FIFA/UEFA up to their old tricks

*RMCF* · 02-10-2009, 9:37 AM

RTÉ Sport: Ireland to face top seeds in play-offs

I notice that this hasn't got any attention on here, probably because England are already through, but frankly it stinks.

FIFA are going to seed the WC play-offs in Europe to make it easier for the likes of Germany, France and Portugal to get to the tournament.

They didn't have this rule at the start of the qualifying (presumably because these 'top' teams were meant to qualify easily) but have now introduced it after the event because they need the 'big' teams there so they can sell more advertising, TV space etc.

Shocking.

DJT75 · 02-10-2009, 10:43 AM

Hadn't heard anything about this before but it certainly does stink. If seeded at all if should be based on the qualification results & nothing else.

kopchoir · 02-10-2009, 11:11 AM

Its all about greed and your right it does stink

dazza74 · 02-10-2009, 12:05 PM

They were asking for trouble all along only letting the top team in any one group go through automatically. It's all very dodgy this qualification business if you ask me, just look at the south american group you've got top 4 out of 10 automatically qualify and coming 5th gets you a play off.

Miron · 13-10-2009, 8:10 PM

FIFA clearly wants the big teams to qualify .... it is both ...lobby and money. Nothing strange or unexpected.

*RMCF* · 13-10-2009, 8:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dazza74

They were asking for trouble all along only letting the top team in any one group go through automatically. It's all very dodgy this qualification business if you ask me, just look at the south american group you've got top 4 out of 10 automatically qualify and coming 5th gets you a play off.

To be fair if the WC didn't have a lot of SA and Euro teams would anyone watch it?

ITs needs them to make it, cos most of the other nations in the world are cack.

SHATNERSTACTIC · 13-10-2009, 10:56 PM

Indeed, it's a joke that either Bharain or New Zealand will be there at the expense of a far superior European team.

Miss Chief · 14-10-2009, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dazza74

They were asking for trouble all along only letting the top team in any one group go through automatically. It's all very dodgy this qualification business if you ask me, just look at the south american group you've got top 4 out of 10 automatically qualify and coming 5th gets you a play off.

This is because all the South American teams are in one big group. To have 4 south American teams, along with another of they win the playoff isn;t really that many when there'll be at least 8 European teams, is it?

stevenisace · 14-10-2009, 8:35 AM

Its a bit of a coincidence that France are in the play offs and they now decide to change the rules. Platin (spelling) must have had a say in this when he saw that his country would have to go through the play offs

dazza74 · 14-10-2009, 8:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss Chief

This is because all the South American teams are in one big group. To have 4 south American teams, along with another of they win the playoff isn;t really that many when there'll be at least 8 European teams, is it?

You've got a 40% chance of automatic qualification in South America, a 25% chance in Europe. That was all I was trying to say.

**Steven** · 14-10-2009, 8:45 AM

The majority do want to see the big sides, satire above noted

Hypothetical: England are in the play-offs. We get Russia. Whilst Arshavin is tearing it up, who here would not have wanted a seeding system?

Any England fan who tells me they would still not want a seeding system is either very principle in which case my compliments, or you are a liar

dazza74 · 14-10-2009, 8:50 AM

Looking forward to that Uruguay v Argentina game tonight, if Uruguay can win and Ecuador can beat Chile (Who've already qualified so nothing to play for) Argentina won't even make the play offs

QuietRiot1983 · 14-10-2009, 9:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

Any England fan who tells me they would still not want a seeding system is either very principle in which case my compliments, or you are a liar

I'd prefer England not to qualify, so we don't have another summer of beered-up louts in england shirts everywhere with a million England flags on their white vans.

Aaron D84 · 14-10-2009, 9:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dazza74

Looking forward to that Uruguay v Argentina game tonight, if Uruguay can win and Ecuador can beat Chile (Who've already qualified so nothing to play for) Argentina won't even make the play offs

Chilean manager is Argentinan so will probably play a full strength side with them being home and it's a sell out according to a Chilean i know.

I do hope Ecuador beat them as their game is before the Argentina match so if they beat them they will go in under even more pressure knowing that they simply cannot loose.

After the way Argentina played agaisnt Peru i wouldn't bet on them not being in SA next summer as they were woeful bar Higuiain.

There's lots of comments about Cristiano Ronaldo going missing in big games but every time i've watched Argentina in qualifying Messi has been awful.

dazza74 · 14-10-2009, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron D84

After the way Argentina played agaisnt Peru i wouldn't bet on them not being in SA next summer as they were woeful bar Higuiain.

I only caught the 2nd half of that game, well I say the 2nd half parts of the pitch were a bit of a blur towards the end, that weather was atrocious wasn't it. You wouldn't have thought Peru were bottom of the group from watching that game, that's for sure.

Dony · 14-10-2009, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dazza74

Looking forward to that Uruguay v Argentina game tonight, if Uruguay can win and Ecuador can beat Chile (Who've already qualified so nothing to play for) Argentina won't even make the play offs

If Chile win, what do Argentina need for automatic qualification, a draw or a win?

dazza74 · 14-10-2009, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dony

If Chile win, what do Argentina need for automatic qualification, a draw or a win?

Just need a draw looking at the table

Aaron D84 · 14-10-2009, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dony

If Chile win, what do Argentina need for automatic qualification, a draw or a win?

Basically....

If Argentina win they qualify automatically in 4th.

If they draw and Equador don't win they go through automatically in 4th place.

If Equador win and Argentina draw they go into the play off in 5th place.

If Argentina loose and Equador loose they go in the play off in 5th place.

If Argentina loose and Equador win they go out.

Dony · 14-10-2009, 10:56 AM

I love this site

Miron · 14-10-2009, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron D84

Chilean manager is Argentinan so will probably play a full strength side with them being home and it's a sell out according to a Chilean i know.

I do hope Ecuador beat them as their game is before the Argentina match so if they beat them they will go in under even more pressure knowing that they simply cannot loose.

After the way Argentina played agaisnt Peru i wouldn't bet on them not being in SA next summer as they were woeful bar Higuiain.

There's lots of comments about Cristiano Ronaldo going missing in big games but every time i've watched Argentina in qualifying Messi has been awful.

They play at the same time

SibTiger33 · 14-10-2009, 12:21 PM

wow what is going on with argentima. on paper the best team in the world but what did mardonna do to them!!

dazza74 · 14-10-2009, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SibTiger33

wow what is going on with argentima. on paper the best team in the world but what did mardonna do to them!!

I'd say they defend a bit like Real Madrid but that would be insulting to Real Madrid. Maradonna fell out with Riquelme as well I believe and he's one of their best players and doesn't get picked now.

thelegendofyrag · 14-10-2009, 1:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SibTiger33

wow what is going on with argentima. on paper the best team in the world but what did mardonna do to them!!

Better than Brazil on paper??

jabintendo · 14-10-2009, 3:06 PM

has he not picked like a hundred players ( for the squads) for a very short time in management. He also apparently changes the formation alot.
This is what i gathered he was doing wrong after the analysis of the game on saturday

Dony · 14-10-2009, 3:53 PM

He has picked a lot of players, but for some of his friendly games in charge he only picked Argentina based players. This has distorted the figure of 78 different players since he took over. During the qualifiers he has played 35 different players (if Talksport is correct), which is still a lot, but not as bad as the press make out.

He still hasn't a clue how to manage though

dazza74 · 14-10-2009, 3:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dony

During the qualifiers he has played 35 different players (if Talksport is correct), which is still a lot, but not as bad as the press make out.

What Sven used to do for an England Friendly if I remember rightly.

I think it's that old maxim myself great players don't often make great managers.

SibTiger33 · 14-10-2009, 4:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thelegendofyrag

Better than Brazil on paper??

Easy

kopchoir · 14-10-2009, 5:11 PM

If the Argies go through and diego stays as coach im going to have a cheeky bet on them the odds will be higher than normal,sometimes when teams have a shocking qualifying campaign they seem to pull it out the bag in the tournys.

On Paper still quality hopefuly some of the more senior players in that team will have a word with him

*RMCF* · 15-10-2009, 11:37 AM

Spain are far superior to Argentina all over the pitch.

And I too think that Brazil are better on paper.

arthurdentpc · 15-10-2009, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SibTiger33

wow what is going on with argentima. on paper the best team in the world but what did mardonna do to them!!

While I'm not a Maradona fan in any way, the damage for qualification was done in the early part of the groups - when he wasn't in charge. He has only been managing them for 11 months.