Latest World Cup Blog Updates |  |
- FIFA Looking After the Big Boys (and Themselves) by Seeding European World Cup Playoffs
- To Dive Or Not To Dive: Rod Lands On His Fanni.
- Disaster Averted: Argentina Automatically Qualify.
- At Least 75% of the Marbles: Uruguay v Argentina Open Thread
- Best Wishes to Charlie Davies
| FIFA Looking After the Big Boys (and Themselves) by Seeding European World Cup Playoffs Posted: 15 Oct 2009 05:10 AM PDT
Here’s what’s happened: The nine European group winners all qualify automatically. So that’s Denmark, Switzerland, Slovakia, Germany, Spain, England, Serbia, Italy, Netherlands all going to South Africa. The eight best second placed teams who qualified for the playoffs (aka Round Two) are: Russia, Greece, Ukraine, France, Slovenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Portugal, Ireland. The original FIFA regulations indicate only that:
Nowhere does it mention anything about the draw being seeded. But late last month FIFA decided that the draw would in fact be seeded. Because they can. From the mouth of Sepp Blatter himself:
Which basically ensures the likes of France (massive media market) and Portugal (massive money-pot of a player in Cristiano Roanldo) will not be facing each other in the playoffs and suddenly have a much better theoretical chance of appearing in South Africa. The draw will take place Monday, October 19th in Zurich, and will be based on the next FIFA World Rankings, which will be released on October 16th. If those rankings are anything like the current ones, then the seeded teams will be: Russia (6th), France (10th), Greece (12th) and Portugal (17th). Those four would be drawn randomly against Ukraine (25th), Ireland (38th), Bosnia-Herzegovina (46th), Slovenia (54th). FIFA could argue that every other stage of the process (qualification groups, actual World Cup groups) is also done according to ranking, and that they’re just making sure that the best possible teams make it to the World Cup finals. But… Ireland keeper Shay Given made an excellent point last week, noting that these decisions should be made - and made clear - before the qualifying process begins, rather than on an ad hoc basis:
The upside here is that FIFA’s rankings are not exactly foolproof, and it’s not at all difficult to imagine a team like Ireland or Ukraine beating a team like Portugal or France over two legs come November 14th and 18th.        |
| To Dive Or Not To Dive: Rod Lands On His Fanni. Posted: 14 Oct 2009 10:00 PM PDT The last time we enjoyed a round of civilized European World Cup qualifiers, there was a bit of question as to the legitimacy of the ‘foul’ on Nikola Zigic which won Serbia a penalty and Hugo Lloris a red card. As though by some cosmic force (hello, Raymond) we find ourselves in the exact same position this round, sans red card, with France wearing the other boot. In the 25th minute Rod Fanni won a penalty and it looks bad. Oh, does it look bad. (Titi slotted the peno and France won 3-1 in a meaningless game for those concerned with such things.) There was clearly contact, but it was just as clearly well before Rod hurtled himself to the ground. And as we’ve determined time and time again: contact and dive need not be mutually exclusive. Some surmised it was a slip, but there’s clearly no slip there. Just a complete and inexplicable loss of balance and body torque befitting a Cirque performer (one of the cheap reproductions, not Cirque du Soleil). What say ye? Dive? Strange yet natural loss of balance? Act of God?   |
| Disaster Averted: Argentina Automatically Qualify. Posted: 14 Oct 2009 07:10 PM PDT Uruguay 0 - Argentina 1 They were always on their way throughout the game thanks to Chile’s Humberto Suazo, proving the third best team in qualifying weren’t going to roll over in order to see big boys Argentina knocked out. But the albiceleste then got a second gift from Martin Caceres in the form of an absolutely absurd second yellow card for pulling Jonas Gonzalez down by his ankles and capitalized in the form of a goal on the ensuing set piece. A goal via midfield substitute Mario Bolatti. That’s right, Diego Maradona is still working miracles as a coach. (Not really.) (Uruguay will face either Honduras or Costa Rica in a home and away playoff for the last remaining Americas spot.) Not quite ideal, but at least they have eight plus months to fix all that ails. Such as firing Diego Maradona. Yet the postgame scene would lead won to believe Diego is once again the hero. And despite the dogged crawl through qualifying, the late heroics required from a Chilean and a Uruguayan, chances are we see Diego Maradona donning a flappy cape next summer too. What? Why? How could they? Simple. How do you fire the only unfireable man in the country?   |
| At Least 75% of the Marbles: Uruguay v Argentina Open Thread Posted: 14 Oct 2009 02:10 PM PDT On one side, the heroic magician the world longs to adore next summer; on that same side, the heroic magician of yore much of the world would love to see enjoying a summer’s day spa. Lionel and Diego, both in danger of missing out on South Africa 2010, and you can’t wish success upon one while wishing ill upon the other. This is arguably the biggest game of World Cup 2010 qualifying. In fact, it is the biggest game. When Diego took over the albiceleste, no one expected a great deal; but perhaps only a Brazilian could’ve thought things would become this dire. One game left, qualification not guaranteed. With a win, Argentina goes through. But if they fail to take maximum points, they rely upon the result of the Chile - Ecuador fixture: Feel free to celebrate, mourn and all that lies in between in the comments.   |
| Posted: 14 Oct 2009 09:06 AM PDT
So we don’t know whether Davies will be able to play at World Cup 2010. But given the fact he’s lucky to be alive, World Cup participation suddenly seems unimportant. If you’re not familiar with Davies, he currently plays for Sochaux in Ligue 1, and made a big name for himself at the Confederations Cup, where Bob Bradley handed Davies a surprise start against Egypt in a must win game, and Davies took full advantage by scoring the opening goal. He’s been a national team regular ever since. Conor Nevins has a nice write up of Davies career so far, on his ESPN blog here. Here’s a video of Davies in action for Hammarby (in Sweden), Sochaux and the USA: According to Steven Goff at Soccer Insider, Sochaux president Alexandre Lacombe has said:
US fans are apparently planning a tribute to Davies in the ninth minute of this evening’s World Cup qualifier vs Costa Rica, since Davies wears #9. Bob Bradley has said:
I have nothing to add, other than to offer condolences to Ashley Roberta’s family and to wish Charlie Davies a speedy recovery.   |
Bit of controversy in European World Cup qualifying, with the powers that be pulling what looks like a commercially motivated bait and switch with the playoffs.
As you may have read by now, USA forward Charlie Davies | You are subscribed to email updates from World Cup Soccer - South Africa 2010 To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
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The World Cup 2010 picture is getting clearer and clearer. Right now 19 of the 32 available spots are booked. Qualified teams are: South Africa, Japan, Australia, S. Korea, Netherlands, N. Korea, Brazil, Ghana, England, Spain, Paraguay, Cote d’Ivoire, Germany, Denmark, Serbia, Italy, Chile, Mexico, USA.
Ireland’s reflex-tastic super-keeper Shay Given will reach the magic 100 cap mark tomorrow when he plays against Montenegro. 
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