WC 2002

True Treble Reds

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Not sure if this <a href="http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/011128/80/cjpe6.html" target="_blank">article</a> has been posted before but I just came accross it.
How the feck have Spain managed to be seeded above us? I understand the rationale re the Krauts but Spain???
Anyway, discuss at will ...
Pot 1: Seeds: France, South Korea, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Germany, Spain

Pot 2: The 11 remaining European teams: Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, England, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkey

Pot 3: Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay, China, Saudi Arabia

Pot 4: Cameroon, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, Costa Rica, Mexico, United States
 
Originally posted by True Treble Reds:
<strong>Not sure if this <a href="http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/011128/80/cjpe6.html" target="_blank">article</a> has been posted before but I just came accross it.
How the feck have Spain managed to be seeded above us? I understand the rationale re the Krauts but Spain???
Anyway, discuss at will ...
Pot 1: Seeds: France, South Korea, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Germany, Spain

Pot 2: The 11 remaining European teams: Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, England, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkey

Pot 3: Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay, China, Saudi Arabia

Pot 4: Cameroon, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, Costa Rica, Mexico, United States</strong><hr></blockquote>

They r a better side than u.
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Originally posted by micksta:
<strong>They r a better side than u.</strong><hr></blockquote>
That is, by far, the most intelligent, well thought out and abundantly clear response that I've ever had to a question :rolleyes: Not to mention the gramatical creativity you chose to use in the stiletto like sharpness of your point.

Thanks again ;)
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Originally posted by ManUinOz:
<strong>

It's a feckin big island of the coast of New Zealand.

;) </strong><hr></blockquote>

It isn't is it? I though that Australia got pummelled into nothing by Uruguay?

;)

What's New Zealand?
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Originally posted by Stanley Road:
<strong>

A Lambing Farm</strong><hr></blockquote>

An outdoor pursuits/ leisure center for the Welsh then. A home from home for the Welsh.
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England had to go in pot 2 so we can get drawn in the same group as Germany again. <hr></blockquote>

You may well get Ireland - and I hope so. All the Irish posters on the forum have been typically blase in suggesting we'd take yez, myself included
;)

while the english lads have been typically polite and complimentary whilst still knocking our chances...

Hope we get a chance to let the players sort that one out.

:p
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I hope that we get:

Pot 1: South Korea or Japan, but I'd settle for Spain

Pot 3: China or Saudi Arabia, but none of them would be that bad.

Pot 4: And any, but especially Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, Costa Rica, United States.
 
Originally posted by redinsyd:
<strong>I hope that we get:

Pot 1: South Korea or Japan, but I'd settle for Spain

Pot 3: China or Saudi Arabia, but none of them would be that bad.

Pot 4: And any, but especially Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, Costa Rica, United States.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I really want Germany :D
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Originally posted by redinsyd:
<strong>

So I hear you filthy tw@t</strong><hr></blockquote>

Nob <img src="graemlins/houllier.gif" border="0" alt="[Houllier]" />
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I still am fairly bitter about Germany and Spain placed in Pot One ahead of England, though I can understand why.
Germany have qualified for every World Cup to date (?) and, though in the last two world cups it seems they have been ocupied with drama in the camp and manager troubles, doing poorly to be honest, they have to be top seeds considering their past history.
Spain however, have never really set the tournament alight however and I beleive England should have deserved better.
 
I'd love to get Brazil in the group stage. Tempting fate as I may be doing, I really believe that Brazil will either have 'Big (Psycho) Phil' still on board, or their 5th manager in 2 years if Phil manages to get the boot! A good time to be getting Brazil maybe, probably the best chance we would get of actually beating them.

It's all about prestige you know! ;)
 
Seedings should be done strictly on FIFA rankings. Otherwise, scrap the rankings. The highest 8 should be in one pot together, the second highest 8 etc.....
 
Originally posted by darko:
<strong>Seedings should be done strictly on FIFA rankings. Otherwise, scrap the rankings. The highest 8 should be in one pot together, the second highest 8 etc.....</strong><hr></blockquote>

Yes but that would cause one or two problems...
First of all the FIFA World Rankings should not be taken seriously - and it would be almost the same as the system they use now as they devise the rankings out of Euro/Copa America and World Cup Qualifying, so I there much point to this?
Anyway, a nations World Cup hopes can be dashed on the basis of one game.
England jumped four places from 13th to 9th after beating Germany and we all agree England don't deserve to be top seeds on the basis of one result after years of misery.
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Originally posted by darko:
<strong>Seedings should be done strictly on FIFA rankings. Otherwise, scrap the rankings. The highest 8 should be in one pot together, the second highest 8 etc.....</strong><hr></blockquote>

This is a fair point, but the reasoning by FIFA on this one is that as it is called the 'World' Cup it would be boring if a group ended up with four European teams in it. I think FIFA should be commended on their decision to draw the groups the way they are going to. It will make the Group stages more interesting IMO as us Europeans rarely get the opportuity to pit our wits against nations from outside the continent.
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Originally posted by Gazza:
<strong>

Yes but that would cause one or two problems...
First of all the FIFA World Rankings should not be taken seriously - and it would be almost the same as the system they use now as they devise the rankings out of Euro/Copa America and World Cup Qualifying, so I there much point to this?
Anyway, a nations World Cup hopes can be dashed on the basis of one game.
England jumped four places from 13th to 9th after beating Germany and we all agree England don't deserve to be top seeds on the basis of one result after years of misery.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Brazil haven't exactly lit the world on fire during qualifying either. Why should all African nations be in one pot together and all S.A. nations?

Design a ranking system that is objective as it can be and stick to it.

England finished ahead of Germany in qualifing and should be ranked ahead of them for the WC.
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I can't wait for the big draw. I wish we (Brazil get England and show them what we a fecking made off. Leave 'BIG PHIL' alone, he'll call GRANT if you don't behave. Bruv!
 
Here is my expert view on the teams in the World Cup:

Pot One: (the seeds)

France - Holders of the World Cup but I can't seem to see them winning it for the second year running. There team looks to old although they have many promising youngsters coming through the ranks.

South Korea - Gus Huddink has done a good job to improve this country's performance. I have seen their performance in the Confederations Cup where they beat Austrailia and did well only to not qualify for the later stages. They beat Croatia in a friendly but they will struggle in the World Cup.

Japan - Will want to improve past performance in the previous World Cup, they have improved again. Like South Korea, they are unlikely to provide us with any shocks but they have a good solid base of players and may grind out a result or two but will not get past the First Stage.

Brazil - Have struggled over the last year with managers leaving, a dissapointing qualifying campaign and they just made it to this years World Cup. I have a slight feeling they may perform well on the big stage and surprise a few people who think they are not going to perform.

Argentina - My favourites for the World Cup. They have performed extremely well in the qualifiers and their team is exellent. All through the team, you cannot fault any position or player.

Italy - Another candidate for a the winners spot. They have had a usual qualifying campaign and should qualify to at least the semi-finals of this competition, maybe even the final. I have high hopes for this team who perform well at the big stage.

Germany - Started well in their qualifying campaign but it all went wrong when they lost to England, 5-1. That result left them little hope to top the group although they proved critics wrong with their 4-1 thumping at home to Ukraine. I think Germany can do well and will get to the quarter finals where they will meet one of the big guns and lose.

Spain - Always seem to have a relatively easy qualifying campaign but do not perform on the big stage. I think that will be the same this time, they will scrape past the Group Stage and then lose dissapointingly to a team they should have beaten.

Pot Two: (the non-seeded Europeans)

Belgium - A team that I feel is non predictable. They came out on top for many of their qualifying matches, including a 10-1 win over San Marino. They ended up coming second to Croatia in their group and will find it tough here. I can't see them getting past the first stage unless they get a lucky draw.

Croatia - Another team that is difficult to predict. They have a good set of players and many experienced players that have played on the big stage in previous World Cups and European Championships. I think they will get past the groups stages but lose in the second round.

Denmark - Most of their experience has gone. The unit of this team is unexperienced and they will struggle to get past the group stage. They are missing the likes of Schmeichel, Laundrup and co so I expect a tough ride for them even though a surprising result may boost their hopes.

England - Performing very well at the momment although they need to try to beat bigger teams. Their performance against Greece at old trafford was poor and they need to improve on these performance, even so they will do well and will fall at the last hurdle, quarter finals where they meet a stronger opposition.

Ireland - Unbeaten in their qualifying campaign and seem to be perfoming very well. They can perform well against the big teams and grind out results. A few of the players may be unexperienced at this level but they wil shock many people with qualifying to the second round at least.

Poland - A big stage for the Polish who did excellent in the qualifying group stages. I can't see them getting past the group stage but a result will shock many people. I feel they will find it hard to adjust to the playing conditions and will struggle to find form at the right time.

Portugal - Unlucky not to be seeded, I feel this team has potential. It topped its qualifying group although that doensn't count for anything much but I really can see this team qualifying to the later stages, quarter finals at least.

Russia - A team that has some great individual stars but as a team I feel they have something lacking. I can see them griding out results but it won't be a good campaign, finishing bottom of their group, in the first group stage.

Slovenia - Many people have been wishing for this team from pot 2 to be drawn in their group but they surprised many people in Euro 2000. They surprised Romania and I think they will surprise many this time but they will just miss out on a second round place.

Sweden - A team that quietly qualified from their qualifying group. They have a good, solid team that find it hard when it comes to the big stage. An example here is Euro 2000. Although in previous World Cups they have done extremely well, especially World Cup 94. Can see them just missing out on a second round place.

Turkey - A team that I feel will struggle in a competition that the conditions will not help them. In the heat and humidity, they will fail to produce results (maybe a draw and thats it) and finish rock bottom in their group.

Pot Three:

Ecuador - Shocked many people by qualifying for their fist ever appearance in the World Cup. That surprise was confirmed by finishing second in the South American World Cup group. It is a team that is going to the learn from its World Cup experience for the first time and may provide some shocking results. I think the group stages is good enough for them.

Paraguay - A team that qualified for only its second world cup, focussing mainly on attacking football and scoring many goals for fun. I expect them to reach the second round with ease and after that, I think they will lose out.

Uruguay - The last time Uruguay qualified for a world cup was in 1990 and they have a class team. It may have only just qualified to a play-off by finishing 5th in the South American qualifying, but I think this team will get to the second round and then fall to a better team.

China - Waited 44 years for this momment to happen, China have qualified for the World Cup. They have many experienced players in their squad and some promising youngsters but they will just be learning as the best they can do is the group stages.

Saudi Arabia - Qualifying for their third consecutive World Cup, Saudi Arabia will have alot of experience and may surprise a few people. Expectations are sure to be high again from the fans and pundits from Saudi but it will be a short straw as they only compete in the group stage.

Pot Four:

Cameroon - Qualifying for the World Cup for the eighth time, with high expectations. Most of the side has experienced success from the Olympic Games 2000 triumph. Although, I feel they will be paired in a group which they cannot finish higher than 3rd place in the group stages.

Nigeria - A popular country that produces many good players based in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the America. They have an incredible pool of talent and I can see them surprising many people with some shocks instore. Realistically, a second round place is not beyond them.

Senegal - To most people’s surprise, Senegal pipped favourites Morocco to the top spot in the African Group C qualifiers. They will probably be the Jamaica of the World Cup. Many people have written off their chances but I think they can surprise a few people, as most of team is like French rejects, well not that harsh but they have many French stars that didn't make the France side. Can see them only staying in the group stages and no further.

South Africa - South Africa also qualified for the last FIFA World Cup finals in France and were winners of the African Nations Cup finals in 1996. They can play good football and last time, they managed 2 draws and 1 loss (to France) so they are capable of producing some displays. I think this time it will be the same, they will miss out on a second round spot.

Tunisia - Third appearence in the World Cup and their team is similar to the one that featured in World Cup 98. The Tunisians have been the dominant force in African club soccer for the last five years and are now seeking to establish the same reputation at national team level. Cannnot see them finishing past the group stages.

Costa Rica - Not recognised as a great team, qualified for its second World Cup. It is a counter attacking team that is making mistakes when they travel. This will be a dissapointment as they will not qualify past the group stages, finishing rock bottom in their group. The conditions won't suit their play.

Mexico - 13th appearence for the World Cup, it has high expectations. Qualification for the World Cup was anything but stylish and the fans want more, not just if a team wins, how it wins. They have changed a total of three managers during the capaign of qualification. The team begins right through the back to the front and I expect a second round at least for this team.

United States - Ambitious outsiders that find it difficult to perform on the big stage. It is a very young side that has left most of the experienced players out and they are a very defensive minded team. They will stuggle again this time, only group stages for them I am afraid.
 
Argentina sure look great all-around, they are definitly my favorites. I wouldn't be concerned about France. I don't want them to do well, but they are going to. They have a great amount of quality throughout the team--I think their back in particular--and on form, can beat any team in the world. Italy too will be great, and I expect big things from them. Their defensive quality is obvious, but I think the solidification of their midfield force will help to no end. The establishment of Totti, Tommassi, Fiore, Zambrotta etc...is quite good, and on form, has an amzing amount of potential. If they get an in-form Vieri (who I think is just pure class), they will be deadly. I love Portugal too. So much attacking flair and capability, its just so fun to watch them play. They have some great young players to compliment Figo and Rui Costa, and with a more stable back 4 (which they appear to have), I expect them to go quite far. Germany, well. Sadly, not much worth covering. Also, for some reason (and I really don't know why), I think this will be the year Spain pulls it out and does well. They always blow it in the end, but I feel that this could be their time. For god's sake, they have an abundance of talent, and I just hope they finally impress on the world stage for it has already been too long for them not to. Russia I think will perform well, and I also think Croatia will do fine too.
 
STAR PLAYERS

Adel Sellimi
Agustin Delgado
Alen Boksic
Alvaro Recoba
Augustine Okocha
Claudio Reyna
Cuauhtémoc Blanco
Ebbe Sand
Elhadji Diouf
Emile Mpenza
Fan Zhiyi
Luis Figo
Gabriel Batistuta
Hakan Sükür
Henrik Larsson
Hernán Medford
Hidetoshi Nakata
José Luis Chilavert
Michael Owen
Oliver Kahn
Paolo Maldini
Patrick Mboma
Raul
Rivaldo
Roy Keane
Sami Al Jaber
Seol Ki-Hyeon
Shaun Bartlett
Tomasz Hajto
Viktor Onopko
Zinédine Zidane
Zlatko Zahovic
 
Brazil, won't qualify from the Phase 1.

Argentina will contest the final agaist France.IHMO
 
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