Okay, Friday is a big day for me, in order of priority of events:
1. It is my oldest daughter's 8th Birthday (Happy Birthday Peanut).
2. It is the day that my oldest daughter will march in the Frederick Kris Kringle Procession (a big deal here in Frederick)
2. Yes that is an intentional numbering--it is the World Cup 2010 Draw to determine who will play in the group stages. It is an important day for soccer fans across the globe and for the 32 teams that are in the Cup finals.
Earlier today, the pots were announced for the draw, one team from each pot will be selected for each group of four teams. Here are the pots
Pot 1 (The Seeded teams): South Africa (as hosts they are automatically seeded), Argentina, Brazil, England, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, and Spain.
Pot 2 (Asia, CONCACAF, Oceana): Australia, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, North Korea, South Korea, United States.
Pot 3 (Africa, South America): Algeria, Cameroon, Chile, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Paraguay, Uruguay
Pot 4 (Eurpoe): Denmark, France, Greece, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland
Teams cannot face another nation from their regional confederation except European teams. So for example, Brazil cannot face Paraguay in the group stages or South Africa can't face another African nation.
Based on this, here is my mock draw:
Group A
1. South Africa
2. Japan
3. Paraguay
4. Greece
Group B
1. Argentina
2. New Zealand
3. Ghana
4. Slovenia
Group C
1. Italy
2. South Korea
3. Cameroon
4. Slovakia
Group D
1. Brazil
2. Honduras
3. Ivory Coast
4. Portugal
Group E
1. Germany
2. Mexico
3. Nigeria
4. Switzerland
Group F
1. England
2. United States
3. Chile
4. Denmark
Group G
1. Spain
2. North Korea
3. Uruguay
4. France
Group H
1. Netherlands
2. Australia
3. Algeria
4. Serbia
Although this draw was not done exactly right as the selections for pots 2, 3 and 4 rotate on some manner, this is not exactly a great draw for the U.S. Chile are a quality team and the U.S. has already had trouble with Denmark, albeit both sides brought a B team to the friendly. Each game is winnable for the Americans, but they will need to bring their A game.
In the round of 16, should the US Advance, they would be paired against teams from Group E.
Based on this draw, I see the following teams advance:
Group A
1. Paraguay
2. Japan
Group B
1. Argentina
2. Ghana
Group C
1. Cameroon
2. Slovakia
Group D
1. Brazil
2. Ivory Coast
Group E
1. Germany
2. Nigeria
Group F
1. England
2. USA (seriously)
Group G
1. Spain
2. Uruguay
Group H
1. Netherlands
2. Serbia
1 comment:
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