But Pande, you are implying that France hasn't deserved their spot... They have 15 points with 2 less games, that means that they are one of the best 2nd! Austria doesn't only compete against France, but against every other group 2nds. And if you are not good enough to beat the other teams in your group then why would you deserve a spot? Sure there are some groups harder than others but it has nothing to do with the group system, it's just pure randomness. The system is good as it is. Beating the last team of your group still counts because you still have to manage to finish second in your group.

Pandemona

Charlie Sheens House51493 Posts

October 11 2013 14:10 GMT

#6163

Im using France as an example as they are the only team who are going to finish 2nd in a 5 team group

I also just picked Austria out because i was discussing it with an Austrian xD

Also im saying that France should be winning 8/10 games guaranteed in their group imo. Compared to the teams that finish 2nd in a tough group for themselves, the likes of Austria and such shouldn't be beating teams like Sweden to 2nd place, and for them to have points taken off them because they had a team who finishes bottom i think is wrong and unfair. Even though France have 0 points taken off them even though they had a piss easy group XD

Over the years it changes, and it depends on who is hosting the world cup it seems to. 2010 qualifiers for South Africa there was the same group outlay as this world cup qualifiers. In 2006 when Germany was hosting there was 6 groups of 6 teams and 2 groups of 7....with 2 teams finishing 2nd going into the world cup straight away and the other 6 going into a play off. How random is that XD
Imo there needs to be a better way to sort the qualifiers out and make it a bit fairer. Any team that finishes 2nd should go into a play off, not be kicked out because they didn't have as many points as another team >.<
Like you said, its pure randomness of the draw, you might get a 6 team group or u might get a 5. You shouldn't get punished for luck >.<

WillyWanker

France1915 Posts

October 11 2013 14:31 GMT

#6164

Its the story ot football... Napoli Arsenal Marseille Dortmund? Too bad two are going to be out when shitty teams in easy groups will advance... It has nothing to do with the group system. European are already lucky to have that many spots, if you cannot beat Austria or Norway to go to the qualifierd, you probably dont deserve to go in the WC.

Olli

Austria24422 Posts

October 11 2013 14:35 GMT

#6165

The hell? Why should Austria not beat Sweden to 2nd place? We've got an arguably stronger all around team, the biggest star in the team would obviously be Alaba who is no Ibrahimovic (yet) but we dominated Sweden pretty hard last time we met. Our performance in this group may not have been perfect but the team definitely has what it takes to compete.

The biggest weaknesses in the team are creating chances and using them. As far as controlling a game goes we've been pretty good. The best game we played in the group stage was (not coincidentally) against Sweden when everything came together. Against Ireland we were in total control of the game from start to finish. And Alaba has some kind of magic power to take fate into his own hands.

/bias :D

Pandemona

Charlie Sheens House51493 Posts

October 11 2013 14:38 GMT

#6166

Well on that motto, its unfair that New Zealand get to go to a world cup or Iran and Jordan. Every team has the same opportunity than the others, no team should be called an easier game than one just because of the placing they finished in a group. Thats my personal view anyway.

But just like the English FA cup which is open to any semi professional team in the country, you have a chance the same chance as everyone else to win the trophy. Its how you deal with the pressure the deeper you go into the tournament (aswell as the massive gulf in class difference lol)

Dingodile

4139 Posts

October 11 2013 14:44 GMT

#6167

According to wikipedia EU has 47 countries. According to EU qualifiers for WC we see 53 countries.

Pandemona

Charlie Sheens House51493 Posts

October 11 2013 15:02 GMT

#6168

Yeah its due to teams like Russia being in Europe qualifiers even though they are not in the EU etc xD

clusen

Germany8702 Posts

October 11 2013 15:23 GMT

#6169

On October 12 2013 00:02 Pandemona wrote:
Yeah its due to teams like Russia being in Europe qualifiers even though they are not in the EU etc xD

Well, Europe and EU are 2 different things :p

Russia (and Turkey) have large parts of their population residing in the European parts of their country, so that makes sense.

Countries like Israel and Azerbaijan have nothing to do with Europe, yet they are part of the UEFA.

+ Show Spoiler +

Please no discussion about Israel tho :D

Pandemona

Charlie Sheens House51493 Posts

October 11 2013 15:25 GMT

#6170

Yeah it is very broad about what is Europe qualifiers and such, its like they just got a big giant map of the world and cut it down the middle in a huge chunk for Europe qualifiers xD

Dust14

Belgium490 Posts

October 11 2013 15:51 GMT

#6171

It's been a while since I've actually been nervous for a football game

Well fuck me
0-2, twice Lukaku
Brazil here we come

Jockmcplop

United Kingdom9809 Posts

October 11 2013 17:11 GMT

#6172

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24471034

Awesome article about how good the championship is for English football. Its just good in general, the most entertaining league in the world IMHO.

Kotreb

Croatia1392 Posts

October 11 2013 17:21 GMT

#6173

it's not even funny how pathetic we are. gg go next

sharkie

Austria18625 Posts

October 11 2013 17:24 GMT

#6174

If Belgium can ignore nerves they really are a dark horse for the world cup o.o

Otherwise I'd say they lack experience.

Pandemona

Charlie Sheens House51493 Posts

October 11 2013 17:35 GMT

#6175

I put my money on them to get to final xD dark horse to get to final indeed, but if they get a nice draw they do it. I wouldn't put them as winners though, i think like you say experience wise they are way short of Brazil or Spain and probably even Germany/Argentina

England team tonight ;_; so silly.

Hart
Walker Cahill Jagielka Baines
Townsend?!?! Gerrard Lampard Welbeck
Rooney Sturridge

WTF Townsend in so he can play 4-4-2 :S even though that formation wont suit us AT ALL. And on top no Wilshere? WTF

Jockmcplop

United Kingdom9809 Posts

October 11 2013 17:40 GMT

#6176

Gerrard and Lampard in 4-4-2.

Because it worked so well so many times before.

#facepalm

Pandemona

Charlie Sheens House51493 Posts

October 11 2013 17:47 GMT

#6177

And yeah that rofl >.< FML

3point14

Germany890 Posts

October 11 2013 19:18 GMT

#6178

Kroos again launching monkeys into space

WhiZ

Sweden853 Posts

October 11 2013 19:33 GMT

#6179

aaaaaand austria gets the offside goal. so fun.

Twisted

Netherlands13554 Posts

October 11 2013 19:34 GMT

#6180

The Netherlands are playing pretty well! 4-0 up so far (also one wrongly disallowed goal in the third minute) in the first 45 minutes and van Persie has scored twice which means he's tied with assistant coach Patrik Kluivert with 40 goals for most goals scored in the Dutch national team.

Van Persie honored him by going straight to him after the goal, was a nice gesture