World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

FreshFish, Manaus is the 2nd game vs Portugal...

[FreshFish]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

FreshFish, Manaus is the 2nd game vs Portugal...

oops . well that is a bit better for us then.

Will a win and two ties be enough to see us through? probably. A win, a tie, and a loss? that's cutting it too close for comfort. Then we are looking at goal differential and I would not be sanguine on that count.

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

A more fair way to do the World Cup Draw:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...w-nytimes&_r=0

Its not really rocket science, we all know the world cup draw isn't fair and it would make more sense to seed more teams or all teams.

[Red Cloud]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

A more fair way to do the World Cup Draw:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...w-nytimes&_r=0

Its not really rocket science, we all know the world cup draw isn't fair and it would make more sense to seed more teams or all teams.

Hitting "simulate draw" a bunch of times for the FIFA method, kind of displays just how boned we always were as the strongest team in the weakest pot. I've popped it quite a bit, and the only time the USMNT wasn't in a "strong" or "very strong" group was when they were placed in Group A with Brazil, and that's based largely on the joke that is Brazil as the 11th best team in the world thanks to FIFA's ranking system doing a terrible job of assessing the World Cup hosts who aren't playing in qualifiers.

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Hitting "simulate draw" a bunch of times for the FIFA method, kind of displays just how boned we always were as the strongest team in the weakest pot. I've popped it quite a bit, and the only time the USMNT wasn't in a "strong" or "very strong" group was when they were placed in Group A with Brazil, and that's based largely on the joke that is Brazil as the 11th best team in the world thanks to FIFA's ranking system doing a terrible job of assessing the World Cup hosts who aren't playing in qualifiers.

Yup, if Brazil isn't actually top-8 in the world, then something is wrong.

[LynahFan]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

FIFA is not interested in your logic and coherent thought process. They might get interested if you show up with a briefcase full of cash first, though.

Oooooh - bribing them to stop taking bribes. So crazy it just might work!

[bigmrg74]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Oooooh - bribing them to stop taking bribes. So crazy it just might work!

well, considering that Qatar handed out about 5 million in bribes to get the world cup, we throw cash at them, those votes are going to get too **** expensive for some dinky little country to hand out, and they'll stop trying to bribe their way to a world cup. It would just require the SEC bag man method, with a lot of the MLS owners all chipping in, but that would be enough to get a war chest of say 20 million or so going to start with.

[JF_Gophers]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Klinsmann in trouble for saying U.S. won't win the world cup?

Umm, he's right. We have exactly 0 chance of winning it.

[jmh]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Klinsmann in trouble for saying U.S. won't win the world cup?

Umm, he's right. We have exactly 0 chance of winning it.

Yeah, but you can't say that because America.

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Yeah, but you can't say that because America.

But he actually said it in like December...

[jmh]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

But he actually said it in like December...

It was as true in December as it is now.

OMG THE WORLD CUP STARTS NEXT WEEK!!!!

[FreshFish]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

OMG THE WORLD CUP STARTS NEXT WEEK!!!!

Was pondering whether to start a poll here.

one version would be: how well will Team USA do?
- not make it out of group stage
- eliminated in round of 16
- elminated in quarterfinals
- eliminated in semi-finals
- lose in final
- win it all

I'd be surprised if any votes were cast in the last three categories (unless the voter is bleary-eyed and unsteady of hand when voting... )

The other version would be: who do you pick to win? and then through out the top 8 or 10 most likely.


If anyone else wants to start one instead of me, that's fine too! that at least would spare me the embarassment of picking 12 teams for a poll and then having NONE of them win.

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Was pondering whether to start a poll here.

one version would be: how well will Team USA do?
- not make it out of group stage
- eliminated in round of 16
- elminated in quarterfinals
- eliminated in semi-finals
- lose in final
- win it all

I'd be surprised if any votes were cast in the last three categories (unless the voter is bleary-eyed and unsteady of hand when voting... )

The other version would be: who do you pick to win? and then through out the top 8 or 10 most likely.


If anyone else wants to start one instead of me, that's fine too! that at least would spare me the embarassment of picking 12 teams for a poll and then having NONE of them win.

I think the odds of them winning it all are slim to none, but they do exist, I just don't think its that likely that they play the game of their lives 6+ times.

[RaceBoarder]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

To put this in perspective with the Klinsmann thing:

Would we have the same reaction if the Head Basketball coach from a SWAC, America East, or MEAC school said they weren't gonna win the NCAA Basketball Tourney? Cause that's all I see this as... The US can show up, and realistically make it to Round 2... Anything beyond that, we have an upset... 2 wins is "Mega Upset"... 3 wins and beyond is "Miracle Cinderella" status... Just like the basketball teams from those conferences... They can pass the 1st round... They may even win in round 2... Round 3 and beyond is just gravy at that point...

I know that US Soccer wants to be "Elite"... We just have a hell of a long way to go... And we know how well being highly ranked worked out in 2006..

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Men With Blazers keep repeating this "dream" one of them has had of the US winning the World Cup...its a funny story to dream about.