The Z Machine
Footballguy
What do you guys think of giving a full sixth spot to conmebol and taking one away from Asia for WC2018? Conmebol has been excellent over the last decade while Asia has stunk.
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***Official 2014 World Cup Thread*** (4 Viewers)
- Thread starter NewlyRetired
- Start date
El Floppo
Footballguy
otello
Footballguy
chet
Footballguy
Ahhhh. Now I understand why Canada is ranked 110th.Ah so I noticed in the fine print where the screw job comes in (or at least some UEFA and CONMEBOL bias). Part of the formula for points is that a result is multiplied by the average strength of BOTH team's confederations. So Portugal gets more credit for beating Ghana than we do because they get the average of 1 and Africa's coefficient applied to the game while we get .88It is formula based. It takes into account opponent strength, type of game (friendly, qualifiers, regional championships, WC finals etc) and regional strength.You can read more detail here.Some Euro bias in the FIFA rankings maybe?Let's do this fun chart - latest FIFA rankings with whether or not they progressed
1) Spain - OUT
2) Germany - Won Group G
3) Brazil - Won Group A
4) Portugal - OUT
5) Argentina - Won Group F
6) Switzerland - Runner-Up Group E
7) Uruguay - Runner-Up Group D
8) Colombia - Won Group C
9) Italy - OUT
10) England - OUT
11) Belgium - Won Group H
12) Greece - Runner-up Group C
13) USA - Runner-up Group G
14) Chile - Runner-Up Group B
15) Netherlands - Won Group B
17) France - Won Group E
18) Croatia - OUT
19) Russia - OUT
20) Mexico - Runner-Up Group A
21) Bosnia-Herzegovina - OUT
22) Algeria - Runner-up Group H
23t) Cote D'Ivoire - OUT
26) Ecuador - OUT
28) Rich Coast - Won Group D
33) Honduras - OUT
37) Ghana - OUT
43) Iran - OUT
44) Nigeria - Runner-up Group F
46) Japan - OUT
56) Cameroon - OUT
57t) South Korea - OUT
62) Australia - OUT
-QG
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_World_Rankings#Current_calculation_method
-QG
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
Yet another way Europe benefits in the FIFA rankings. Almost half the WCs are held in Europe.
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
Ugh. No. 32 is perfect.
And we don't need more Asian and African teams no matter how much money has changed hands.
El Floppo
Footballguy
avoiding injuries
Footballguy
Watching the World Cup is making me dread having to watch the nfl and suffer through ALL the commercials, advertisements and promotions. Also, watching a game in less than 2 hours... Yes, please.
Sammy3469
Footballguy
He's known to us, but you can probably throw Besler into the conversation along with Johnson. Is add Beckerman as well, but sadly he's too old.
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Norman Paperman
Footballguy
how many teams in CONMEBOL? 10?5 is enough.
12 (+1) - UEFA
5 - CONMEBOL
4 - CONCACAF
5 - CAF
4.5 - AFA
0.5 - Oceana
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
This is one of the best things about being a soccer fan. 45-50 minutes of continuous play, 12 minute break, 45-50 minutes of continuous play and you're done. If the game starts at 10am you know you'll be done somewhere between 11:50 and 11:55am.
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
50/50 seems really optimistic to me. You never know, but most hammys would take more than two weeks to heal, and he'll probably need some practice too.
Sammy3469
Footballguy
I missed the "young" part. A serious answer is that I'm sure Yedlin's little runouts have piqued some interest from some Euro clubs.
Being American-centric, I was sort of shocked with the Swiss youth, but looking at where they play in Europe, most of them are already in Germany playing. Shaqiri's already at Bayern which shows how much of a moron I am.
IvanKaramazov
Footballguy
I assume this is at least partly why televised soccer (MLS) hasn't caught on in the US, right? If networks can't shoehorn ads into a broadcast, they need the viewing market to be that much bigger to make the broadcast profitable. Or am I missing something? Mainly I just wish this was on tv more often.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
MLS just signed a massive new deal with ESPN/Fox/and Univision
Almost every EPL game is shown by NBC one some channel/platform. When the new contract goes up for bidding next next year the fighting between Fox, NBC and ESPN is going to get ugly
Liga MX (Mexico) has a ton of games on both free tv and cable tv every week. This is the most watched league in the US (bigger than EPL or MLS)
Starting in the fall of 2015, the Bundesliga (Germany) comes to Fox
La Liga (Spain) and Serie A (Italy) are also covered in some depth on a smaller cable channel (beIN Sport)
There is more soccer on TV every week than anyone could possibly watch IMO.
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Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
Newly Retired will probably be able to give you a better answer, but things are trending in a good direction right now.
NBC paid quite a bit of money for the rights to the English Premier League starting last year and MLS just signed a MUCH bigger TV deal for the next few years than they've had recently. I want to say $90m a year.
And that was before the WC ratings bonanza -- which I'd have to think have gotten everyone's attention.
ETA: just saw NR's response. And it's true. With leagues in every country, there's more soccer on TV than anyone could watch. Now that NBC is televising 4-6 EPL games every week and I'm able to watch all of Liverpool's games on the computer if they aren't one of those I've pretty much dropped every other league save Barca in Spain.
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El Floppo
Footballguy
I was right there with you. I didn't really know most guys. But from what I understand the same group of young players won the u-something World Cup not long ago so they have to be OK at least.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Ignoring politics (which is obviously impossible), I would keep CONCACAF the same, lower Africa, lower Asia, and give the remaining to Europe. CONMEBOL at 5 is good. I don't want to see them at 4.5, they should not have to get stuck in a playoff.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
B-Deep
Footballguy
This pisses me off
at this point I kind of think it is fair to criticize soccer for Suarez, because it seems to me that a completely reasonable penalty for a THIRD biting incident is getting bashed by the victim and a soccer legend. So fine, let him play let him bite and that's what your sport can be
idiots
(not trying to troll this just annoys me as a novice viewer)
(sorry if this is a honda)
http://www.sportingnews.com/soccer/story/2014-06-27/world-cup-2014-suarez-defenders-include-his-victim-soccer-legend-maradona-fifa-chiellini-italy-uruguay
SAO PAULO – In announcing a four-month ban for Uruguay striker Luis Suarez, soccer’s world governing body finally got an administrative decision mostly right. And still FIFA is getting kicked around for its actions.
Among the critics: the guy with teeth marks in his shoulder.
Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini, whose team was eliminated in a 1-0 loss to Uruguay during which he was bitten on the shoulder in a routine confrontation with Suarez, wrote on his personal website he believes the penalty against Suarez to be “excessive.”
Suarez is ruled out of Uruguay’s World Cup round of 16 game and eight more competitive FIFA matches. He also is banned from any soccer-related activities for four months – including entry into any stadiums where his national team or club are playing. Uruguay has filed an appeal over the penalty and his club, Liverpool FC, owned by Boston Red Sox owner John Henry, reportedly is considering whether to take any action.
“Inside me now there are no feelings of joy, anger or revenge against Suarez for an incident that happened on the field and ended up there,” Chiellini wrote. “There remain only the anger and disappointment at the lost game.
“At the moment my only thought is for Luis and his family, because they will face a very difficult period … I sincerely hope that he will be allowed, at least, to stay close to his teammates during games because this ban is really alienating for a player.”
Although Suarez’ deliberate actions – his third on-field biting incident in the past four years -- will damage Uruguay’s pursuit of World Cup glory, many of his countrymen are standing up for him.
At one point Thursday evening, approximately 1,000 Uruguay fans crowded around an airport in Montevideo hoping to give Suarez a hero’s welcome back to the country. Some carried banners blasting FIFA. Included among those fans: the nation’s president, Jose Mujica. However, Suarez’ flight was delayed, and it was believed he might have remained in Brazil on the possibility an appeal would allow him to continue playing in the World Cup.
A prominent non-Uruguayan also was lending his support to Suarez: soccer legend Diego Maradona of Argentina.
He appeared on a TV show wearing a T-shirt that said in Spanish, “Little Luis we are with you.” Maradona later said the punishment against Suarez was part of a political vendetta by FIFA against South American teams.
“FIFA cannot talk about morals to anyone,” Maradona said. “Who did Suarez kill? This is an unjust punishment, the act of an incredible mafia.
“Why don’t they handcuff him and send him to Guantanamo Bay?”
at this point I kind of think it is fair to criticize soccer for Suarez, because it seems to me that a completely reasonable penalty for a THIRD biting incident is getting bashed by the victim and a soccer legend. So fine, let him play let him bite and that's what your sport can be
idiots
(not trying to troll this just annoys me as a novice viewer)
(sorry if this is a honda)
http://www.sportingnews.com/soccer/story/2014-06-27/world-cup-2014-suarez-defenders-include-his-victim-soccer-legend-maradona-fifa-chiellini-italy-uruguay
SAO PAULO – In announcing a four-month ban for Uruguay striker Luis Suarez, soccer’s world governing body finally got an administrative decision mostly right. And still FIFA is getting kicked around for its actions.
Among the critics: the guy with teeth marks in his shoulder.
Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini, whose team was eliminated in a 1-0 loss to Uruguay during which he was bitten on the shoulder in a routine confrontation with Suarez, wrote on his personal website he believes the penalty against Suarez to be “excessive.”
Suarez is ruled out of Uruguay’s World Cup round of 16 game and eight more competitive FIFA matches. He also is banned from any soccer-related activities for four months – including entry into any stadiums where his national team or club are playing. Uruguay has filed an appeal over the penalty and his club, Liverpool FC, owned by Boston Red Sox owner John Henry, reportedly is considering whether to take any action.
“Inside me now there are no feelings of joy, anger or revenge against Suarez for an incident that happened on the field and ended up there,” Chiellini wrote. “There remain only the anger and disappointment at the lost game.
“At the moment my only thought is for Luis and his family, because they will face a very difficult period … I sincerely hope that he will be allowed, at least, to stay close to his teammates during games because this ban is really alienating for a player.”
Although Suarez’ deliberate actions – his third on-field biting incident in the past four years -- will damage Uruguay’s pursuit of World Cup glory, many of his countrymen are standing up for him.
At one point Thursday evening, approximately 1,000 Uruguay fans crowded around an airport in Montevideo hoping to give Suarez a hero’s welcome back to the country. Some carried banners blasting FIFA. Included among those fans: the nation’s president, Jose Mujica. However, Suarez’ flight was delayed, and it was believed he might have remained in Brazil on the possibility an appeal would allow him to continue playing in the World Cup.
A prominent non-Uruguayan also was lending his support to Suarez: soccer legend Diego Maradona of Argentina.
He appeared on a TV show wearing a T-shirt that said in Spanish, “Little Luis we are with you.” Maradona later said the punishment against Suarez was part of a political vendetta by FIFA against South American teams.
“FIFA cannot talk about morals to anyone,” Maradona said. “Who did Suarez kill? This is an unjust punishment, the act of an incredible mafia.
“Why don’t they handcuff him and send him to Guantanamo Bay?”
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Sammy3469
Footballguy
Shaqiri is apparently the "Alpine Messi". BTW you want to get into the whole citizenship thing, all the young guys on that Swiss team were either born outside the country (a whole bunch from the ex-Yugoslavia, Shaqiri was born in Albania) or first generation from Yugoslavian emigrants.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
you are absolutely correct.
But to add some context in case as a new viewer it might help
1) Maradona was almost as crazy as Suarez. He had lots of problems over his career
2) When Maradona says “FIFA cannot talk about morals to anyone,”, he is speaking the truth. It can be very difficult to swallow when the managing organizing is more corrupt and crazy than anything the players could do.
I was re-thinking maybe giving CONCACAF another 0.5 spot with a play-off with CAF - making both federations 4.5. I know Honduras was a real minnow here, but Panama would not have done worse than a couple of the teams that made it.
% that made it through this year:
UEFA - 46% (6/13) - tough to reward that with more spots
CONMEBOL - 83% (5/6) - home cooking. Just can't justify giving a federation more than 50% qualification
CONCACAF - 75% (3/4) - should be enough to bump to 4 full spots
CAF - 40% (2/5) - solid enough, politics, and enough African players in Europe to keep these spots
AFA - 0% (0/4) - oof. 43 countries in AFA, and Asia is a growth market. Every WC needs minnows.
Oceania - 0% (0/0) - they really are just a subset of Asia, let them fight it out with a play-off for a spot.
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
It's in Chiellini's interest to be the good guy here -- no one wants to be on FIFA's 'side' -- so I wouldn't put too much stock in his criticism.
The ones that piss me off are Lugano, the rest of the Uruguayan team and, apparently, most of Uruguay itself.
Just shut up and go away already.
The ones that piss me off are Lugano, the rest of the Uruguayan team and, apparently, most of Uruguay itself.
Just shut up and go away already.
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fatguyinalittlecoat
Footballguy
B-Deep
Footballguy
#1 That helps some, i know very little about him past the hand of god (which is odd in and of itself)
#2 i get, FIFA sucks, and from what i know i agree. but it seems counterproductive to use that in this case when quite frankly they could have come down harder on him. That's like any nfl player who does something wrong then complains that Goodell is a dictator, which may be true but you still did something wrong.
Annnnd that happens all the time, so OK, it is not fair to blame soccer. I have been talked down
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I know this sounds crazy, but from a US perspective, I would rather stay with the 3.5.
I feel like there is less risk coming in 3rd in the hex, then there would be in coming in 2nd in one of the two final groups of 4. A couple of bad games and you could be in deep trouble in a group of 4. Very little time to recover.
I also would hate to see the epic qualification matches removed with Mexico which is what might happen if we go to a system of 2 final groups of 4 (which is what was proposed last time before CONCACAF found that they were staying at 3.5 spots).
If they stay with the hex and just let 4 of 6 advance, that would be fantastic.
B-Deep
Footballguy
how so?
i was kind of thinking i expect homerism from his team and country (see ravens fans defending ray rice) but yo';d think the bitee would want to kick his teeth in. But i may not understand the repercussions of speaking out
if that was me, i'd want to tear into that mofo
G
Guest
Guest
As a non-soccer fan I have to agree with this. I missed the start of the 2nd half because I guessed halftime was ~20 minutes. I didn't even miss that much "work" since part of the game took place over my lunch hour.
It may be a slow uncomfortable process, but I'm starting to come around to this soccer concept.
B-Deep
Footballguy
Re: Suarez - Dude is an absolute train wreck. I know people don't care about him personally, but he needs to get help. It is not normal for a grown man to go around biting people. I am guessing he has the mentality of an immature adolescent, but all the football ability in the world can not be used to overlook the social problems he obviously has.
I could almost understand a biting situation if the players were tangled up on the ground, and he bit someone whose arm was in his face, out of frustration - but Suarez looks like he is auditioning for the next Sharknado movie the way he goes after his victims. If Liverpool, or Uruguay really wanted to help here - they would get him help, and stop making excuses.
I could almost understand a biting situation if the players were tangled up on the ground, and he bit someone whose arm was in his face, out of frustration - but Suarez looks like he is auditioning for the next Sharknado movie the way he goes after his victims. If Liverpool, or Uruguay really wanted to help here - they would get him help, and stop making excuses.
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
Give the World Cup teams a bye into the Hex (the Oct) and make it eight teams. That way the big teams have the same number of games (14), but you avoid the problem you mention.
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B-Deep
Footballguy
tihs is why his seem worse to me than Tyson, though tyson got a chunk of ear
well first he has done it multiple times
and second tyson was in a fight, and was pissed about what he perceived as head butts if i recall, and was face to ear by nature of the fight and lost it. Ridiculously stupid, inexcusable, and grotesque but on some level you can understand how someone with no control in that situation might do something ridiculously stupid.
i cannot even fathom what happens in Suarez's head.
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
Agree that there's something really wrong with the guy. Biting is so taboo that things have to get pretty twisted up for an adult to do it.
Liverpool gave at the office last year though. Maybe they stick with him as the least bad option, but I won't blame them if they'd just had enough at this point.
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roadkill1292
Footballguy
In his trite column this week Dan Shaughnessy actually called the continuous play a detriment because it allowed no time for conversation and commercials. I don't know what to make of someone who thinks like that. I'd rather watch players play than anything else.
Re: Commercials - I do wonder how the broadcasters recoup their investment with limited advertisement time to offset the costs. I know advertisers are smart enough to get placements on Jerseys, and on the sideline signs at the stadium, but not sure how the broadcasters get any of that money. Almost have to think they get a piece, otherwise, if I am a broadcaster, I would use technology to blur the images/logos.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
that would be fun! I would be ok with that. If the US can't finish 4th in that set up they don't deserve it.
We probably won't know until summer of next year what the format would be until the draw comes out.
Just part of the American culture - we accept commercials as a cost of doing business. And, there are a lot of people who go to sporting events, or watch sporting events, more as a social engagement than in try interest in the competition.
I remember when I was a season ticket holder for the Braves, join got games and seeing the sheer number of people who were there just to see and be seen. Virtually every game had a future HOF pitcher, yet more people were there to socialize than watch the game. (I know Atlanta is a bad example, but I think it is more common than not - particularly in baseball and basketball, a little less so in football, because football breaks its plays into little bite-size pieces, so people only have to concentrate for a few seconds at a time.)
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I am so happy this cycle is not over yet and at the same time I can't wait for the next cycle which could be the most enjoyable one yet
Gold Cup in 2015
Possible winner take all match for Confed Cup slot
Copa America in 2016
World Cup Qualifying (2016-2017)
Possible Confed Cup in 2017
Gold Cup in 2017
And the normal assortment of friendlies to look at new players
Gold Cup in 2015
Possible winner take all match for Confed Cup slot
Copa America in 2016
World Cup Qualifying (2016-2017)
Possible Confed Cup in 2017
Gold Cup in 2017
And the normal assortment of friendlies to look at new players
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
G
Guest
Guest
RE: Commercials.
Wasn't there talk of projecting ads/logos on the field for TV viewers using technology like the first down line? Would they go to a cable news network view with the game displayed in a large frame, and ads displayed on borders?
Wasn't there talk of projecting ads/logos on the field for TV viewers using technology like the first down line? Would they go to a cable news network view with the game displayed in a large frame, and ads displayed on borders?
They used to have both of these - I've seen the projected logos, usually on the end lines, and ESPN used to broadcast games with a border around the screen with advertising - this portion of the game brought to you by _____________.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
roadkill1292
Footballguy
I was flipping around the dial one Saturday afternoon last winter and landed on a college basketball game just coming out of the 4-minute time out, figured I'd watch until the inevitable chain of coach's timeouts and commercials reduced the endgame to a sludge of starts and stops. Instead, I was hugely surprised to find both coaches eschew calling time outs for some reason until something like the last 10 seconds and it was awesome, play racing up and down the court, lead changing hands numerous times, fans getting more and more wound up as the clock ran down.
I remember thinking that if all the games were like that I'd start watching basketball again.
