't like it. Keep playing til a goal is scored. The Golden Goal. At least have it this way in the quarter/semi's/finals. Maybe not the opening matches.
I actually kind of prefer Silver Goal. It almost makes things crazier and seems truer to soccer. I've always felt the one sport where sudden-death was really appropriate was hockey. Other sports that use it sometimes are incorrect to use it in my opinon, like the NFL. I don't mind it in soccer, but I prefer the way the European Championships played it in 2004 with Silver Goal.

[bandl]

I actually kind of prefer Silver Goal. It almost makes things crazier and seems truer to soccer. I've always felt the one sport where sudden-death was really appropriate was hockey. Other sports that use it sometimes are incorrect to use it in my opinon, like the NFL. I don't mind it in soccer, but I prefer the way the European Championships played it in 2004 with Silver Goal.

If you don't mind me asking...what in the heck is a silver goal? Does it only apply to the Euro Championship? What about the regular Euro leagues? I'm going to see PSV Eindhoven of the Dutch league play in March.

[Blue Hen Nation]

FIFA WORLD RANKING
Top 20 November 2005

Rank Country Points +/-
1 Brazil 841 - :bow:
2 Czech Rep. 796 +1
3 Netherlands 791 -1
4 Argentina 774 -
5 France 772 - :asswhip:
6 Spain 771 +2
7 Mexico 768 -1 :mad:
8 USA 766 -1 :)
9 England 757 -
10 Portugal 754 -1
11 Turkey 749 -
12 Italy 741 -
13 Denmark 732 +1
14 Sweden 731 -1
15 Japan 713 +1 :boring:
16 Germany 710 -1 :confused:
17 Greece 708 +1
18 Uruguay 706 -1
19 Iran 702 +2
20 Croatia 701 -1

[Blue Hen Nation]

If you don't mind me asking...what in the heck is a silver goal? Does it only apply to the Euro Championship? What about the regular Euro leagues? I'm going to see PSV Eindhoven of the Dutch league play in March.

Silver goal was a method used in association football to decide the result of games in elimination matches which end in a draw after the end of the ordinary time. A fifteen-minute extra time period is played, and if either team is leading at the conclusion of that period that team wins the match. If the scores are level, another fifteen-minute period is played. If the scores are level after two periods of extra time, a penalty shootout decides the game.

The silver goal rules were proposed to the IFAB in 2002 by UEFA to supplement the unsuccessful golden goal rules introduced in 1994. In extra time a team leading after the first fifteen minute period, or having the away goal advantage at that point, would win, but the game would no longer stop the instant a team scored as with the golden goal rule. This change was decided after golden goal victories led to some ugly behaviour from the losing teams. Golden goal was also seen as putting excessive pressure on the referee and when it was introduced, it was also supposed to stimulate the offensive flair of the teams, which rarely happened, since the danger of conceding a goal from an opposition counter attack made taking risks to score unattractive.

The Golden Goal was not removed from the Laws of the Game, and as with when the Golden Goal was introduced, the Silver Goal was not made compulsory. Competitions operating extra time were able to use the Golden Goal, the Silver Goal, or neither procedure during extra time.

[bandl]

Silver goal was a method used in association football to decide the result of games in elimination matches which end in a draw after the end of the ordinary time. A fifteen-minute extra time period is played, and if either team is leading at the conclusion of that period that team wins the match. If the scores are level, another fifteen-minute period is played. If the scores are level after two periods of extra time, a penalty shootout decides the game.

The silver goal rules were proposed to the IFAB in 2002 by UEFA to supplement the unsuccessful golden goal rules introduced in 1994. In extra time a team leading after the first fifteen minute period, or having the away goal advantage at that point, would win, but the game would no longer stop the instant a team scored as with the golden goal rule. This change was decided after golden goal victories led to some ugly behaviour from the losing teams. Golden goal was also seen as putting excessive pressure on the referee and when it was introduced, it was also supposed to stimulate the offensive flair of the teams, which rarely happened, since the danger of conceding a goal from an opposition counter attack made taking risks to score unattractive.

The Golden Goal was not removed from the Laws of the Game, and as with when the Golden Goal was introduced, the Silver Goal was not made compulsory. Competitions operating extra time were able to use the Golden Goal, the Silver Goal, or neither procedure during extra time.

Hmmm....thanks smarty pants. So you know alot about Soccer (or FOOTBALL)....but what do you know about SQUASH??? HAHA...I kid. But seriously, in the local newspaper there were SCORES FOR THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL SQUASH TEAMS!!! I wouldn't even know what squash was if I was actually watching a match/game/tea-session, or whatever the hell it's called!!!

Back to topic. Thanks for that info. Will the silver goal rule be used in the Dutch League game I'm going to see?

[Blue Hen Nation]

I believe it is the accepted rule in the Dutch league. Now, if you get a naked picture of that chick I'll tell you more. :smiley_wi

[DinoDex200]

WC soccer is awesome.

The only thing I hate is when a match is decided by...........penalty kicks. Ugghhhh. I know, I know, it's exciting. But I don't like it. Keep playing til a goal is scored. The Golden Goal. At least have it this way in the quarter/semi's/finals. Maybe not the opening matches.

The opening round matches don't go to extra time...if you are tied at the end, you are tied. Since it's round robin...the 2 teams with the most "points" go through. Also...penalty kicks are only used after an overtime period. If no one ends OT with the lead, then you go to PK's.

[dbackjon]

BTW, I was correct on this. The US was #9 in this year's ranking system. It was clearly the 1998 WC that kept the US from earning a top seed this year. The US had a better showing in 2002 than four of the eight seeds and has a higher world rank than Germany or Italy (Germany was an auto anyway as host). Italy and France are both on the way out if they don't do well this year as the only thing that got them a seed was the 1998 WC.

And only 1 point behind Italy for the 8 seed.