World Cup Seeding

[LegallyKenny]

Had anyone heard this before?

So, though the U.S. has already qualified for Germany '06, the results of games against Costa Rica in San Jose Saturday and Panama in Foxborough Wednesday will have some significance. These matches will not directly affect seedings this time around. When the final draw is announced Dec. 9 in Leipzig, FIFA will again use its formula of weighing each country's performance in the previous three World Cup finals -- excluding as factors qualifiers and other tournaments.

There will be eight No. 1 seeds: Argentina, Brazil and six European nations. After that, everything becomes subjective. Or, more accurately, everything becomes political. And every performance counts.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=345057&root=us&cc=5901

[ZONACAT]

I heard that we can do no better and no worse than a No. 2 seed. That is why Arena is going to experiment with the next two qualifiers.

We will end up with a high seed Euro/ S. American country, a low seed Euro and either a African/Asian country. Not too bad but we could still be put into a group of death. The luck of the draw will be key.

[SCCat]

I have heard about this seeding stuff before, which is why I was on Arena to win every qualifying game regardless of whether we needed the points to qualify.

I thought that it *might* be possible to move up to a number one first due to our good performance the last WC (should have beaten Germany and gone on to the Semi's) and second if we could leapfrog Mexico (at the least) to slide into the #4 spot in the world rankings. I thought at that point it might be somewhat tough to deny us a #1.

http://forum.goazcats.com/showthread.php?t=35781&highlight=arena

[SCCat]

FIFA's most recent top twenty. Who are the six teams to get #1's besides Argentina and Brazil (who I both agree are locks)?

1 Brazil-Yes
2 Netherlands-Yes
3 Argentina-Yes
4 Czech Republic-Yes
5 Mexico-?
6 France-? ( Was it zero goals/wins in WC 2002? )
7 USA-?
8 Spain-?
9 Portugal-No
10 Sweden -No
11 England -?
12 Turkey-No
13 Italy -?
14 Denmark-No
15 Germany-?
16 Japan-No
17 Poland-No
18 Iran-No
19 Costa Rica-No
20 Greece-No

Yes'-Brazil, Netherlands, Argentina, Cz Republic,

Field (choose four)-Mexico, France, USA, Spain, England, Italy, Germany

[LegallyKenny]

Couldn't England still fail to qualify???

[ZONACAT]

Couldn't England still fail to qualify???

Extremely unlikely. They would have to choke big-time to blow it.

My Top 8 seeds.

1) Brazil
2) Argentina
3) Netherlands
4) Germany
5) Spain
6) Czech Republic
7) England
8) France

Italy, USA and Mexico are the top No. 2 seeds.

[LegallyKenny]

After this summer I feel like Mexico deserves a 1 seed more than England does.

[SCCat]

After this summer I feel like Mexico deserves a 1 seed more than England does.

I feel the same about France too. They are trying to bring back that '98 magic literally. I just don't think all those '98 players all 8 years older is going to cut it!

And now we are having a legitimate argument that a team like Mexico could be a number one seed. IF the USMNT had won out after the Mexcio win in Colombus, we would be insterting "USA" for "Mexico" in many peoples thought process.

My top 8 (based on how well I think they are playing now)

1. Brazil (should be big favorite to win)
2. Argentina
3. Cz. Republic
4. Netherlands
5. Germany
6. Spain
7. USA
8. Mexico

[argaen]

Seeding won't matter for us. People forget how BAD we play in Europe. Hopefully we will have a better showing than france 98. I hope we get drawn with an asian country, especially one named Iran. :smokin:

But seriously, France absolutey does not deserve a number 1 seed. They are just awful right now. England could choke themselves out of a number 1 seed if they choke in one of their last two games and have to win a playoff to get in. Mexico definitely should be top 8.

[LegallyKenny]

Argaen - do you happen to know how many players on the '98 team were European based at the time? Curious how that compares to the current team, and if that could make a difference in Germany.

[PointGuardU03]

Let's be honest, the team and the atmoshpere sourounding USA Men's Soccer has changed drastically since '98. What I'm worried about in the next WC is how the team handels the expectations.

[argaen]

Argaen - do you happen to know how many players on the '98 team were European based at the time? Curious how that compares to the current team, and if that could make a difference in Germany.
Here is a list of the 98 team.

Goalkeeper:
Kasey Keller (Leicester), Juergen Sommer (Columbus Crew), Brad Friedel (Liverpool).
Defenders:
David Régis (Karlsruhe), Eddie Pope (DC United), Thomas Dooley (Columbus Crew), Michael Burns (New England Revolution), Marcelo Balboa (Colorado Rapids), Jeff Agoos(DC United), Alexi Lalas (New England Revolution).
Midfielders:
Chad Deering (VfL Wolfsbourg), Brian Maisonneuve (Colombus Crew), Tab Ramos (NY-NJ Metrostars), Frankie Hejduk (Tampa Bay Mutiny), Predrag Radosavljevik (Kansas City Wizards), Cobi Jones (Los Angeles Galaxy), Claudio Reyna (VfL Wolfsburg).
Forwards:
Brian McBride (Colombus Crew), Joe-Max Moore (New England Revolution), Roy Wegerle (DC United), Eric Wynalda (San José Clash), Ernie Stewart (NAC Breda).

Regardless of where they play, the 2006 roster will be so much more talented than that. We will have a tough time advancing no matter what, but I don't think we will end up the worst at 2k6 either like we were at 98.

[LegallyKenny]

Even with that less talented team in France, it still took Sampson's gross mismanagagement and incredible ability to piss off the team to reach that last place showing.

[LegallyKenny]

England set to be among top World Cup seeds

England will be among the top eight seeds for next year's World Cup finals if FIFA keep the same seeding system as they have used for previous tournaments.

Sven-Goran Eriksson's side's victories over Poland and Austria mean they are almost certain to maintain and probably improve their world ranking.

Under the established seeding points system, based on performances in the last three World Cups and the last three years' world rankings, England and France would be in equal seventh place just above ninth-placed Holland.

The Dutch are currently ranked number two in the world but Marco van Basten's side have no hope of overtaking top-placed Brazil, so their seeding points cannot improve.

With the USA having lost to lowly Costa Rica last week, England and France could leapfrog them in the world rankings and reinforce their position among the seeds.

England's friendly against Argentina in Geneva next month should not have a huge impact even if they lose because only the seven best results of the year are given full weighting by FIFA when working out the world ranking system.

The top eight seeds will be kept apart when the draw for the initial group stage takes place in Leipzig on December 9. The rest of the teams will be drawn on a geographical basis so that, for example, two African sides are not in the same group.

Under the system used for the last two World Cups, the top seeds would be: Brazil, Spain, Mexico, Germany, Italy, Argentina, France, England.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=345665&cc=5901

[SCCat]

Man that's upsetting. So easily could have been us in there instead of Mexico.

Here's to the US drawing into France's group and avoiding Brazil!

EDIT-I am not super surprised about Holland not getting a #1 seed, but I am very surprised that the CZ Rep. didn't get one. Even though they are having to go to the playoff to qualify they have been a strong team over the last 10 years.

[MrBug708]

How did I miss this thread? Im going to Germany next year.

The way the seedings go, or last I heard, there are 6 factors. One of which is winning CONCAF, three of them are how the team finished in the last rankings in 2003, 2004, and Nov of 2005. I forget what the other two were, but the United States would only get 2 at best. Mexico was going to finish with a higher seed no matter what. I think they'll stick the United States with the second lowest 1 seed, a team from Africa, and either the second place Asian Team or the 4th place South American team. It'll be a hard draw regardless.