World Cup

[Sport]

...how are the groups determined?

I was wondering that as well. How could they put three good teams like the USA, Czech Republic and Italy in the same group when they are all ranked in the FIFA top ten (italy?). To me the rankings should determine how the grooups are put together. Yah, so how do they pick the groups?

[Geoff]

You'd think they select groups so the could get good, intense matchs from the higher ranked teams in the knockouts. But, oh well.

[Eye]

I was seriously hoping to see a FIFA official race to the middle of the pitch, call the ref over and hit him with a red card, then send in a replacement ref and nullify the Mastroeni red card.

I also think the rule that nullified the Beasley goal is bullflop.

Still, we showed up today and we earned the draw. So let's beat Ghana and hope for an Italian victory. Still likely means we'll face Brazil in the opening match of the elimination rounds but at least we'd have made it. Even coming out of this group with a runner-up is something to be proud of.

NOW, getting away from the USA match, the Black Stars had a GREAT match! It took Petr Cech having the match of his life to keep this from resembling the Argentina v Serbia match from yesterday.

The early morning match...well I think we could all see that one coming. I'm really hoping the Iran v Angola match will turn out like Tunisia v Saudi Arabia but somehow I think Angola will have that one well in hand.

True, the referee was horrible, but the only good call made all game was the offside on McBride that nullified Beasley's goal. If you look at the play, McBride was obstructing the view of the goalkeeper. Even though he did not touch the ball, he was still screening the goalie and was in the play.

[DGivens87]

Compare the way Brian McBride took the elbow to the face with the reaction of the Azzuri flopping like fish out of water when their shins were touched...

Amen.

[Saintsfan]

Yes the ref in the USA Italy game was bad, but Mastroeni deserved his straight red, a dangerous two footed tackle right under the refs nose. Pope's was the dodgy one, for me really, two questionable yellows. Could of held back the second and issued a verbal warning IMO. But also the ref didn't call the US for a lot of fouls, Still good to see the US playing hard and holding there own against a good team. Brazil Australia up next!

[BB61]

...how are the groups determined?

I was wondering that as well. How could they put three good teams like the USA, Czech Republic and Italy in the same group when they are all ranked in the FIFA top ten (italy?). To me the rankings should determine how the grooups are put together. Yah, so how do they pick the groups?

It's done by drawing, usually in the December before the World Cup begins.

First, they take the seven best teams based on past World Cup and international results (the "seeded teams") and the host and draw them into the eight different groups.

After that, it's done continent-by-continent, and done regardless of strength. The only stipluations are:

- No more than one team from the same non-European continent in the same group, and

- No more than two European teams in the same group (since there are fourteen of them).

That's how you end up with "Groups of Death", as it were, with three or sometimes four perenial powers in the same group. There is no way to avoid it, especially since you have traditionally powerful teams that aren't among the teams that are "seeded".

[TFoA]

Wow, Korea tied France 1-1 in the 80th minute and the screen shook. Those Korean fans are the best in the world, IMO.

[Juddley]

Wow, Korea tied France 1-1 in the 80th minute and the screen shook. Those Korean fans are the best in the world, IMO.

The Koreans played a great match...no doubt about it. However, France would have some sour grapes to squeeze over the header that should've counted as a goal in this one. Korea is in first in their group and now just need a draw to advance to the round of 16.

[-kj]

(Pope was gonna get a card anyways, and seeing he already had a yellow, it would have been a red regardless...but a straight red was a little over the top)...

The Mastroeni red card, though, wow...that was a horseplop call.  If anything, that should have been a yellow AT WORST.

Pope didn't get a straight red. He was shown the yellow, then the red, signifying his second yellow card and a sending off. (In fact, since I recorded the match on my DVR, I went back to check that. You don't see the referee holding up the yellow very well, but you see him bring it down, turn it over to check the list of already booked players, then pull out the red.)

The Mastroeni tackle was a card, there's no question. I thought red was a bit harsh, but I talked to someone who's a soccer official, and he said the red wasn't out of question, since he went in studs-up, directly into the player's ankle.

[ninersdd]

Wow, Korea tied France 1-1 in the 80th minute and the screen shook. Those Korean fans are the best in the world, IMO.

The Koreans played a great match...no doubt about it. However, France would have some sour grapes to squeeze over the header that should've counted as a goal in this one. Korea is in first in their group and now just need a draw to advance to the round of 16.

At this point I would say Korea and Switzerland get out of the group

[WJMorris3]

Wow, Korea tied France 1-1 in the 80th minute and the screen shook. Those Korean fans are the best in the world, IMO.

The Koreans played a great match...no doubt about it. However, France would have some sour grapes to squeeze over the header that should've counted as a goal in this one. Korea is in first in their group and now just need a draw to advance to the round of 16.

Almost. A draw puts them at 5, which does them no good if Switzerland and France both beat Togo. Three way tie at 5, and no guarantee Korea will advance.

[Natsfan36]

i didnt know if you guys saw this on crouch's goal vs T&T......he pulled the def.hair to help him...here it ts

[Eye]

Wow, Korea tied France 1-1 in the 80th minute and the screen shook. Those Korean fans are the best in the world, IMO.

The Koreans played a great match...no doubt about it. However, France would have some sour grapes to squeeze over the header that should've counted as a goal in this one. Korea is in first in their group and now just need a draw to advance to the round of 16.

Almost. A draw puts them at 5, which does them no good if Switzerland and France both beat Togo. Three way tie at 5, and no guarantee Korea will advance.

What's Korea's goal differential?

[Fred T. Jane]

What's Korea's goal differential?

+1 (They beat Togo 2-1)

[SEMOSTLfan]

from my point of view the only red card that was obvious was the italian elbow to mcbride's face. The reds on the US were questionable, especially the eddie pope call. I don't know what everyone else thought but I was getting kind of tired of seeing the Italians fall to the ground writhing in pain everytime a US player looked at them wrong only to be carried off on a stretcher and come back in on the next play.

However thats in the past and now its time to root for Italy and for the US to put Ghana back in their place.

[OMMF]

The Seattle Times posted this today. The amount of ways the US can move on is mind-boggling. All of them require a win, though, so that is job 1. Also, I wouldn't count too much on scenarios 2-6 happening.

For the Americans to advance, they must defeat Ghana. In addition, the U.S. team needs one of these scenarios to take place:

1. Italy defeats the Czech Republic.

2. Italy ties the Czech Republic 0-0 or 1-1 AND the United States beats Ghana by at least four goals.

3. Italy ties the Czech Republic 2-2 or with a higher score AND the United States beats Ghana by five or more goals.

4. Italy ties the Czech Republic 2-2 or with a higher score AND the United States beats Ghana by four goals AND the U.S. team scores at least three goals more than the Czechs do in their tie.

5. The Czech Republic beats Italy AND the total combined margin of victory for the Americans and Czechs is six or more.

6. The Czech Republic beats Italy AND the total combined margin of victory for the Americans and Czechs is five AND the U.S. team scores at least three goals more than the Italians do in their loss.

7. The Czech Republic beats Italy AND the total combined margin of victory for the Americans and Czechs is five AND the U.S. team scores exactly two more goals than the Italians do in their loss AND the Americans win a drawing of lots by FIFA.

[FiddySicks]

The Seattle Times posted this today. The amount of ways the US can move on is mind-boggling. All of them require a win, though, so that is job 1. Also, I wouldn't count too much on scenarios 2-6 happening.

For the Americans to advance, they must defeat Ghana. In addition, the U.S. team needs one of these scenarios to take place:

1. Italy defeats the Czech Republic.

2. Italy ties the Czech Republic 0-0 or 1-1 AND the United States beats Ghana by at least four goals.

3. Italy ties the Czech Republic 2-2 or with a higher score AND the United States beats Ghana by five or more goals.

4. Italy ties the Czech Republic 2-2 or with a higher score AND the United States beats Ghana by four goals AND the U.S. team scores at least three goals more than the Czechs do in their tie.

5. The Czech Republic beats Italy AND the total combined margin of victory for the Americans and Czechs is six or more.

6. The Czech Republic beats Italy AND the total combined margin of victory for the Americans and Czechs is five AND the U.S. team scores at least three goals more than the Italians do in their loss.

7. The Czech Republic beats Italy AND the total combined margin of victory for the Americans and Czechs is five AND the U.S. team scores exactly two more goals than the Italians do in their loss AND the Americans win a drawing of lots by FIFA.

Two words. Go Italy!!!

Were so screwed.

[Alphabet Man]

we lost 2-0 to Brazil, i don't think that was a true reflection of the game though, because they didn't smash us and we took the game up to them, we didnt sit back and watch, we attacked and at the end we moved to a front 3 and had our chance perhaps Harry Kewell could have just tapped the ball in under the goallie rather than striking it in.....i think we did ok, many would have expceted a smashing, but yeh, and we are still 2nd in the group, to go though...bring on the Croats

[CZzyzx41]

True, the referee was horrible, but the only good call made all game was the offside on McBride that nullified Beasley's goal. If you look at the play, McBride was obstructing the view of the goalkeeper. Even though he did not touch the ball, he was still screening the goalie and was in the play.

That is definitely the rule. I just don't agree with it. How often in hockey do we see the exact same thing happen? How often do players screen defenders in basketball to help a teammate score or get a pass in? Somehow in soccer, it's not deemed fair.

The call that I can see being justified is this. The shot hit McBride's leg, from what I saw. Technically that could be considered a pass and therefore McBride was WAY offsides. In such a case I could see a justification given for calling back the goal, but because McBride was screening the keeper? Isn't that what a wall does on a free kick? Block the keeper from seeing where the shot is coming from?

Also on Mastroeni's red, I have to see another replay of the play. I saw two players going for a ball. I saw Mastroeni's cleats hit the Azzuri's ankles but nothing higher. Perhaps I was wrong. Cardable? Absolutely. He got all leg and no ball. Red? I don't think so. Not in a match as important as this one was.

Anyways, what's done is done. It's a tie, the US are still alive and apparently I have a lot to learn about football. Still, a ref who was suspended in his own country for being corrupt, refereeing a match with a team which is made up partially of players under investigation for corruption, bribery and gambling. Seems really fishy to me.

[-kj]

The reds on the US were questionable, especially the eddie pope call.

I feel the need to point out, again, that Pope did not receive a straight red. He had been booked in the first half, so when he made his challenge (and it was a late challenge, easily bookable under most circumstances), he was shown a second yellow, which means he's sent off.

A veteran like Pope should know better than to make that challenge when already on a yellow.