Soccer

Started by Diomedes, July 09, 2009, 06:59:13 AM

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BigEd76

#105
November 19, 2009, 10:58:23 AM Last Edit: November 19, 2009, 11:00:35 AM by BigEd76
based on what Sportscenter showed, it doesn't if teams like North Korea and New Zealand are getting in...

how everyone qualified

ice grillin you

#106
November 19, 2009, 11:28:02 AM
i emailed a friend of mine who knows his soccer and this is what he replied with...a little more than i was looking for but hes an idiot...

If you go by FIFA rankings (which are widely acknowledged to be flawed), there are nine teams in the final 32 that aren't in the top 32 of the rankings. Of those nine, though, I think only five would not be considered at least to be on the periphery of the top 32 -- Slovenia, New Zealand, South Africa, South Korea, and North Korea.

(I'm sure someone will argue this on the particulars, but that's how I would read it, anyway.)

New Zealand, South Korea, and North Korea are beneficiaries of slots allocated by region; without those "automatic bids" there would probably be extra bids for European and South American teams. Also, I think you could argue that South Korea is a little better than its FIFA ranking (48th).

South Africa is in the tournament only because it is hosting the event.

Slovenia (ranked 49th by FIFA), of course, earned its way in by beating Russia (ranked 12th by FIFA) in a playoff, so I think it's fair to say both countries got what they deserved.

Along with Russia, other highly-rated sides not to make the big party are Croatia (8th in FIFA) and the Czech Republic (15th). Neither Croatia nor the Czech Republic played well enough in their respective qualifying groups to even make a playoff.

Nate Silver's "Soccer Power Index", incidentally, rates Slovenia considerably higher than does FIFA (35th); he has South Korea 42nd.

Overall they do OK, but not as well as they could. In terms of talent, Europe is probably underrepresented even though it has the most spots. CONCACAF (North America) is almost certainly the most overrepresented. South America is probably slightly underrepresented. And most years Oceania doesn't get a team at all (though that's because the region is garbage).
i can take a phrase thats rarely heard...flip it....now its a daily word

igy gettin it done like warrick

im the board pharmacist....always one step above yous

Diomedes

#107
November 19, 2009, 05:26:39 PM
tell your idiot friend to stop writing in all italics
There is considerable overlap between the intelligence of the smartest bears and the dumbest tourists." - Yosemite Park Ranger

Munson

#108
November 19, 2009, 05:29:00 PM
Why are my emails in red italics?
Quote from: ice grillin you on April 01, 2008, 05:10:48 PM
perhaps you could explain sd's reasons for "disliking" it as well since you seem to be so in tune with other peoples minds

BigEd76

#109
November 22, 2009, 11:49:00 PM
the MLS title game went to about 7 or 8 rounds of shootout, with Beckham's LA team losing to Real Salt Lake

MDS

#110
November 23, 2009, 12:07:44 AM
awesome, awesome game

gonna be ill when we get a squad next year
Zero hour, Michael. It's the end of the line. I'm the firstborn. I'm sick of playing second fiddle. I'm always third in line for everything. I'm tired of finishing fourth. Being the fifth wheel. There are six things I'm mad about, and I'm taking over.

Don Ho

#111
November 23, 2009, 12:59:13 AM
Did they get a big turnout in Seattle? 
"Well where does Jack Lord live, or Don Ho?  That's got to be a nice neighborhood"  Jack Singer(Nicholas Cage) in Honeymoon in Vegas.

MDS

#112
November 23, 2009, 01:16:35 AM
like 45k they said. basically the lower bowl was filled and the first section of the upper deck.

crowd was really loud, im guessing it was mostly seattle people just there for a good game. dont think mls fans travel.

world cup draw is also next fri @ noon.
Zero hour, Michael. It's the end of the line. I'm the firstborn. I'm sick of playing second fiddle. I'm always third in line for everything. I'm tired of finishing fourth. Being the fifth wheel. There are six things I'm mad about, and I'm taking over.

henchmanUK

#113
November 24, 2009, 08:08:22 PM
Sorry Dio, Liverpool out of Champions League. And THIS is a great soccer moment.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exlBHTyB1R0&feature=related
"The drunkenness, the violence, the nihilism: the Eagles should really be an English football team, not an American one." - Financial Times, London

BigEd76

#114
November 25, 2009, 07:01:09 PM
today was the Union expansion draft

no idea if these guys are any good or not (sounds like they aren't from what I've read)

MDS

#115
November 25, 2009, 07:41:11 PM
jacobson! zimmerman! jews!
Zero hour, Michael. It's the end of the line. I'm the firstborn. I'm sick of playing second fiddle. I'm always third in line for everything. I'm tired of finishing fourth. Being the fifth wheel. There are six things I'm mad about, and I'm taking over.

Diomedes

#116
November 25, 2009, 08:39:35 PM
there will be no prize for unfunny jew jokes

make it funny or let it be
There is considerable overlap between the intelligence of the smartest bears and the dumbest tourists." - Yosemite Park Ranger

MDS

#117
November 25, 2009, 08:48:35 PM
and were off to the ovens?
Zero hour, Michael. It's the end of the line. I'm the firstborn. I'm sick of playing second fiddle. I'm always third in line for everything. I'm tired of finishing fourth. Being the fifth wheel. There are six things I'm mad about, and I'm taking over.

Diomedes

#118
November 25, 2009, 11:20:35 PM
you can't swing at your own pitch black hat
There is considerable overlap between the intelligence of the smartest bears and the dumbest tourists." - Yosemite Park Ranger

QB Eagles

#119
May 22, 2010, 12:22:13 PM
Pretty good World Cup artwork over at the ESPN website.

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Group E

Group F

Group G

Group H
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