Soccer
We now have the complete lineup for the 2010 world cup. After the last 2 years of qualifying, we had 25 teams in the competition as of last night, but the playoffs last night have completed the lineup, with Portugal, Greece, Ghana, France, Slovenia, Algeria and Uruguay all making it through in the end. After the controversy which many of you will have seen from Thierry Henry, France arre through to the World cup finals, but Ireland apparently are going to lodge an appeal to have the game replayed...but that will not happen I don't think, so we have our confirmed line-up. Now seedings will be established, and we'll have two teams in each of the 8 groups who are favoured by Fifa to go through, and we will have 2 who aren't favoured, but of course it's the world cup, so we have plenty of scope for upsets...
The teams who are heading to South Africa are as follows:
Africa
Africa have 6 countries in the World cup (South Africa did not have to qualify though, as they are hosting the tournament). They may be fairly unknown countries to many, but many of the players for these countries play in the major leagues throughout Europe, so look for some surprises when the African nations take on the established elite.
Asia
Europe
North, Central America and Caribbean
Oceania
South America
South America have an allocation of 5 teams, 2 of which have to be considered the favourites. They play good flowing football, and I think the final may well be contested between these 2 if they avoid one another in the draw (I'm sure fifa will ensure that though):
These 32 sides will look forward to the Fifa world cup finals now, but realisticallyI would say about 10 have a chance of winning the competition, but who knows? This is football after all...Brazil and Argentina have to be considered the favourites, with Spain not far behind for me. Always look for the French, Germans and Italians to do well, but the dark horses for me are the Ivory Coast. Maybe they won't win it but I think a quater final berth at least is on the cards. Good luck to all and we look forward to the World cup!!!
Oh and also, hopefully I should have included links to the sites of all 32 competitiors, so you can check out how your country is getting ready for Africa's first world cup. I for one can't wait
11/21/09 | ML31 | 3550 respect
I don't recall either getting a #1 then. And I KNOW the USA didn't get seeded in '94!
11/20/09 | raja0485 | 1 respect
holow ! brother how r u?
11/20/09 | BluDevil | 618 respect
I like Ivory Coast to be the African team to make the knockout round.
11/20/09 | BluDevil | 618 respect
So you are thinking that South Africa will get a #1 seed?
11/20/09 | BluDevil | 618 respect
I swear I heard in the post game after France/Ireland that South Africa would be seeded and a Euro team would go into their bracket behind them, which gives Europe a defacto #1 even though they are in the South Africa group. I guess that isn't "automatic", but everything I read seems to indicate that FIFA wants to make South Africa a top seed and wants to give them every opportunity to get out of their group.
And that might work out great for the US. Given that there are three CONCACAF teams and 5 African teams, it is highly likely that FIFA will put the three CONCACAF and 5 African teams in the same seeding pot. If that does happen, one of the three CONCACAF teams will be drawn against South Africa because FIFA will not allow two African teams in the same group. That gives the US a 1 in 3 chance of being drawn against South Africa. And if the US gets lucky and is drawn against South Africa then that would be about as good as the US could hope for since FIFA is likely to put two other teams in that group that aren't likely to beat South Africa.
Something like South Africa, one of the Asian teams and one of the non-seeded Euro teams. In my mind the best possible US draw (assuming they don't get a seed) would be:
South Africa - 86
Slovenia - 33
North Korea - 84
USA - 14
That's assuming that FIFA does want CONCACAF going against Africa and not CONMENBOL. You've gotta think that FIFA believes that South Africa has a better chance to advance against a CONCACAF side than a CONMENBOL side.
11/20/09 | Poli_ | 93 respect
love World Cup fever. So cool now that NZ is back - not that they will win anything - but I hope they score at least once. Go Argentina! and somebody please take out France
11/20/09 | navnith333
Surely, this is the most anticipated event in the world...the FIFA World Cup. The teams that have qualified for the Finals are one of the best in the world, surely. But the draw is something that is out of everyone's hands. My opinion is that the draw will be a tough one with all the groups containing evenly-matched teams. I count on France, though they have been down lately, I'm sure that France will become a threat during the World Cup. And I also think that an Asian or African team could qualify for the Quarter-Finals or even the Semi-Finals!
11/20/09 | bwfc2good4u | 327 respect
I hate to plug my own article but I think this is what the seeding pots will look like come the 4th December...http://www.faniq.com/blog/The-4th-December-sees-the-draw-for-the-World-cup-and-whilst-the-seedings-have-not-been-decided-yet-this-is-what-they-may-well-look-like--Blog-32618
11/20/09 | Lorraine994 | 118 respect
Good for you dear
11/20/09 | IndoSocialista | 40 respect
Nice article mate. Nicely done. Too bad Russia and Sweden are not qualified. But still this is World Cup. The only sport event that can take away the whole worlds attention. I really can't wait.
11/19/09 | ML31 | 3550 respect
No case needs to get made for the 1-8 seeds. Unless they changed how they do it. They have some kind of formula where they use the current Coca-Cola rankings combined with results over the last 3 World Cup Finals. Last time, Mexico got the 8th seed when I thought for sure the USA would.
The host nation does not get an automatic seed. They get an automatic invite only. They only get a seed if they earned it.
11/19/09 | BluDevil | 618 respect
It's on the 4th. I'm thinking that the US does have a chance to get a seed. South Africa will get one, as the host nation. Then you'll have one of the best Euro teams get #2 there, which is (almost) an additional 1 seed for Europe. Then I think you'll get 4 other Euro teams get seeded (England, Germany, Italy, Spain). Argentina and Brazil are both going to get seeded from CONMENBOL. Then I think you can make the case for the US to get the last seed as the winners of CONCACAF rather than giving that seed to Ivory Coast or another Euro side.
11/19/09 | smasher16
100%InjuryRate is so thick lol only joking!!!!LOL good luck to all the teams in 2010 world cup xx
11/19/09 | SportzStar | 102 respect
Crazy how the 3 largest countries (by area) in the world aren't in this. Russia, Canada, and China.
11/19/09 | ML31 | 3550 respect
Next big date to look for is Dec 4th. Or is it the 5th? It is the day of the draw for groups. I hope the USA gets a better draw than they did last time.
11/19/09 | redsox1002003 | 881 respect
im not a soccer fan, but i watch the world cup every time it comes around and it never disappoints. cant wait!
11/19/09 | 100%InjuryRate | 1283 respect
Hey, why isn't Ireland in here? Oh, right.....
11/19/09 | bwfc2good4u | 327 respect
i agree it's not all about our own countries. I'll be supporting England, but I'm just really looking forward to the event, and I'll be supporting all of the teams to be honest, apart from those who are playing against England
11/19/09 | Lorraine994 | 118 respect
Lovely article for one i must say, Im an African a proud one for that matter, a pity Namibia did not qualify but that will not stop me from supporting the fellow african countries. So goodluck to all the countries, mwahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh africans i stand behind you all the way till the FINAL, lol