FIFA rankings true test

[john tv]

Maybe we could have some fun with those rankings by assigning their rank in their group and the higher ranked team wins.Continue this through the whole tournament and see how accurate these rankings are by a percentage.Anyone has some time,hey it may even make the world media if it has not been done yet.

[Blackdude]

This was done with the november rankings

Group A France (7) Mexico (17) Uruguay (20) South Africa (85)
Group B Argentina (8) Greece (13) Nigeria (22) South Korea(52)
Group C England (9) USA (14) Algeria (26) Slovenia (31)
Group D Germany (6) Serbia (19) Australia (21) Ghana (34)
Group E Netherlands (3) Cameroon (11) Denmark (28) Japan (43)
Group F Italy (4) Paraguay (29) Slovakia (33) New Zeland (82)
Group G Brazil (2) Portugal (5) Cote d`Ivoire (16) North Korea (86)
Group H Spain (1) Chile (15) Switzerland (18) Honduras (37)

Round of 16
France beats Greece
England beats Serbia
Netherlands beats Paraguay
Brazil beats Chile
Argentina beats Mexico
Germany beats USA
Italy beats Cameroon
Spain beats Portugal

Quarters
France beats England
Brazil beats Netherlands
Germany beats Argentina
Spain beats Italy

Semis
Brazil beats France
Spain beats Germany

3rd Place
Germany beats France

Finals
Spain beats Brazil

Seeing France in the Semis suprises me. They could do it. Because England can choke easily. Now I can see how easier it gets for them.

[amacpher]

Based purely on these rankings, I guess the 2 teams that would get screwed the most are the Netherlands and Portugal. Holland is #3 in the world but faces #2 in the quarterfinal already, and #5 Portugal would meet with #1 Spain in the round of 16!

[jpg75]

quote:Originally posted by Blackdude
Seeing France in the Semis suprises me. They could do it. Because England can choke easily. Now I can see how easier it gets for them.


Absolutely, when i went through the bracket for France i came away thinking a place in the finals was possible.

France have 3 winnable games in the group stage followed with a winnable game in the round of 16 against Greece or Nigeria. England in the quarters is the first stiff test, followed by a matchup with Brasil in the Semi's. France have a good record historically against both England and Brasil so as long as Domenech :( doesn't screw things up anything is possible.

[amacpher]

France will have a tough time just getting out of that group. I see their first match being a boring 0-0 draw with Uruguay so it'll mainly come down to the Mexico match. Based on current form, I like Mexico to win that. France had an even easier group in 2006 and didn't even win that despite having Henry and Zidane.

[Vic]

A tournament in Africa with only one African country going through? Hardly. It's their home turf.

[Med_Hat_FC]

quote:Originally posted by Blackdude

This was done with the november rankings

Group A France (7) Mexico (17) Paraguay (29) South Africa (85)
Group B Argentina (8) Greece (13) Nigeria (22) South Korea(52)
Group C England (9) USA (14) Algeria (26) Slovenia (31)
Group D Germany (6) Serbia (19) Australia (21) Ghana (34)
Group E Netherlands (3) Cameroon (11) Denmark (28) Japan (43)
Group F Italy (4) Paraguay (29) Slovakia (33) New Zeland (82)
Group G Brazil (2) Portugal (5) Cote d`Ivoire (16) North Korea (86)
Group H Spain (1) Chile (15) Switzerland (18) Honduras (37)



I wasn't aware that Paraguay was allowed to sent two separate teams to the World Cup :P

I did a quick look at the most recent ranking table, and there is very little change in the overall result.

[john tv]

Thanks for that spread and potential rated results.Very interesting and my poor Holland up against Brazil again.
What times are they generally on TV in ET

[amacpher]

quote:Originally posted by john tv

Thanks for that spread and potenbtial rated results.Very interesting and my poor Holland up against Brazil again.
What times are they generally on TV in ET


Check fifa.com

I believe the kick-offs are earlier than usual because of the weather (or is it because of the crime?). Something like 7.30a, 10.00a and 2.45p



quote:Originally posted by Vic

A tournament in Africa with only one African country going through? Hardly. It's their home turf.



Unfortunately the host nation is weak and landed in close to the toughest group possible. And the 2 best African teams landed in the 2 toughest groups. Algeria got an easy group, but they're probably not good enough to take advantage of that. Plus playing in South Africa is no advantage for them.

All in all it was a nightmare draw for African nations.

[jpg75]

^ Don't forget that the climate in SA during their winter is alot harsher than all of the other participating African countries are used to. Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana and Cote D'Ivoire are all Sub-Saharan, equatorial countries and are used to steamy, hot weather. Algeria are used to a baking hot, dry climate. These teams will be facing 10C or less, damp, chilly weather in SA next summer.

[BearcatSA]

quote:Originally posted by jpg75

^ Don't forget that the climate in SA during their winter is alot harsher than all of the other participating African countries are used to. Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana and Cote D'Ivoire are all Sub-Saharan, equatorial countries and are used to steamy, hot weather. Algeria are used to a baking hot, dry climate. These teams will be facing 10C or less, damp, chilly weather in SA next summer.


This is the first WC since Argentina '78 where the weather is much cooler than in recent tournaments. Last year's Confed Cup final looked like a chilly affair, judging by the long sleeve shirts and winter coaching apparel. I wonder if the climate is going to lead to more injuries than usual (temperatures combined with end of season fatigue). I'm not a physio, so I'm just taking a wild guess.

[terpfan68]

I don't think the temperature will be as cold as the EPL in December and January and I believe the temperature will be a non-factor. Does anyone remember the match Ireland had in Floriday when the WC was played in the USA? Excessive heat is a greater influence on the game.

[BearcatSA]

quote:Originally posted by terpfan68

I don't think the temperature will be as cold as the EPL in December and January and I believe the temperature will be a non-factor. Does anyone remember the match Ireland had in Floriday when the WC was played in the USA? Excessive heat is a greater influence on the game.


Definitely is a far bigger factor on a match, no argument there. Most of these teams would prefer this clime to what was endured in places like Mexico and the US in previous WCs. So my inquiry is probably moot.

[jonovision]

quote:Originally posted by Vic

A tournament in Africa with only one African country going through? Hardly. It's their home turf.


This has been the case in the last 4 World Cups. Why any different this time?

[Obinna]

^Home turf advantage....which may not even apply. I don't know if you will see more Nigerian fans, for example, in South Africa as you would in France. Will there be more portugese fans in South Africa than in Germany? Mabye....or mabye not. There are ethnic portugese in South Africa...

I would be extremely surprised if more than 2 African teams get out of the group stage. Two would be seen as a modest accomplishment in my eyes.