World Cup Qualification - Brazil 2014

[soggy biscuit]

rehearsal last night

The simulation provided an extraordinary Group of Death, as Group A had Brazil, France, Australia and Italy.

The opening game of the tournament would be Brazil-France.

Group B was Uruguay, Nigeria, USA and Croatia.

Group C had Argentina, Ghana, Costa Rica and Fabio Capello’s Russia.

Group D in the rehearsal was Switzerland, Chile, Alberto Zaccheroni’s Japan and Greece.

Group E was Spain, Ivory Coast, South Korea and England.

Group F is Colombia, Cameroon, Honduras and Holland.

Group G had Germany, Ecuador, Iran and Portugal.

Group H provided Belgium, Algeria, Mexico and Bosnia.

[soggy biscuit]

This will be the ball - its like a netball

[tulip]

rehearsal last night

The simulation provided an extraordinary Group of Death, as Group A had Brazil, France, Australia and Italy.

The opening game of the tournament would be Brazil-France.

Group B was Uruguay, Nigeria, USA and Croatia.

Group C had Argentina, Ghana, Costa Rica and Fabio Capello’s Russia.

Group D in the rehearsal was Switzerland, Chile, Alberto Zaccheroni’s Japan and Greece.

Group E was Spain, Ivory Coast, South Korea and England.

Group F is Colombia, Cameroon, Honduras and Holland.

Group G had Germany, Ecuador, Iran and Portugal.

Group H provided Belgium, Algeria, Mexico and Bosnia.

Eeeeeek!

Seriously hope this doesn't happen.

[soggy biscuit]

I hope it does happen!

rather an interesting group and go out than a dull group, get through and then go out

[Silver Fox]

You know how people are confused about the seedings? Why hasn't anyone brought up the strange situation of Uruguay finishing below Chile and Ecuador in qualifying and needing a playoff to get in yet they are seeded above the others?

[Sanguine]

Seedings are based on world rankings, and Uruguay were ranked higher. They finished only 3 points behind Chile in qualifying, and only behind Ecuador on goal difference, so points earned in qualifying would have been similar. I don't know if their Copa America win is still propping up their ranking. They also came third in the Confederations Cup.

[Starfish]

It's clear which Nobber she was thinking about when she chose her attire for this photoshoot.

[Barry the bird boggler]

Seedings are based on world rankings, and Uruguay were ranked higher. They finished only 3 points behind Chile in qualifying, and only behind Ecuador on goal difference, so points earned in qualifying would have been similar. I don't know if their Copa America win is still propping up their ranking. They also came third in the Confederations Cup.

Yes there are only 8 seeded teams, the rest are just there to make up the numbers and obviously not expected to make the last 8 despite the fact that many of them are clearly better than at least half of the seeds - but then only FIFA could invent a stupid & meaningless ranking system.

[Sanguine]

There is nothing wrong with the rankings system save for the fact that World Cup hosts don't play competitive fixtures, and inevitably suffer a rankings fall.

[just some bloke]

rehearsal last night

The simulation provided an extraordinary Group of Death, as Group A had Brazil, France, Australia and Italy.

The opening game of the tournament would be Brazil-France.

Group B was Uruguay, Nigeria, USA and Croatia.

Group C had Argentina, Ghana, Costa Rica and Fabio Capello’s Russia.

Group D in the rehearsal was Switzerland, Chile, Alberto Zaccheroni’s Japan and Greece.

Group E was Spain, Ivory Coast, South Korea and England.

Group F is Colombia, Cameroon, Honduras and Holland.

Group G had Germany, Ecuador, Iran and Portugal.

Group H provided Belgium, Algeria, Mexico and Bosnia.

The SE-SICK Group. Yes, please. All three of those games would be fascinating. We'd probably get through it.

[Green]

Yeh I'd take that TBF

[Green]

When's the draw?

[Starfish]

rehearsal last night

The simulation provided an extraordinary Group of Death, as Group A had Brazil, France, Australia and Italy.

The opening game of the tournament would be Brazil-France.

Group B was Uruguay, Nigeria, USA and Croatia.

Group C had Argentina, Ghana, Costa Rica and Fabio Capello’s Russia.

Group D in the rehearsal was Switzerland, Chile, Alberto Zaccheroni’s Japan and Greece.

Group E was Spain, Ivory Coast, South Korea and England.

Group F is Colombia, Cameroon, Honduras and Holland.

Group G had Germany, Ecuador, Iran and Portugal.

Group H provided Belgium, Algeria, Mexico and Bosnia.

The SE-SICK Group. Yes, please. All three of those games would be fascinating. We'd probably get through it.

I am picturing more of a Euro '92 scenario myself.

[just some bloke]

I am picturing more of a Euro '92 scenario myself.

You think some as-yet-unqualified team will enter the tournament through the back door due to a war raging in one of the qualified countries, and go on to win it?

[Barry the bird boggler]

When's the draw?

Friday 6th December, 4.30pm BBC2 and from 4pm on Radio 5 Live although with all the usual build up and commercial marketing crap that FIFA will package it up with it probably won't actually start until gone 5pm or they'll be taking regular breaks for song and dance routines between each team being drawn out.

[soggy biscuit]

50 minute dance performance from 4:00pm apparently

[Mr Angry]

I take my hat off to FIFA; just imagine the hundreds of hours spent by various officials in meeting after meeting about this draw, all with the same ultimate aim.....

...ensuring a Brazil v Argentina final.

[sputnik]

Good article on the FIFA ranking system here. It seems that a high ranking team playing a friendly against poor opposition is not advisable as it is detrimental to their rank.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25134584

[TBM]

Fernanda Lima

[Green]

Guesses on Englands draw?

I'm going with Brazil, Nigeria & Mexico.