My Mock World Cup Draw

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