Come on you Septics

[Kyle]

Congrat's but I still can't believe the bias towards CONCACAF by FIFA. How many places do you get in World Cup? I mean apart from Mexico, there's really not one decent footballing nation in the area.

There are three guarenteed spots, with the fourth playing in a play-off with South America... I think that it's fair based on the amount that Asia gets... And it is competitive for the births, the States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras etc...

Three guaranteed spots AND play off spot (which you naturally lose to South America but anyways), is absolute ridiculous amount considering teams there are. Take a look at some of the countries that will be out in Europe. And Africa.

You only get three because FIFA wants to make sure you are in the competition and it pisses me off. I'd give you one spot and the play off spot or MAX two guaranteed spots. Three + one, ridiculous. Come on, you'll have to admit it even yourself.

I do think that some teams that should make it are left out. However I also think that if they changed it any it would turn into Euro cup instead of World cup... This is the breakdown of the bids...

32 Total bids
Host
Europe - 13
Africa - 5
South America - 4
Asia - 4
North and Central America - 3
2 spots from the playoff of Asia/Ocenania + North America/South America

If there is any problem with the system it is Africa getting 5 bids and Asia getting 4 bids. CONACAF already gets the least amount of bids. There are three teams from CONACAF that deserve to go, especially considering the African/Asian teams that go...

[Florida Blue]

Glad to see xenophobia is alive and well in this forum!!

The good news about being a member of Sam's Army (sounds so much better than Barmy Army... the ability to rhyme was not lost only on Bob Dylan) is there are no expectations and the nation does not go into mourning when a Theo Walcott is selected to the squad or we lose to say Burkina Faso on pens.

Just kidding lads, I am glad to see we qualified, as well as England.

This comment however cracks me up from NQDP:

Congrat's but I still can't believe the bias towards CONCACAF by FIFA. How many places do you get in World Cup? I mean apart from Mexico, there's really not one decent footballing nation in the area.

Bash on CONCACAF all you want, but I would put the CONCACAF qualifying group up against Ukraine, Andorra, Croatia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, and offer to you that outside of Croatia (who I think Mexico would play tough) the USA had as tough opponents as England.

Now as for your argument about bias. There are 35 teams in CONCACAF, 3.5 world cup spots available (the play off with South America really makes it 3). But for arguments sake let's say there are 4. So 11.4% of the teams will get a spot in the World Cup, whereas 13 of the 53 teams in the European zone or 24.5% of the teams get a spot. So Antii, I ask you, where is the bias when the there is double the chance of qualifying in Europe? And don't tell me about how weak the lower half of CONCACAF is when you have teams like Andorra, the Faeroe Islands and Monaco in Europe. Does the Holy See have a team too? ;)

And most of the other groups in Europe only had 2 quality members, the relative difference is negligible.

[Somerset Blue]

If there is any problem with the system it is Africa getting 5 bids and Asia getting 4 bids. CONACAF already gets the least amount of bids. There are three teams from CONACAF that deserve to go, especially considering the African/Asian teams that go...

Yes, but I imagine there are plenty more African/Asian nations scrapping over their 5/4 places than North/Central American nations scrapping over their 3 places. What are the ratios?

Edit - just seen Florida's post, which compares CONACAF with UEFA, anyone know the Africa/Asia stats?

[Kyle]

If there is any problem with the system it is Africa getting 5 bids and Asia getting 4 bids. CONACAF already gets the least amount of bids. There are three teams from CONACAF that deserve to go, especially considering the African/Asian teams that go...

Yes, but I imagine there are plenty more African/Asian nations scrapping over their 5/4 places than North/Central American nations scrapping over their 3 places. What are the ratios?

You were probably just typing this at the same time, but Florida Blue shows the numbers in the post above yours...

I'll look it up right now...

[Somerset Blue]

Just a thought - does the US national team bring cheerleaders with it?

[Florida Blue]

If there is any problem with the system it is Africa getting 5 bids and Asia getting 4 bids. CONACAF already gets the least amount of bids. There are three teams from CONACAF that deserve to go, especially considering the African/Asian teams that go...

Yes, but I imagine there are plenty more African/Asian nations scrapping over their 5/4 places than North/Central American nations scrapping over their 3 places. What are the ratios?

You were probably just typing this at the same time, but Florida Blue shows the numbers in the post above yours...

I'll look it up right now...

Africa is 5+1 for 53 teams, so 9.4 to 11.3 so pretty much the same as CONCACAF.

[Florida Blue]

Just a thought - does the US national team bring cheerleaders with it?

There work for you?

[Kyle]

Ok so here are the percentages of all the qualifying groups on teams that qualify.

Europe - 53 teams - 13 spots - 24.5%
North and Central America - 35 teams - 4 spots - 11.4%
South America - 10 teams - 5 spots - 50%
Africa - 55 teams - 5 spots - 9%
Asia - 46 teams - 5 spots - 10.8%

I included the play-off games in the number of spots avalible...

[Blueboylewis]

Just a thought - does the US national team bring cheerleaders with it?

There work for you?

The one on the end on the right hand side is FIT FIT FIT. I wouldent mind cheer leading with her!!!

[Steve]

Just a thought - does the US national team bring cheerleaders with it?

There work for you?

The Tampa Bay Buccs had some nice ones the last time I checked.

[Somerset Blue]

Just a thought - does the US national team bring cheerleaders with it?

There work for you?

More than happy to have a 'special relationship' with any of those...

[dazby]

Congrat's but I still can't believe the bias towards CONCACAF by FIFA. How many places do you get in World Cup? I mean apart from Mexico, there's really not one decent footballing nation in the area.

There are three guarenteed spots, with the fourth playing in a play-off with South America... I think that it's fair based on the amount that Asia gets... And it is competitive for the births, the States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras etc...

Three guaranteed spots AND play off spot (which you naturally lose to South America but anyways), is absolute ridiculous amount considering teams there are. Take a look at some of the countries that will be out in Europe. And Africa.

You only get three because FIFA wants to make sure you are in the competition and it pisses me off. I'd give you one spot and the play off spot or MAX two guaranteed spots. Three + one, ridiculous. Come on, you'll have to admit it even yourself.

Eurocentric twaddle as has been highlighted in the previous posts.

[BobbyJ1956]

Good for USA. I think in South Africa they'll have their best World Cup yet. Are you a native, Mr Michigan Blue, or English in exile same as me? (Forget about cheering for "Yanks/Yankees" though, sounds too much like the NY baseball team, they're the equivalent of ManU, arrogant and over-hyped. Let's Go Mets!)

[DoomMerchant]

I'm looking forward to the USA v Finland potential matchup in SA to really settle this issue once and for all.

cheers

[Slim]

Congrat's but I still can't believe the bias towards CONCACAF by FIFA. How many places do you get in World Cup? I mean apart from Mexico, there's really not one decent footballing nation in the area.

There are three guarenteed spots, with the fourth playing in a play-off with South America... I think that it's fair based on the amount that Asia gets... And it is competitive for the births, the States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras etc...

Three guaranteed spots AND play off spot (which you naturally lose to South America but anyways), is absolute ridiculous amount considering teams there are. Take a look at some of the countries that will be out in Europe. And Africa.

You only get three because FIFA wants to make sure you are in the competition and it pisses me off. I'd give you one spot and the play off spot or MAX two guaranteed spots. Three + one, ridiculous. Come on, you'll have to admit it even yourself.

Eurocentric twaddle as has been highlighted in the previous posts.

So what you are implying is that the worlds second largest consumer market isn't being "favoured" by FIFA?

[Colin the King]

Well I wish their football side all the best in the World Cup. They put a tremendous effort into every game and it's great to see players with so much passion and heart. Yes, most Americans are a bit clueless about the game but forget them, they're irrelevant. It'll be the proper fans making the long trip to South Africa.

All 14 of them.

[Dingus McDouchey]

Well I wish their football side all the best in the World Cup. They put a tremendous effort into every game and it's great to see players with so much passion and heart. Yes, most Americans are a bit clueless about the game but forget them, they're irrelevant. It'll be the proper fans making the long trip to South Africa.

All 14 of them.

hang on, all the players mums'll be going. that's at least 20.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Glad to see xenophobia is alive and well in this forum!!

The good news about being a member of Sam's Army (sounds so much better than Barmy Army... the ability to rhyme was not lost only on Bob Dylan) is there are no expectations and the nation does not go into mourning when a Theo Walcott is selected to the squad or we lose to say Burkina Faso on pens.

Just kidding lads, I am glad to see we qualified, as well as England.

This comment however cracks me up from NQDP:

Congrat's but I still can't believe the bias towards CONCACAF by FIFA. How many places do you get in World Cup? I mean apart from Mexico, there's really not one decent footballing nation in the area.

Bash on CONCACAF all you want, but I would put the CONCACAF qualifying group up against Ukraine, Andorra, Croatia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, and offer to you that outside of Croatia (who I think Mexico would play tough) the USA had as tough opponents as England.

Now as for your argument about bias. There are 35 teams in CONCACAF, 3.5 world cup spots available (the play off with South America really makes it 3). But for arguments sake let's say there are 4. So 11.4% of the teams will get a spot in the World Cup, whereas 13 of the 53 teams in the European zone or 24.5% of the teams get a spot. So Antii, I ask you, where is the bias when the there is double the chance of qualifying in Europe? And don't tell me about how weak the lower half of CONCACAF is when you have teams like Andorra, the Faeroe Islands and Monaco in Europe. Does the Holy See have a team too? ;)

And most of the other groups in Europe only had 2 quality members, the relative difference is negligible.

hold your horses.
Only 1.5 teams go through from England's qualifying group. Not 3.5. And Ukraine would probably win CONCACAF group. Most of their players are regulars in Russian league, which is ten times stronger than any league in your half of the globe, apart from maybe Argentine right now.

We've got teams like Russia, Portugal, France etc. Struggling to make the competition and some will be left out. You are playing Honduras, Costa Rica and look at some Mickey Mouse countries in your group.

Africa is the one that suffers most anyway imo.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

I'm looking forward to the USA v Finland potential matchup in SA to really settle this issue once and for all.

cheers

I'm not particularily gutted that we failed to make the competition as you are implying. The minute I saw our group of Germany and Russia with Wales as 4th pick, I knew we stood no chance. That's the way it is in Europe. What I DO find crazy though is someone like Russia having to go to play offs for their spot though. They'd walk your group.

[Slim]

1.4 Antii, Group winners=1. Only 8 playoff spots for ten groups, 4 qualify=0.4