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World Soccer XXIV: The Road to Rio

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Re: World Soccer XXIV: The Road to Rio

Fighting Sioux 23 said:
If you were to have uneven pool participants, that would also extend the World Cup. For 8 groups of 5, it would require 5 sets of gamedays, each of which required one team in the group to sit out one gameday. Playing 3 games/day, then 4 for the final game days, that would take 27 days to complete the group stages. That's almost double current. Even if you played 4 games/day, then it would still take 3 weeks (same as 6 groups of 6).

If it is about money, you go with 6 groups of 6, take the same amount of time and play an extra 10 games. By having 1 team sit out each game day that essentially costs FIFA money.
Click to expand...

6 of 6 makes sense... then the next step is 7 of 7 ;) and yes I meant the 9 group winner plus top 2nd place. Then we can stop hearing the *****ing about a country like Denmark not getting a shot while Mexico/Jordan do.
 
Re: World Soccer XXIV: The Road to Rio

Shirtless Guy said:
6 of 6 makes sense... then the next step is 7 of 7 ;) and yes I meant the 9 group winner plus top 2nd place. Then we can stop hearing the *****ing about a country like Denmark not getting a shot while Mexico/Jordan do.
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:p:D:D To me, the only thing that really makes sense after 6 of 6 is to eliminate the group stage and just have one giant knockout round with 64 teams, perhaps with a two-leg first round...seed all 64 teams, making sure of no intra-confederation matchups.

UEFA - 28
CONMEBOL - 8
CAF - 9.5
CONCACAF - 7.5
AFC - 10
OFC - 1

Let the Games Begin!!
 
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Re: World Soccer XXIV: The Road to Rio

RaceBoarder said:
Top 128, single elimination :D
Click to expand...

Now we're talkin'!

FWIW, here would be the World Cup lineup using the FIFA Rankings and 64 teams with the breakout as detailed below:

1. Spain vs. Saudi Arabia
32. Algeria vs. Scotland
16. Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Egypt
17. Ivory Coast vs. Norway

8. Netherlands vs. Jordan
25. Sweden vs. Venezuela
9. Italy vs. Cameroon
24. Mexico vs. Hungary

--------------------------
2. Germany vs. China
31. Costa Rica vs. Turkey
15. Greece vs. Iran
18. Croatia vs. Japan

7. Switzerland vs. UAE
26. Denmark vs. Panama
10. England vs. Australia
23. Ghana vs. Wales

-------------------------
3. Argentina vs. Oman
30. Slovenia vs. Armenia*
14. Portugal vs. Burkina Faso
19. Russia vs. Cape Verde Islands

6. Uruguay vs. Cuba
27. Czech Republic vs. Tunisia
11. Brazil vs. South Korea
22. Ecuador vs. Iceland

---------------------------
4. Colombia vs. New Zealand
29. Romania vs. Nigeria
13. USA vs. Austria
20. Ukraine vs. Mali

5. Belgium vs. Dominican Republic
28. Serbia vs. Honduras
12. Chile vs. Uzbekistan
21. France vs. Peru

*Intra-conference matchup...unavoidable to maintain bracket integrity.
 
Re: World Soccer XXIV: The Road to Rio

Fighting Sioux 23 said:
Now we're talkin'!

FWIW, here would be the World Cup lineup using the FIFA Rankings and 64 teams with the breakout as detailed below:

1. Spain vs. Saudi Arabia
32. Algeria vs. Scotland
16. Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Egypt
17. Ivory Coast vs. Norway

8. Netherlands vs. Jordan
25. Sweden vs. Venezuela
9. Italy vs. Cameroon
24. Mexico vs. Hungary

--------------------------
2. Germany vs. China
31. Costa Rica vs. Turkey
15. Greece vs. Iran
18. Croatia vs. Japan

7. Switzerland vs. UAE
26. Denmark vs. Panama
10. England vs. Australia
23. Ghana vs. Wales

-------------------------
3. Argentina vs. Oman
30. Slovenia vs. Armenia*
14. Portugal vs. Burkina Faso
19. Russia vs. Cape Verde Islands

6. Uruguay vs. Cuba
27. Czech Republic vs. Tunisia
11. Brazil vs. South Korea
22. Ecuador vs. Iceland

---------------------------
4. Colombia vs. New Zealand
29. Romania vs. Nigeria
13. USA vs. Austria
20. Ukraine vs. Mali

5. Belgium vs. Dominican Republic
28. Serbia vs. Honduras
12. Chile vs. Uzbekistan
21. France vs. Peru

*Intra-conference matchup...unavoidable to maintain bracket integrity.
Click to expand...

We still can't get Canada in here? Come on! Let's go to 256!
 
Re: World Soccer XXIV: The Road to Rio

New York Red Bulls: slightly less futile than they were yesterday since 1996!
 
Re: World Soccer XXIV: The Road to Rio

Fighting Sioux 23 said:
I don't see CAF getting a full extra. At best I think UEFA only gets 1.5 (maybe they split the .5 with CAF?). I also think there is a strong likelihood that Oceania would remain at 0.5 based on their size/lack of success on the world stage; however, I do think one of the reasons for expanding would be to get Oceania a permanent spot.
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In all honesty, Oceania ought to have a quarter of a spot instead of half, as they had in '94.

Look at it this way - Oceania is basically a method for New Zealand to qualify, and barring a miracle, they just have to come out ahead on a home-and-home with a random borderline team from somewhere in the world in order to do so.

They are ranked 79th in the world - respectable in the grand scheme of things, but not overly stellar. Their next closest confederation rivals? New Caledonia, at 126th. Then Tahiti, the upset confederation champions, at 144th. Remember how badly Tahiti got thrashed in the Confederation Cup? Then there are 8 other teams in the OFC, ranked between 171st and 202nd, none of which have triple digits in FIFA ranking points (by comparison, the top 14 teams in the world are in 4-digit territory).

During World Cup qualification, New Zealand outscored their opponents 21-4. There's no competition there.

I know they've got a tough challenge already against Mexico, but they were supposed to end up with Honduras or Panama, which would have been far more doable.

Half a spot might have made sense when Australia was in the OFC and New Zealand at least presented somewhat of an intra-confederational challenge, but it doesn't anymore.
 
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Re: World Soccer XXIV: The Road to Rio

Red Cloud said:
In all honesty, Oceania ought to have a quarter of a spot instead of half, as they had in '94.

Look at it this way - Oceania is basically a method for New Zealand to qualify, and barring a miracle, they just have to come out ahead on a home-and-home with a random borderline team from somewhere in the world in order to do so.

They are ranked 79th in the world - respectable in the grand scheme of things, but not overly stellar. Their next closest confederation rivals? New Caledonia, at 126th. Then Tahiti, the upset confederation champions, at 144th. Remember how badly Tahiti got thrashed in the Confederation Cup? Then there are 8 other teams in the OFC, ranked between 171st and 202nd, none of which have triple digits in FIFA ranking points (by comparison, the top 14 teams in the world are in 4-digit territory).

During World Cup qualification, New Zealand outscored their opponents 21-4. There's no competition there.

I know they've got a tough challenge already against Mexico, but they were supposed to end up with Honduras or Panama, which would have been far more doable.

Half a spot might have made sense when Australia was in the OFC and New Zealand at least presented somewhat of an intra-confederational challenge, but it doesn't anymore.
Click to expand...

I may tend to agree with you currently; however, we were discussing the World Cup expanding. One of the reasons commonly given by those in favor of World Cup expansion is to include more of the "fringe" teams and expand the game globally. I'm sure FIFA would reason that by giving Oceania a full guaranteed spot, that would increase their visibility on the world stage, and it may also lead to more development in the national teams in the region. Again, I don't necessarily disagree with you about them deserving a spot, but I think they would probably get one if the World Cup expanded beyond 32 teams.
 
Re: World Soccer XXIV: The Road to Rio

Fighting Sioux 23 said:
I may tend to agree with you currently; however, we were discussing the World Cup expanding. One of the reasons commonly given by those in favor of World Cup expansion is to include more of the "fringe" teams and expand the game globally. I'm sure FIFA would reason that by giving Oceania a full guaranteed spot, that would increase their visibility on the world stage, and it may also lead to more development in the national teams in the region. Again, I don't necessarily disagree with you about them deserving a spot, but I think they would probably get one if the World Cup expanded beyond 32 teams.
Click to expand...

With an expanded WC one could make an argument for 0.5.

A guaranteed spot for what is essentially one nation is a horrible idea.
 
Re: World Soccer XXIV: The Road to Rio

Platini wants to expand to 40 and claims it will only add 3 match days so I assume we're looking at 10 groups of 4 and only group winners are guaranteed of advancing.

He mentions the 8 spots should go to Africa (2), Asia (2), CONCACAF (2), UEFA (1)...not good math but that's what it said.

http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/...fifa-to-expand-world-cup-to-40-nations-102813

If we went to 40, you could get rid of most of the half spots and have:
UEFA 15
CONMEBOL 5.5
CONCACAF 5
CAF 7
AFC 6
OFC 0.5
 
jmh said:
What? The Sounders won the US Open Cup three years in a row!
Click to expand...
Yes, and nothing since. This collapse at the end of the season has brought out the torches and pitchforks in Seattle. If the team doesn't win MLS Cup then Sigi Schmid probably gets fired and a few players will be gone as well.
 
Re: World Soccer XXIV: The Road to Rio

Jimjamesak said:
Yes, and nothing since. This collapse at the end of the season has brought out the torches and pitchforks in Seattle. If the team doesn't win MLS Cup then Sigi Schmid probably gets fired and a few players will be gone as well.
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Nothing since TWO WHOLE YEARS AGO! Not even counting Montreal, Vancouver, Philly or Portland since they joined MLS so recently, there are still eight other teams that have won a major trophy less recently than the Sounders, who have THREE IN THE FIVE YEARS THEY'VE BEEN IN MLS.
 
jmh said:
Nothing since TWO WHOLE YEARS AGO! Not even counting Montreal, Vancouver, Philly or Portland since they joined MLS so recently, there are still eight other teams that have won a major trophy less recently than the Sounders, who have THREE IN THE FIVE YEARS THEY'VE BEEN IN MLS.
Click to expand...
High standards. Everybody wants an MLS Cup and 5 years of Playoff frustration plus big money and big talk by the ownership will lead to frustration. It also doesn't help when you see your biggest rival higher in the standings.

The playoff frustration is the big thing, Seattle has had some epic playoff chokes, and this end of season losing streak after being a front runner for the Shield seems to be the tipping point.
 
Re: World Soccer XXIV: The Road to Rio

Shirtless Guy said:
Platini wants to expand to 40 and claims it will only add 3 match days so I assume we're looking at 10 groups of 4 and only group winners are guaranteed of advancing.

He mentions the 8 spots should go to Africa (2), Asia (2), CONCACAF (2), UEFA (1)...not good math but that's what it said.

http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/...fifa-to-expand-world-cup-to-40-nations-102813

If we went to 40, you could get rid of most of the half spots and have:
UEFA 15
CONMEBOL 5.5
CONCACAF 5
CAF 7
AFC 6
OFC 0.5
Click to expand...

That would certainly be interesting. Personally, I don't like the idea of 10 groups of 4. Can you imagine a country like the Netherlands being in the group of death, having to play 3 grueling games, finish second, only to fail to qualify because maybe your goal differential wasn't as good as Ukraine's? IMO, you need to have groups where finishing 2nd gets you to the second round. If not, then eliminate groups and play a pure knockout tournament, with the first rounds being two legs.
 
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