OT: World Cup Draw Discussion Thread

Submitted by TrueBlue2003 on

Getting bored of all the coaching search threads so figured I'd get this going.

FIFA ranks in ():

  • Group A: Russia (65), Uruguay (17), Egypt (30), SaudiArabia (63)

  • Group B: Portugal (3), Spain (8), Iran (34), Morocco (48)

  • Group C: France (7), Peru (10), Denmark (19), Australia (43)

  • Group D: Argentina (4), Croatia (18), Iceland (21), Nigeria (41)

  • Group E: Brazil (2), Switzerland (11), Costa Rica (22), Serbia (38)

  • Group F: Germany (1), Mexico (16), Sweden (25), South Korea (62)

  • Group G: Belgium (5), England (12), Tunisia (28), Panama (49)

  • Group H: Poland (6), Colombia (13), Senegal (32), Japan (44)

Maybe it's just me but even putting aside the fact the USMNT isn't in it, this looks like a really down WC.  No Italy and Netherlands and a host country that wouldn't have otherwise made it means fewer "sexy" matchups and groups.

 

I don't even see a "group of death" here.  Maybe F with Sweden pushing Mexico for a spot?

 

Other than the battles between Coatia and Iceland, and Switzerland and CR, I don't see a whole lot of groups out of which we could see a surprise team.

 

Group A is a bit of tossup since there isn't a true top seed.

 

Thoughts?

truferblue22

December 1st, 2017 at 3:26 PM ^

There is no group of death, but I would agree the Mexico group is the toughest (hahahah). Sadly, Iceland ended up with an extremely difficult draw, but I'll be rooting for them until they're out, nevertheless.

TrueBlue2003

December 1st, 2017 at 4:35 PM ^

much like Michigan vs. OSU, on the field (Mexico is typically more talented, but the two dominate their conference/conferation), geographically (north-south border rivals), and culturally (the southern team is rabid in it's fandom and hatred for the northern team, partially because the northern teams fans are less rabid and have a generally elitist smugness about them).

It's a pretty heated rivalry.

Trader Jack

December 1st, 2017 at 3:35 PM ^

There isn't any real group of death, but I'd say the toughest one is probably Group D. It sucks that we're not in this and I guess I'm just going to adopt Iceland for the World Cup. It also sucks to be Morocco and Iran.

Viking War Chant FTW

Other Andrew

December 1st, 2017 at 4:36 PM ^

This isn't Italy's situation where they were in a one-team-qualifies group with Spain and then lost the play-in matches on a 1-0 aggregate.

Yes teams 3-6 were only two points apart in the South American standings, and they ended up #6. Tie or win one more match and they would have qualified. But they went 1-3 in their last three matches, including losses to Bolivia(!) and Paraguay.

If your point is that more South American teams deserve to qualify, then I get what you're saying. Seems imbalanced based on their current level of play and performance in the last World Cup.

 

Also, I root for Argentina, and after losing on penatlies to them in the last two finals, screw those guys! ...

socalwolverine1

December 1st, 2017 at 6:17 PM ^

They were thoroughly outclassed 3-0 at home by non-qualifier Paraguay in their must-win game on August 31., just to cite one of their hugely disappointing showings. It's an aging team, full of good players, but most of whom are past their prime.

Everyone Murders

December 1st, 2017 at 3:46 PM ^

Group A suggests to me that the draw is a crooked as the rest of FIFA.  That's a hell of a draw for a host country with a dogshit team.

All of it, though, suggests a lot of interesting games.  And that's the problem with the World Cup - as rotten as FIFA is, the games can be fantastic.

TrueBlue2003

December 1st, 2017 at 4:25 PM ^

The host team automatically gets a top seed, so when they're as bad as Russia, the overall group is likely to be bad.  Uruguay is just about what you'd expect from a second team.  They're 11th in SPI and are generally pretty good.  Egypt is about a middle-of-the-road third team too.

Saudi Arabia is probably the worst team in the field though so they were fortunate there.

Everyone Murders

December 1st, 2017 at 4:57 PM ^

I understand the top seed rule, but the rest of that group is pretty cakey.  Uruguay advances - but the rest is a crap shoot.  For a dogshit team like Russia, a crap shoot is a gift.

I'll put it this way - apart from Group H, I could not see another group you could put Russia in as a top seed and expect them to have a chance to advance.

swan flu

December 1st, 2017 at 3:53 PM ^

Love the proximity of group B.

I think all four teams will have advancement plausibility on match day 3 in group e. (though Brazil will cruise through since they have the GOAT... Paulinho) ;)