J.A.W. Posted December 6, 2005 Report Share Posted December 6, 2005 The draw will take place on Friday, December 9. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownie Posted December 6, 2005 Report Share Posted December 6, 2005 The official list: From Reuters: World Cup top eight seeds unveiled LEIPZIG, Germany (Reuters) -- Hosts Germany, Brazil, Italy, France, Argentina, Spain, Mexico and England were named as the top eight seeds for next year's World Cup finals by FIFA on Tuesday. The decision was taken by the World Cup organizing committee and is based on world rankings and performances in the two previous World Cups. The draw for the 32-team finals takes place in Leipzig on Friday evening. The top seeds will avoid each other during the opening stage which will consist of eight groups of four nations playing in round-robin format. The top two from each group will then progress to the last 16 knockout stages. Under the seeding system used by world governing body FIFA, world champions Brazil were top rated with England emerging as second ranked. Italy narrowly beat the U.S. into eighth spot with the Netherlands ranked next best. Hosts Germany were automatically seeded. They will take slot A1 in the schedule and play the opening match in Munich on June 9 as well as in Dortmund on June 14 and Berlin on June 20. The draw in Leipzig's Neue Messe exhibition center will be broadcast live to around 150 countries with an estimated record audience of around 320 million people expected to tune in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Posted December 6, 2005 Report Share Posted December 6, 2005 POT ONE Germany (hosts) Brazil (holders) Argentina England France Italy Mexico Spain POT TWO Australia Angola Ghana Ivory Coast Togo Tunisia Ecuador Paraguay POT THREE Croatia Czech Republic Netherlands Poland Portugal Sweden Switzerland Ukraine POT FOUR Iran Japan Saudi Arabia South Korea Costa Rica Trinidad & Tobago US Special pot: Sebria & Montenegro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted December 6, 2005 Report Share Posted December 6, 2005 (edited) According the BBC, Italy just beat out the US. I'm not sure why Mexico gets ahead of the US but so be it. Edited December 6, 2005 by Brad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.A.W. Posted December 6, 2005 Report Share Posted December 6, 2005 Also according to the BBC, Friday's draw will work in the following way: The eight seeded teams will be drawn into eight different groups. Germany have already been allocated Group A and Brazil Group F. Eight unseeded European sides will be drawn into the eight different groups. The lowest-ranked European side Serbia and Montenegro will be allocated to one of the groups containing either Brazil, Argentina or Mexico to ensure there is no more than two European sides in any group. A pot of the five African countries, Australia and the two remaining South American sides drawn into eight different groups. A pot containing the four Asian countries, the USA, Costa Rica and Trinidad drawn into seven different groups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenny weir Posted December 7, 2005 Report Share Posted December 7, 2005 Well here's how it's shaping up so far: Soc: Dutch left out of World Cup top eight seedings Soccer World Seeds Nightlead LEIPZIG, Germany, Dec 5 AP - Spain and Mexico were the surprise choices on Tuesday among the eight seeded teams for the World Cup draw, while the Netherlands was left out. Host Germany and defending champion Brazil were automatically seeded for Friday's draw. Also making the list were four other former champions - Argentina, England, Italy and France. FIFA based its seedings on results at the last two World Cups and the world rankings of the past three years. Based on that rule, Brazil topped the standings with 64 points, ahead of England with 51, Spain with 50 and Germany with 48. The fifth-ranked team was Mexico with 47, followed by France with 46 and Argentina and Italy tied in seventh with 44 points. The United States fell just short of the top eight with 43 points, while the Dutch were well back with 38. Brazil was given top spot in Group F because it can play in Berlin, Munich and Dortmund, the biggest of the 12 World Cup stadiums. Germany was already seeded to head Group A and will play at the same venues. The Netherlands, a two-time World Cup runner-up, failed to make the seedings despite being third in the FIFA rankings behind Brazil and the Czech Republic. Spain and Mexico have never reached the final at aWorld Cup. Spain, a perennial underachiever, only qualified through the European playoffs. Mexico was runner-up behind the United States in the North and Central America and Caribbean group. The Czechs failed to qualify for the previous three World Cups. The draw was also set up to prevent teams from the same continent landing in the same group. Europe, with 14 of the 32 teams, is the exception. But no more than two European teams will be paired in the same group. The field has four teams each from South America, Asia and the CONCACAF region and five from Africa. Australia represents Oceania. The World Cup draw will be completed in Leipzig onSaturday morning (AEDT). AP Pool One: Germany (hosts), Brazil (champions), Italy, France, Argentina, Spain, Mexico, England Pool Two: Australia, Angola, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo, Tunisia, Ecuador, Paraguay Pool Three: Croatia, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine Pool Four: Iran, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Costa Rica, Trinidad & Tobago, United States Special pot: Serbia & Montenegro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim R Posted December 7, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2005 "FIFA based its seedings on results at the last two World Cups and the world rankings of the past three years." I can see some logic in the relevance of the world rankings over the past three years, but I would think there ought to be more weight toward current rankings (The Dutch should have been there before Mexico). But what has 1998 got to do with it? Every team (and in many cases their managers) has changed in 7+ years. As far as Mexico is concerned... I hope we get to play them in the tournament again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottb Posted December 7, 2005 Report Share Posted December 7, 2005 It's all about the draw! The fate of the US team lies in the hands of lady luck. With possiblities ranging from Brazil, Netherlands, Tunisia, US to Spain, Togo, Switzerland, US and all posiblities in between. I never thought I'd be this excited about awaiting the draw but I'm nervous! I think it comes down to who the US ends up with from Pot 3. All of those teams are good but obviously some would be very tough to beat, especially in Europe. If the the US can pull out a victory against their opponent from Pot 3, then they can advance. Hopefully to face Mexico! (Before anyone gets too excited, I'm not saying we are better than Spain, but they do have a tendency to lose game they shouldn't and I would be very pleased to be on the receiving end of a gift from the Spaniards. ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcoliv Posted December 7, 2005 Report Share Posted December 7, 2005 FIFA really don't understand a thing about football Marcus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenny weir Posted December 8, 2005 Report Share Posted December 8, 2005 Kenny's wish list: Mexico or Spain, Switzerland, Trinidad/Tobago, Australia. Oh yes. Please oh please. Everyone's nightmare: Landing in the same group as Brazil AND the Netherlands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.A.W. Posted December 8, 2005 Report Share Posted December 8, 2005 C'mon guys, the Dutch aren't that good... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
couw Posted December 8, 2005 Report Share Posted December 8, 2005 C'mon guys, the Dutch aren't that good... nope, and I'll bet they'll be boozing up like back in good ole '74 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenny weir Posted December 8, 2005 Report Share Posted December 8, 2005 C'mon guys, the Dutch aren't that good... Maybe, but ... I'd still be happier if the Socceroos play Switzerland. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottb Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 Kenny you'll have to hope for Spain and T and T because they won't put T and T in a group with Mexico. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 Sven must rate the Dutch, US & Aussie teams Eriksson named his Group of Death, his hardest draw England could get today, as Holland, USA and Australia. "I remember when we played the friendly against Australia at Upton Park," he said, "and it was nothing like a friendly. "They desperately wanted to beat us and they did. What I saw in the summer with the cricket, the reaction of the English people was amazing. "I never knew about this rivalry before. If I had known, I would not have played them that night." http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/tm_...-name_page.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
couw Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 Everyone's nightmare: Landing in the same group as Brazil AND the Netherlands. well, Johan Cruyff just pulled you out of the bowl to put you with the Brazilians.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
couw Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 and Pelé put the Dutch with Argentina, so you can relax there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.A.W. Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 The draw: Group A Germany Ecuador Poland Costa Rica Group B England Paraguay Sweden Trinidad & Tobago Group C Argentina Ivory Coast Netherlands Serbia-Montenegro Group D Mexico Angola Portugal Iran Group E Italy Ghana Czech Republic United States Group F Brazil Australia Croatia Japan Group G France Togo Switzerland South Korea Group H Spain Tunisia Ukraine Saudi Arabia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownie Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 Looks like France was lucky with its draw in Group G. It will face Togo, Switzerland and South Korea. Even if the French team does not play at its best level, it has a good chance of going to the second round! Groups B and C are murder! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottb Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 Good draw for England, Not too bad for Australia, Good for Germany, Good for Mexico, Bad for US The US will be lucky if they secure the second spot and then they get to play the winner from Group F - likely Brazil! If England wins their Group they get Group A runner up - likely Poland. Looks like I'll have to root for my second team - Spain who also got a favorable draw and could face the likes of South Korea or Switzerland in the first knockout round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
couw Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 Looks like France was lucky some have ALL the luck... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownie Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 Yes, France fared better than Holland. Holland will have a tough time in that Group C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
couw Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 Yes, France fared better than Holland. Holland will have a tough time in that Group C and if they make it, the Argentinian and Serbian "fair" players will already have mutilated the knees and shins of the Dutch players beyond recognition. The whining Argentinians may even cause real losses, either by provoking undeserved cards or by driving the Dutch into group therapy to recover from having to suffer the too obvious voluntary falters and other bad acting only the referees seem to hold for real... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 Looks like my fears about the US winding up in the Group of Death (El Grupo de la Muerte) were justified. Bummer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottb Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 Donovan, McBride, Reyna, Beasley and Keller better start eating their Wheaties!! (As I typed that it dawned on me that with Kasey Kellar in the goal you've always got a chance!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_forumlogo.png.a607ef20a6e0c299ab2aa6443aa1f32e.png)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.