Posted by blocknroll on 2013-12-06 18:38:38

Im slightly bemused that the first world cup post on fumbbl was NOT about Lucca/Italy 2015 ;)

Posted by WhatBall on 2013-12-06 18:38:42

So close to the [E]asy div seed too. :(

Posted by harvestmouse on 2013-12-06 18:42:07

I'm pretty happy with our group (H). It's the best location. D & G were the worst locations, but Ds matches favour the europeans.

D and G are hard. B is super super hard.

Will England qualify..........I think they're weaker than Italy and Uruguay, however I'll give them a 50/50 to qualify second.

Bottom line is, this new ball, in South America I can't see a European team winning it. There's 6 or more really really good South American teams and it'll suit them too much.

Posted by Strider84 on 2013-12-06 18:47:43

Looks pretty doable for Switzerland :-)

Posted by ClayInfinity on 2013-12-06 18:51:31

As an Australian I am gutted... but we never really have a chance anyway, but still Group B is a killer. And can someone tell me why Switzerland is a seed and not Netherlands???

Posted by Garion on 2013-12-06 18:52:28

Because Netherland have De Jong which means they are to dirty to be seeded :P

Posted by CastleMan on 2013-12-06 18:59:17

Go Greece!!!

Posted by Strider84 on 2013-12-06 19:03:40

maybe because we haven't lost a game in 2 years :-)

Posted by koadah on 2013-12-06 19:04:29

Ghana totally stitched up :(

Switzerland?

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

Posted by harvestmouse on 2013-12-06 19:13:23

Re Clay:

Seeding is done on World Rankings and World Rankings are done on competition and friendlys over a 4 year basis.

So your result of 4 years ago is removed and your most recent result is added.

Switzerland had a kind qualifying group, and are much improved from 4 years ago. Also they had a kind qualifying group.

Netherlands are actually ranked in the top 8, however Brazil are seeded so........they get a seeded spot instead.

All in all though, Switzerland aren't bad as a unit. Certainly no pushovers. However the squad isn't that great.

Also I think European dominance is all but over. 14 of the last 16 quarter finalists, but in South America AND the South American teams looking soooooo good (not just Brazil and Argentina, but Chile, Uruguay and Columbia too) I could see American nations doing much much better.

I do think though, qualifying has become a little unbalanced (powerwise) and I think it's about time that the last round of qualifying should be done on a worldwide basis. Maybe just before the world cup or as a preliminary round for extra excitement.

I think though (Clay/Strider) as the tourney is in South America, Switzerland may struggle to get through the group. Being a little bit Swiss, I hope I'm wrong!

Posted by Jumboparagon on 2013-12-06 19:14:51

what does the group draw have to do with England's soccer damnation? Team Filler aside, what other draw could have possibly avoided this blog topic?

Posted by Garion on 2013-12-06 19:19:41

lol fair point. But it would have been nice to have made it out the group stages. I would gladly swap places with France :P

Posted by Overhamsteren on 2013-12-06 19:19:45

Hehehe truth Jumboparagon, while a very interesting article Koadah linked this was pretty funny "How did the Swiss get seeded while the likes of the Netherlands, Italy and England missed out?", who the hell groups England with those two other teams? :D

No one rating group A?

Posted by Garion on 2013-12-06 19:28:46

naa croatia arent the team they were 4 years ago. Cameroon are okay. Should be an easy win for Brazil, 2nd place could go to any of the other 3. I fancy Mexico out of them though.

Posted by harvestmouse on 2013-12-06 19:47:36

Re Overhamsteren & Jumboparagon: Do your homework first. If you don't care, no need to get involved.

I think Croatia are still a good team, better than Cameroon and Mexico, but their morale is awful. I don't think Brazil as a team are that awesome, but in South America gives them a boost, and as the home nation it makes them one of the teams to beat.

Posted by cdassak on 2013-12-06 19:47:58

Great draw! (for Greece)
:P

Posted by Calcium on 2013-12-06 19:54:04

EN-GER-LAND

3 lions on our shirt.....Please write us off, it's far better than going into a world cup with actual expectation :)

Posted by harvestmouse on 2013-12-06 20:04:07

I heard FIFA wanted to ban the England band, they're trying to overturn the ban, like they did at Euro 2012. Please FIFA, please stand firm this time. I really can't deal with hearing the 'Italian job' every 4 minutes.......

Posted by RobRoyDuncan on 2013-12-06 20:12:43

As a Canadian, this only matters to me because now I know to root for Germany, Ghana, and Portugal.

Posted by albinv on 2013-12-06 21:33:41

A bit sorry to say, i know....but i hope for a real riot.
People from the favelas and ordinary brazilian poeple moving into the stadium with machine guns and all.

Now that would make for a thrilling and up-to-date footy world cup.

On, topic...its hard to say. England theoretical is always good for a win.

In practice however: should they make it, they will lose to germany anyway, and we all now that! ;D

Posted by DeZigma on 2013-12-06 22:18:07

Group a is HARD.

Brazil is home nation!
Mexico usually (as i rember) qualify or quarters!
Croatia is the best small european team!
Cameroon, well u never know if there is a seocnd Roger Millar!

Posted by DeZigma on 2013-12-06 22:27:42

And i think E and H are a bit easier.

But u know, even easy games are loosable. If Nuffle wants!

Posted by harvestmouse on 2013-12-06 22:43:23

Really? Croatia lost head to heads vs Scotland and Belgium. Both of those are small nations. Croatia are a good side, but their morale is terrible. I fancy them to get out of the group as they have good players, but not much further.

Group E and H are on the easier side, however group F is the easiest for me.

Re Albinv: Nice......real nice. I'm sure if you were faced with a real terrorist situation, you may think differently.

Posted by DeZigma on 2013-12-06 23:37:15

Yeah, u are right.

Croatia has tied vs Belgium first game. Second game lost at home.
Both Games vs Scotland were lost. First at home by luck, but the second was impressive. It might be that this was Scotlands best game in the last decade?

And Croatia didn't had the right moral in last half year, but a half-year changes a lot. But ...

Croatia is able to beat the big ones ... and we do continously since 20 years. We lose vs the small one.

So i guess Group A will be Brazil and Mexico

Posted by DeZigma on 2013-12-06 23:53:05

I'm not sure about F.

I guess Agrentia is clear top favorit for this group. Iran is not strong enough. Bosnia, it's their first time at the WC and usualy this motivates highly. Team is balanced, good strikers and fine midfield. A good start will bring them a lot of motivation.

Well Nigeria, Africa Cup Winner, but you never know. Don't missunderstand me, good players, but are they really a team. If would have to bet at African team i would count on Ghana. Bit they are in though group.

Germany, Portugal, USA and Ghana. The US-Boys dont play great but are very physical. In this group fitness and concentration could be the key.

Posted by harvestmouse on 2013-12-06 23:53:13

Well first draw vs Belgium was a bit lucky to get the draw, however they scored early and then tried to hold. Both games against Macedonia and Serbia were a struggle, and the Wales game.....really lucky. And you could see from the campaign they got worse and worse.

Still I think they're still a good side and I do predict they'll get to the last 16.

Posted by pythrr on 2013-12-07 00:04:32

pfft, group A is a walk for Brazil.

Gp F is a walk for the Argentines.

Gp C and H is ... WTF? Who now?

Posted by harvestmouse on 2013-12-07 00:19:18

Columbia, Japan and Belgium are all top notch. If it was in Europe, I'd fancy Belgium to beat Brazil, but as it's in Brazil.....it favours them.

Posted by DeZigma on 2013-12-07 00:23:51

However...

Playing "the european midfielder" teams isn't that easy. Many big football nations struggled agains and had problems vs the "small". Damn you have to make the goal and sometimes you run vs clock, because of one good drive ending in a score of the opponent. usually it's showing good moral, not giving up and turn this game into a win.

Even I'm Croatian i would bet on Mexico. The last 5 Cups they were able to be under last 16. Croatia wasn't that lucky in the past with South and Middle American teams in the past.

Posted by harvestmouse on 2013-12-07 00:28:25

Mexico aren't in good form either! It's 7 months to the world cup, and qualifying for the cup is great for morale. So I think both teams will pick up.

Group A isn't a bad group for Europeans, but looking at it again, it's a tough group. You have some good young players though, so I'm tipping you to get through....just.

Posted by DeZigma on 2013-12-07 01:21:47

Absolutly.

Maybe the best is we have the opening game vs Brazil. WE should play it like final, all in!

Posted by wulfheart7 on 2013-12-07 05:04:40

us americans really got the shaft on this one haha

Posted by DrPoods on 2013-12-07 10:14:55

Bloody hell! You think the Americans got shafted? What about the poor old Aussies!!

Posted by Nahkahiiri on 2013-12-07 10:42:23

Go Finland! Err.. which group are we in? Oh, we are not in... bummer...

Posted by albinv on 2013-12-08 01:44:36

OT: To put things right, i do condemn terrorism.
This was obviously black humor on the wheelings and dealings behind the scenes which have to be condemned just the same in my book.