The HEX! and other World Cup Qualifiers

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Tue Sep 10, 2013 10:04 pm

Sabo wrote:I see your point, but it does not matter.

WE ARE GOING TO BRAZIL!

And I feel excited. The late equalizer is fantastic, as Panama appears to have the tiebreaker. If it ended today, Mexico is out, and Panama takes on New Zealand. How incredible would that be?

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Tue Sep 10, 2013 11:21 pm

How did I not bet US to win 2-0. It was so obvious!

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Wed Sep 11, 2013 10:32 am

The Sybian wrote:I really hope that is the end of Deuce taking penalties and the duty goes back to Landon.

Really, it should be. Mostly because Deuce does the stupid Ronaldo stance before his approach.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Wed Sep 11, 2013 10:33 am

P.D.X. wrote:
The Sybian wrote:I really hope that is the end of Deuce taking penalties and the duty goes back to Landon.
Really, it should be. Mostly because Deuce does the stupid Ronaldo stance before his approach.

And the NFL kicker walk straight back, then 2 side steps.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Wed Sep 11, 2013 7:23 pm

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Thu Sep 12, 2013 10:18 am

for those who missed it, the Uzbekistan-Jordan Asian 5th place playoffs ended 1-1 in both legs so it required a penaty shootout. A shootout to determine your World Cup life, that's not nervewraking at all!

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Thu Sep 12, 2013 7:30 pm

Cape Verde kicked out. Tunisia back in.

http://www.cafonline.com/competition/wo ... round.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

imagine if that happened here

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 8:51 am

Tough draw for Bob Bradley and the Pharaohs. Home and Away (October & November) to decide who is going to Brazil

Ivory Coast (19) vs. Senegal (66)

Ghana (24) vs. Egypt (50)

Algeria (28) vs. Burkina Faso (51)

Nigeria (36) vs. Ethiopia (93)

Tunisia (46) vs. Cameroon (61)

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 9:57 am

wlu_lax6 wrote:Tough draw for Bob Bradley and the Pharaohs. Home and Away (October & November) to decide who is going to Brazil

Ivory Coast (19) vs. Senegal (66)

Ghana (24) vs. Egypt (50)

Algeria (28) vs. Burkina Faso (51)

Nigeria (36) vs. Ethiopia (93)

Tunisia (46) vs. Cameroon (61)

Maybe he can exorcise the Ghana demons. speaking of Bradley, Roger Bennett did a great interview with him that was played on the last Men in Blazers podcast (9/11).

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 10:14 am

I really want a Egypt v. USA Game in Brazil. Former Coach v. US of A and Father v. Son.

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Fri Sep 20, 2013 12:14 pm

Mexico digging deep. Rafa Marquez just got the call.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Fri Sep 20, 2013 2:49 pm

The new coach is insane. He's going to call up no European-based players for the final two qualifiers.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sat Sep 21, 2013 9:51 pm

Sepp Blatter says FIFA may have made mistake in awarding Qatar 2022 World Cup

Asinine.

I said on the day they ridiculously awarded this tournament to Qatar that it will end up in the US. I pray that I'm getting closer and closer to being correct.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Sun Sep 29, 2013 8:02 pm

Jermaine Jones out 6 weeks for Knee surgery. Things you don't like to hear before a world cup.
http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/15678 ... ks?cc=5901" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Wed Oct 02, 2013 12:20 pm

Can't quite figure out the proper search terms to get an answer, so...

Anyone know if the WC Finals groups are determined by seeding from qualification, or FIFA ranking?

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Wed Oct 02, 2013 12:24 pm

I think it's a combination of the two.

Post by **brian** » Wed Oct 02, 2013 12:27 pm

AB_skin_test wrote:I think it's a combination of the two.

I thought I had heard that for 2010 and 2014 that it is solely FIFA ranking (with the exception of the host, who is always a top seed*).

So for the US to get a top seed, it would likely have to win out until the draw and hope two or three of the teams ranked higher do not qualify somehow.

*and which obviously wouldn't matter in Brazil's case anyway.

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Wed Oct 02, 2013 12:32 pm

So, there's still a reasonable incentive to use an "A" squad throughout the final 2 games of qualifying, it seems.

Post by **brian** » Wed Oct 02, 2013 12:35 pm

P.D.X. wrote:So, there's still a reasonable incentive to use an "A" squad throughout the final 2 games of qualifying, it seems.

If what I believe I heard is true, then absolutely. And to use the A squad in any friendlies though those obviously don't matter as much.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Fri Oct 04, 2013 11:44 am

Qualification seeding
http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/15728 ... ng?cc=5901" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Fri Oct 04, 2013 11:44 am

Oh way to come stong FIFA? Reprimand
http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/15726 ... er?cc=5901" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Post by **brian** » Fri Oct 04, 2013 11:56 am

wlu_lax6 wrote:Oh way to come stong FIFA? Reprimand
http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/15726 ... er?cc=5901" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Seems like since Besler was suspended for a game, he should have been suspended for one game. But FIFA being FIFA.

Post by **Shirley** » Fri Oct 04, 2013 12:11 pm

The referee who carded without seeing the incident and the linesman who apparently called for it should be punished as well.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Fri Oct 04, 2013 12:29 pm

wlu_lax6 wrote:Qualification seeding
http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/15728 ... ng?cc=5901" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

FIFA is insane, how can they not take into consideration past World Cup results and big matches. The formula for the FIFA rankings suck.

Colombia hasn't been to a World Cup since 1998, Belgium since 2002.
How can Holland, the World Cup FINALIST! not be seeded? Plus hasn't Holland swept their qualifying group and become the first European team to qualify? Holland are not seeded because they are losing friendlies?

Uruguay is 5th in their group right now.

Post by **brian** » Fri Oct 04, 2013 12:40 pm

I hate to defend FIFA, but there really isn't a good answer. The rankings are meant to reward teams for results in big games and recent results and that's as reasonable as anything.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Fri Oct 04, 2013 12:50 pm

brian wrote:I hate to defend FIFA, but there really isn't a good answer. The rankings are meant to reward teams for results in big games and recent results and that's as reasonable as anything.

I don't think it can be one thing. It can't be just the ranking nor can it be just past World Cup results.

I liked the system they used in 2006. I don't know why they got away from it.

The seedings table uses these points obtained from the 1998 FIFA World Cup and the 2002 FIFA World Cup averaged in a 1:2 ratio respectively, added to the average amount of points derived from the World Rankings at three given dates (at ratio 1:1:1), December 2003, December 2004, and November 2005. This generates a view of how well the teams have performed over the last ten years (since the rankings in 2003 include results from eight years previous to that) with a specific focus on how the teams have performed in the FIFA World Cup on previous occasions.

Post by **brian** » Fri Oct 04, 2013 1:26 pm

Past World Cups unfairly penalizes teams who may really be one of the top teams in the world over the last four years. Penalizing Colombia (who is probably overrated, but still) because they haven't qualified since 1998 doesn't seem fair.

I'm not sure I really care what they use but I wish they'd be consistent. That's my biggest beef. Seems like they're utilizing some cockamamie scheme every four years.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Fri Oct 04, 2013 1:54 pm

Nothing like consistency from FIFA. I am with Brian. Just stick with it for more than 1 cycle. At least that way it does not look like they are rigging the criteria to meet their needs (hmm France is out in this model this time...lets change the model).

Same behavior in awarding the tournament. They had a plan to start a cycle for awarding the tournament and bailed on it after using that to award the tournament to South Africa and Brazil.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Fri Oct 04, 2013 2:59 pm

yeah at least the IOC is consistant!

elflaco · Post by **elflaco** » Fri Oct 04, 2013 3:22 pm

why do you hate Colombia?

keeding..

Post by **brian** » Fri Oct 04, 2013 4:27 pm

elflaco wrote:why do you hate Colombia?

keeding..

I know you're kidding, but I'll say I like Colombia quite a bit and they're obviously in good form, but I do think they're ranked too high in the FIFA rankings, that's all. I'll believe they're for real if they can do some damage in Brazil next year.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Fri Oct 04, 2013 4:35 pm

I also think the FIFA Rankings are unfair due to the number of qualifying matches played.

Colombia are playing 16 matches, Holland only 10 and the African teams only 8.
Therefore teams like Colombia and Uruguay are racking up points every international break while everyone else is playing friendlies.

I don't understand how the rankings work, don't care enough to calculate it.
But just looking at results from the naked eye, I can't see how Belgium is ranked ahead of Holland.

Post by **brian** » Fri Oct 11, 2013 6:00 pm

Honduras beats Costa Rica, putting even more pressure on El Tri and meaning if the US wins this game against Jamaica, we win the Hexagonal (for whatever that's worth)

Post by **brian** » Fri Oct 11, 2013 7:12 pm

Graham Zusi with an 78th minute goal. USA 1, Jamaica 0

Post by **brian** » Fri Oct 11, 2013 7:13 pm

Altidore in the 81st! The rout is on! 2-0. Hexagonal champions!

howard · Post by **howard** » Fri Oct 11, 2013 7:45 pm

Is Mexico out with a loss tonight? Or reduced to the elimination game w/the kiwis?

elflaco · Post by **elflaco** » Fri Oct 11, 2013 8:20 pm

wasn't able to watch it, but listened to the colombia-chile game on the caracol app --

wow.

i'm emotional wreck driving while the national anthem was being sung by 47000, then agony as the colombian announcers kept on describing how chile was superior.. lost signal right after the ten minute pk... come back to find the team down 3-0...come back again ten minutes into the second half, listened enthralled while doing coaching duties at U8s tonight.. had my side of team asking to listen to my phone as i kept on getting more and more agitated... then the tweets hit.. even Wahl expressing disbelief...

chile goes a man down after an altercation, 3-1.. a pk vs chile.. 3-2.. and finally falcao shows up, gets the play, 3-3.. 4minutes of extra time, agony.. game over.. got the precious point (no matter that the ecuador result put us in regardless).. down by 3 at home, come back to tie it.. direct pass to Brasil '14.
... and i'm at home tonight with the boy, pizza and movie night while the missus is away the weekend. i need aguardiente, and a party!

Post by **brian** » Fri Oct 11, 2013 9:15 pm

howard wrote:Is Mexico out with a loss tonight? Or reduced to the elimination game w/the kiwis?

If Mexico loses they're not out, but they would be in deep, deep trouble. They would need to win on Tuesday combined with a Panama loss combined to having a better goal differential than Panama (though as I'm typing this Mexico scores to go up 1-0).

A great result for Panama would be a draw as Mexico has a tough game Tuesday at Costa Rica. (While Panama hosts the U.S.)

I don't think the US would ever lie down on purpose, but if they were going to do it for any reason it would be to fuck Mexico.

howard · Post by **howard** » Fri Oct 11, 2013 10:19 pm

Thanks, bri.

I have a lot of hatred in me. But I cannot hate the second Mex goal. Tape will be available soon.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Sat Oct 12, 2013 7:42 am

elflaco wrote:wasn't able to watch it, but listened to the colombia-chile game on the caracol app --

wow.
chile goes a man down after an altercation, 3-1.. a pk vs chile.. 3-2.. and finally falcao shows up, gets the play, 3-3.. 4minutes of extra time, agony.. game over.. got the precious point (no matter that the ecuador result put us in regardless).. down by 3 at home, come back to tie it.. direct pass to Brasil '14.
... and i'm at home tonight with the boy, pizza and movie night while the missus is away the weekend. i need aguardiente, and a party!

http://colombia.fanchants.com/football- ... /colombia/