Update: Here’s the FIFA site.
Here’s the US Soccer site.
Here’s a reminder that the World Cup draw will take place Friday, and you can watch on ESPN at 9 a.m. … or along with Sounders GM Adrian Hanauer over a morning pint at the George & Dragon in Seattle.
Here’s the info on that:
WHO: Soccer Fans & Sounders FC General Manager Adrian Hanauer
WHAT: 2010 FIFA World Cup Draw Viewing
WHEN: 9 a.m. Friday, December 4
WHERE: George & Dragon Pub; 206 North 36th St.; Seattle 98103
A new official 2010 FIFA World Cup match ball from adidas will be unveiled and raffled off at the event.
The draw will determine the opponents for all 32 teams, including the U.S. National Team, that have qualified for next summer’s FIFA World Cup in South Africa. ESPN2 will televise the draw live from Cape Town.
Meanwhile, here’s an MLS-centric preview. And here’s a pre-draw assessment from Freddie Ljungberg for ESPNsoccernet.
Friday is mostly a travel day for me. If I can get to a computer after the draw, I’ll try to open a new blog entry with the news. If not, this post will obviously remain if you guys would like to provide the scoop in my absence, and then discuss the implications.
It’s on ESPN360 at 9 am PST.
Eeedly-beedly-beedly, the spirits are about to speak:
“Italy, Algeria, Slovakia, United States”
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There are 4 different “pots” of teams. U.S. is in the pot with other concacaf and asian teams, meaning it will not be in a WC group with those teams. Instead, it will be in a group with one european team (from the european pot), one african or S Am team (from that pot) and one team from the top 8 seeds pot (Brazil, Spain, etc.)
Given US is guaranteed of facing at least one european team, was probably smart scheduling do face Slovakia and Denmark in the recent friendlies . . . besides the easy travel and training for those two matches in nearby countries only a couple of days apart.
There will, of course, be a “Group of Death” Main thing is for the US to avoid that group. France on the other hand is welcome to be in that group . . . and the Irish would certainly be rooting for that!
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That would be a lovely group JP. Certainly better than last time. I thought it was interesting that FIFA abandoned the old practice of averaging past WC performances to determine seeding which helped out The Netherlands (is “the”capitalized?) and England.
It’s been interesting to hear the Euro pundits wringing their hands over drawing the US. Nice to hear that.
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By the way, Nate Silver of baseball and politics statistical analysis fame has an interesting post up for ESPN running through the numbers.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/4711148/ce/us/nate-silver-considers-impact-draw?cc=5901&ver=us
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Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
And should I die before I wake
I pray the Lord to have the @$%#@#$ French paired against Brazil
Erin go bragh
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I seem to remember the French taking out Brasil last time if I’m not mistaken. Just saying.
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Elmo: While my dream group isn’t likely, it most certainly is possible.
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And the French defeated Germany in 1809…
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I completely agree JP that your proposed group is possible – my earlier post was not commenting on any specific grouping, only outlining how the groupings work in general.
An even better group for the US would be if the US got South Af, rather than Italy, as the #1 seed in the group (home country gets #1 seed, all other #1 seeds are top countries).
Most important thing is for the U.S. to avoid the inevitable “Group of Death” that seems to be present in every WC . . . and that France gets placed into that Group of Death – as all supporters of the Irish are hoping – France will not be a fan favorite team this go around.
We shall see the groupings (and be able to argue their merits) in a little bit. Til then . . .
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England and Algeria so far, with the Brits for the opener. I’ll take that.
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Slovenia. Nice.
This is a draw we can definitely work with.
Group D looking very Death-like: Germany, Serbia, Ghana and Australia.
Group G: Brazil, North Korea, Ivory Coast and Portugal. That’s no fun either.
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Great draw for the US. I have to admit I didn’t want to see England, but I’ll take it with Algeria and Slovenia.
No true Group of Death, but I would say but the one with Brazil, Portugal, Ivory Coast, and North Korea is the toughest. NK is a joke but all three of the others are obviously solid sides.
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Oh JP you’re right. I didn’t notice Serbia in that group somehow and the Aussies might surprise some people.
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Great draw for the US – good on JP for coming close on the draw.
US should finish in the top two and get through to the round of 16.
The group with Brazil, Port, IC looks the toughest – all three could go through, but only two will. Group D could be interesting with Germany, the Aussies, and solid Serbia and Ghana. Italy should have an easy road. Too bad France lucked out and got a good draw – will have to root for El Tri for at least one match. Spain got a good group.
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Australia was very strong in 2006. Lost on a very controversial late penalty to Italy in the knockout round. Definitely did not want to be in their group.
If we advance out of our group, we get a team from Group D in first knockout game. Germany rematch perhaps? Maybe this time we can get that big handling call on the goal line?
Group A: South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France
Group B: Argentina, Nigeria, Korea Republic, Greece
Group C: England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia
Group D: Germany, Australia, Serbia, Ghana,
Group E: Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon
Group F: Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia
Group G: Brazil, Korea DPR, Côte d’Ivoire, Portugal
Group H: Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, Chile
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Only drawback to our draw is that now we’re going to have to listen to every Brit and wannabe Brit from far and wide talk smack from here until June.
Only thing worse than a Brit talking smack is a wannabe Brit talking smack.
Worth noting, though, that we are unbeaten v England in the World Cup.
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Yeah, I think I’ll be watching the match at our local Mexican joint to avoid any stray Brits.
Speaking of Mexico, that group proved that there are no conspiracies in the draw. FIFA certainly didn’t want to give France the easiest draw of the seeded teams.
I love Bob Bradley trying to play it cool. Inside you know he has to be going nuts.
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Cinco de Mayo mayn be a little late this year (it’s NOT Mexican Independance Day, it’s the anniversary of the Mexican Republic’s victory over the French Army in 1863)- so Go El Tri, down the Frenchies!
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Argentina, Nigeria and Greece were in the same group in the 94 WC in USA, Argentina cruised over Greece and Nigeria until Maradona got tossed for doping. And now he’s back … nice story line there.
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USSoccer sent a message that says when the English committee saw US come up, their heads went down. LOL. It appears we’re not the only ones who recognize our history of drawing tough groups.
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The English were bummed because they thought drawing USA was first shoe to drop in their own doomsday scenario. Guardian was forecasting worst-case scenario of Eng with USA, Cote d’Ivoire and Portugal.
That would have sucked, royally.
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Wow, that would have been terrible. The more I look at this, the more I think this could be a crazy year with the Africans all being particularly pumped up playing at “home.” I also like our potential matchup with Germany in the Quarters. Good opportunity for the US to go far.
Davies, why did you have to get in that car?!
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Harkes just gives us his group-by-group predictions. A Uruguay fixation for some unfathomable reason. All of it leads up to the a Brazil v Spain final, with no African teams reaching the quarterfinals.
Zzzz.
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Other than when Harkes strokes Seattle’s collective ego, I sometimes wonder if he and I live on the same planet. He’s down on USMNT when I’m up, and vice versa. He seems in love with sides that are mediocre at best. Uruguay? Seriously? The team that snuck in?
I really think this is the year Africa breaks through. Maybe not to the finals, but Cameroon has some serious talent. I’d take them in Netherland’s group over Denmark. Even the Brazil group could see Ivory Coast surprise Portugal who has been shaky at times.
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Harkes = wannabe Brit.
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Now that the groups are set, the USMNT needs to get a good set of friendlies lined up to prepare them to hit the ground running in the 1st match. There is an international friendly date on March 3, 2010. Then the team will be able to play some friendlies in late May and early June as it prepares for its opening match.
Given the group we are in, the team needs to play a couple of solid european squads to prepare for England and Slovenia and then some north african/middle eastern teams for Algeria. To throw out some random teams – Ireland, Scotland, Croatia, Hungary, Morocco, Egypt – all would fit the bill.
Given that Sounders ticket holders have tix to three friendlies next season, I have long hoped that one tix would be for a USMNT prep game, rather than a Sounders game, in next seasons package. Sure hope we can see our Nats here . . . before they head over there. How about an early June USMNT match vs. someone at Qwest??
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I honestly think most season ticket holders are expecting to see the Sounders in friendlies, not the USMNT. Besides, Qwest is “plastic”, right?
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Besides, would the USMNT want to be in Seattle in “early June” when they have a game on June12 in SA against England?
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Elmo, spot on as usual.
Jim, you’re off the mark, as is often the case. Any right thinking Sounders fan would gladly prefer to see the United States in a pre-World Cup tuneup against Ireland, say, around Memorial Day weekend or thereabouts.
The only, only, only thing that matters this coming summer is the World Cup.
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Joe- I know you like to knock me- so go way out there and say that the USNMT ought to be here, several thousand miles from the action, less than two weeks before the match against England- it only makes you look more interested in knocking me than being real.
And you are way off base thinking that most of those buying season tickets think all that matters is the World Cup. Take off your blinders, go out and find reality.
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Ah, a Saturday morning, a cup if coffee, and a front row seat to watch Joe P and JKJr going at it.
Remember the Alamo!
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Sigh . . . oh well one more attempt.
If it makes folks feel better, I will admit I did not look at a calendar when I said “an early June” USMNT friendly, forgetting that the first US match is actually on June 12, and not a little later. If June 1 or 2 does not work (which is early June), how about a mid to late May USMNT friendly? That work better for ya? Maybe over Memorial day weekend? Teams typically arrive in the host venue about 10 to 14 days prior to their first match in the WC, and play 1 or 2 final wrap ups. So that time period would work.
JKJ – you make a greatly exaggerated leap from saying all that matter is the WC. Sounder tix holders get 3 extra games. This 2009 season – two were friendlies, one ended up being a game NOT involving the Sounders. I am merely proposing the exact same thing – one friendly that does not involve the Sounders out of these three extra games.
Would think ALL soccer fans who support the Sounders would be thrilled to see a USMNT match as part of our tix packet – note I said, soccer fans who support the Sounders. On the other hand, posers and bandwagon groupies who just root a “hot commodity” as opposed to having an interest in the sport as a whole would be understandably upset and/or confused by the whole thing. Fortunately, JKJ, I know you are a true soccer fan who passionately supports the Sounders, as do I. So if such a match is scheduled, I know you would have a great time at the match, rooting on our countrymen.
Plus, there is an actual Sounder team benefit to what I am proposing. Sounders will play 30 league games. Then they have the 2010 US open cup games, which will hopefully be numerious. The Sounders also have AT LEAST ONE home and away series with a Cent Am or Carribean team as part of the CCL – which means a trip to Mex, Guat or Jamaica or wherever, and possibly several more such CCL series. Finally, at least two friendly matches. That is a lot of matches and travel! Maybe, give the players a break . . . and have fans experience something a little different as part of their season tix package . . . sort of like the MLS cup.
Okay, now back to the squabbling . . .
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I don’t really understand the point of bringing in a summer friendly during a World Cup year either. If they could swing a USMNT tune-up, I’d love to go.
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Only 10 shopping days left, so what do you get that soccer fan who has it all? Sounders v Chelsea and Barca scarves on sale now for $10 ….
Scarf Seattle!
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In 2006 the team played its last tuneup friendly on May 28, a 1-0 win over Latvia in Hartford, Conn., Brian McBride getting the winner.
Our first game in the World Cup that year was June 12, just like this year. So maybe “early June” would be leaving it a little late for a pre-WC friendly at Qwest.
But Elmo’s idea is still absolutely on the money. Memorial Day weekend would be nice, say, Sunday, May 30. And if we really, really want to stake a claim as the soccer supporters’ capital of the United States, we would give the boys a sendoff to remember.
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A USMNT warm-up at Qwest would rock the party that rocks the body – 12th Man style.
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