Ot - usmnt - Page 14

Beldar77 · #**196** 04-01-2022, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikerboy337

Not a bad draw, the the dream draw that we were all hoping for with quatar, US, tunisia and Ghana... but overall not too bad...

have to be rooting against wales now and hope scotland or Ukraine can win the playin...

I didn't want Ghana they are our "hex" team. We don't do well against them at the WC. Wanted to avoid Iran for the politically charged nature of the match.

Why against Wales? They are not really much better than Scotland or Ukraine.

Selfishly would prefer Wales or Scotland. Would love to see ENG vs SCO!

bikerboy337 · #**197** 04-01-2022, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beldar77

I didn't want Ghana they are our "hex" team. We don't do well against them at the WC. Wanted to avoid Iran for the politically charged nature of the match.

Why against Wales? They are not really much better than Scotland or Ukraine.

Selfishly would prefer Wales or Scotland. Would love to see ENG vs SCO!

Well Wales is #18 in the current rankings so right behind the US... Ukraine are 27 and Scotland is 39... so quite a drop from Wales...

If Wales gets in then all 4 teams are in the Top 21 and we really miss out on a Pot 4 level team with Wales ranked higher than Iran...

Its a good draw for us, all the teams are beatable, just no gimmies in there.

echappist · #**198** 04-01-2022, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikerboy337

Not a bad draw, the the dream draw that we were all hoping for with quatar, US, tunisia and Ghana... but overall not too bad...

have to be rooting against wales now and hope scotland or Ukraine can win the playin...

Almost all of the groups are hard. Most have at least three (if not four) teams that could advance. Cakewalk Champions League style with two perennial powers and two lowly ranked clubs, this isn't.

Louis · #**199** 04-01-2022, 04:05 PM

I'm no expert at the strengths of various national teams around the world, but as I looked at the results of the draw no obvious "Group of Death" jumped out at me. Any thought out there about that?

ltwtsculler91 · #**200** 04-01-2022, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Louis

I'm no expert at the strengths of various national teams around the world, but as I looked at the results of the draw no obvious "Group of Death" jumped out at me. Any thought out there about that?

Group E: Spain, Germany, Japan, (Costa Rica or New Zealand)
or
Group F: Belgium, Croatia, Morocco, Canada

Look to be the toughest two to me. E has 2 Euro heavyweights in Spain and Germany, Japan who can be sneaky good and very organized, and Costa Rica has been a tough out at the last two world cups.

F is likely the most balanced 1 to 4 with an overrated but talented Belgium, a plucky Croatia led by an age-less legend, an up and coming Canada, and a Morocco team with quite a few top tier players

Louis · #**201** 04-01-2022, 04:45 PM

No doubt about Spain and Germany in E - the odds of those two not making it through to the next round have to be pretty long, which leaves anyone else in the group sol.

wc1934 · #**202** 04-01-2022, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Louis

I'm no expert at the strengths of various national teams around the world, but as I looked at the results of the draw no obvious "Group of Death" jumped out at me. Any thought out there about that?

Haha - Qatar disagrees.

BobC · #**203** 04-01-2022, 05:20 PM

I agree that the groups are fairly balanced across. I was watching BBC as they pulled the countries out -- there were some switch arounds due to nations in the same region not being able to play each other in group stage (Europe being the one exception).

- Yes. Glad we did not get Ghana (again).
- England must be saying the same about the US.
- I wonder who the crowd will support when US plays Iran (or maybe they will just root for injuries).

Louis · #**204** 04-01-2022, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wc1934

Haha - Qatar disagrees.

According to FIFA they're ranked 51st in the world. And I bet that's generous.

Senegal is 20th, and Ecuador 46th. (The Orange, of course are up there at 10th)

So, yeah, Qatar will be lucky to make it past the first round.

echappist · #**205** 04-01-2022, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Louis

I'm no expert at the strengths of various national teams around the world, but as I looked at the results of the draw no obvious "Group of Death" jumped out at me. Any thought out there about that?

The draws for previous editions had the pots divided by continents (seeded teams remain the same: host + seven highest ranked teams that qualified).

This current draw had the pots sorted by ranking (as opposed to geographical location), and this generates more balanced groups (save for that containing Qatar). One could argue that almost all of the other groups has respective C-pot teams that could really challenge, and as noted above, even some D-pot teams can pull off a surprise or two (Canada should be in Pot C).

Beldar77 · #**206** 04-02-2022, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikerboy337

Well Wales is #18 in the current rankings so right behind the US... Ukraine are 27 and Scotland is 39... so quite a drop from Wales...

If Wales gets in then all 4 teams are in the Top 21 and we really miss out on a Pot 4 level team with Wales ranked higher than Iran...

Its a good draw for us, all the teams are beatable, just no gimmies in there.

FIFA rankings need to be taken with a grain of salt for sure. I guess it's just that Wales don't have that assassin upfront that is consistent. Used to be Bale and on a day he can do the job but he has played so little. I compare that team to Serbia with Vlahovic or a team like Poland with Lewandoski. Those guys can turn a group on it's head.

Louis · #**207** 04-02-2022, 03:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beldar77

FIFA rankings need to be taken with a grain of salt for sure.

It's interesting to compare some of the teams' rankings to their odds of winning the WC. Some teams with relatively high rankings have odds that are well below other teams with lower rankings. The US, for example, is in that position.

wc1934 · #**208** 06-11-2022, 08:23 AM

Any takeaways from the 5-0 win against Grenada, or no big deal beating the 170th best team in the rankings (with your bench players).
I was partially watching on my laptop while watching the C's on tv.
But, as I stated before, I am impressed with De la Torre. Any other?

Beldar77 · #**209** 06-11-2022, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wc1934

Any takeaways from the 5-0 win against Grenada, or no big deal beating the 170th best team in the rankings (with your bench players).
I was partially watching on my laptop while watching the C's on tv.
But, as I stated before, I am impressed with De la Torre. Any other?

Same here - dang Celtics blowing their advantage.

Only other thought is even though only Grenada *maybe* this gets Ferreira of the schneid for country and his MLS form continues into the fall.

echappist · #**210** 06-11-2022, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wc1934

Any takeaways from the 5-0 win against Grenada, or no big deal beating the 170th best team in the rankings (with your bench players).
I was partially watching on my laptop while watching the C's on tv.
But, as I stated before, I am impressed with De la Torre. Any other?

Harry Kane pads his stats against the likes of Gibraltor and San Marino.

I don't see much to dismiss when Ferreira gets four in a game.

Apparently, he exhibits footballing intelligence and pops up at spots where he has a good chance to score. That's always worth something, even if his shot precision might not be as good.