Soccer update

[Estonut]

Or do the smileys mean ignore everything I've just said?

The username usually means that...

[andrewjackson]

The seeding and pot assignments for the World Cup draw this Friday have been set. FIFA decided to junk the old formula for seeding since it didn't give the results they wanted (i.e. France) and just went with the top 7 in the October FIFA rankings. One team will be drawn from each pot for each 4 team group in next summer's World Cup. The exception from that is that teams from the same continent cannot be drawn together (except for Europe which can have a maximum of two teams in a group). So South Africa cannot be in a group with other African teams and Brazil/Argentina cannot be in a group with other South American teams.

Most U.S. fans were hoping that we would be in Pot C with the African teams because that would have meant a chance to be drawn with an Asia/Oceania team but it didn't happen. With the current pots the U.S. would prefer to be drawn into a group with South Africa, probably a South American team from Pot C, and one of the "S" European teams. We will probably get Brazil, Ivory Coast, and France.


Pot A (Host & Top seven)
South Africa
Brazil
Spain
Netherlands
Italy
Germany
Argentina
England

Pot B (Asia, North America & Oceania)
Australia
Japan
Korea DPR
Korea Republic
Honduras
Mexico
United States
New Zealand

Pot C (Africa & South America)
Algeria
Cameroon
Côte d'Ivoire
Ghana
Nigeria
Chile
Paraguay
Uruguay

Pot D (Europe)
Denmark
France
Greece
Portugal
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Switzerland

[Snaxx]

Most U.S. fans were hoping that we would be in Pot C with the African teams because that would have meant a chance to be drawn with an Asia/Oceania team but it didn't happen. With the current pots the U.S. would prefer to be drawn into a group with South Africa, probably a South American team from Pot C, and one of the "S" European teams. We will probably get Brazil, Ivory Coast, and France.

Cool, that means we could get Italy, Ghana, and, um, Slovakia.

[SportsFan68]

GO SKYHAWKS!!!!!!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fort Lewis College soccer team reaches national final

Article Last Updated; Thursday, December 03, 2009 10:56AM

TAMPA, Fla. - The Fort Lewis College men's soccer team advanced to the national championship match with an 8-2 victory over Le Moyne College of Syracuse, N.Y., on Thursday afternoon in the NCAA Division II semifinals.

David Barden scored three goals, including two early in the second half.

Euan Purcell scored twice for FLC. His first goal, assisted by Sam Morris, tied the match 1-1 midway through the first half.

Barden put FLC ahead for good on a header goal, assisted by Tom Settle, late in the opening half.

Settle added FLC's sixth goal in the 78th minute.

Joe Barnd completed the scoring for the Skyhawks with two goals in the final 10 minutes.

Angelo Reina scored both goals for Le Moyne (17-3-3).

The Skyhawks, 23-1-0 and ranked No. 1 in the nation, will play for the NCAA Division II national title at 1:30 p.m. (MST) Saturday in Tampa against either Lewis University of Illinois (16-3-2) or Lees-McRae College of North Carolina (18-2-1).

The Fort Lewis College men's soccer team won the national title in 2005 and finished second in 2006.

[andrewjackson]

8-2 is a real butt creaming!

[SportsFan68]

8-2 is a real butt creaming!

Yep -- I hope they didn't use it all up today . . .

[Snaxx]

The USA group is

Group C:
England
USA
Algeria
Slovenia

England vs USA June 12 in Rustenburg
USA vs Slovenia June 18 in Johannesburg
USA vs Algeria June 23 in Tshwane/Pretoria

[andrewjackson]

The USA group is

Group C:
England
USA
Algeria
Slovenia

England vs USA June 12 in Rustenburg
USA vs Slovenia June 18 in Johannesburg
USA vs Algeria June 23 in Tshwane/Pretoria

I like this group! The U.S. should have a very good chance to advance.

[andrewjackson]

All the Groups:

Spoiler

Group A
South Africa
Mexico
Uruguay
France

Group B
Argentina
Nigeria
South Korea
Greece

Group C
England
United States
Algeria
Slovenia

Group D
Germany
Australia
Serbia
Ghana

Group E
Netherlands
Denmark
Japan
Cameroon

Group F
Italy
Paraguay
New Zealand
Slovakia

Group G
Brazil
North Korea
Ivory Coast
Portugal

Group H
Spain
Switzerland
Honduras
Chile

[DadofTwins]

Donovan v. Beckham in the opener.

You have to like the US draw, but the first knock-out game is going to be brutal (assuming you get that far). Likely the Germans or the Socceroos.

Group G is going to be tough. Brazil-Portugal-Ivory Coast. North Korea could easily give up double digit goals, and may not even score.

[Appa23]

Donovan v. Beckham in the opener.

You have to like the US draw, but the first knock-out game is going to be brutal (assuming you get that far). Likely the Germans or the Socceroos.

Group G is going to be tough. Brazil-Portugal-Ivory Coast. North Korea could easily give up double digit goals, and may not even score.

Australia may finish 4th in their group.

Top to bottom, that is likely the best (hardest group).

Group G will be a bloodbath of 3 top notch teams for 2 spots.

[andrewjackson]

Donovan v. Beckham in the opener.

You have to like the US draw, but the first knock-out game is going to be brutal (assuming you get that far). Likely the Germans or the Socceroos.

Group G is going to be brutal. Brazil-Portugal-Ivory Coast. North Korea could easily give up double digit goals, and may not even score.

I agree about the round of 16. Winning Group C is possible and would help a lot. I wouldn't count on Australia, though, from Group D. Serbia and Ghana will contend for that spot.

Group G sure looks to be the toughest group. I'm not sure there is a Group of Death where all four teams have a chance to advance but the competition between Brazil, Portugal, and Ivory Coast is probably the closest. Group A is also going to be a slugfest between Mexico, Uruguay, and France. No matter what HoltDad thinks.

[andrewjackson]

Donovan v. Beckham in the opener.

You have to like the US draw, but the first knock-out game is going to be brutal (assuming you get that far). Likely the Germans or the Socceroos.

Group G is going to be tough. Brazil-Portugal-Ivory Coast. North Korea could easily give up double digit goals, and may not even score.

Australia may finish 4th in their group.

Top to bottom, that is likely the best (nardest group).

The more I think about it the more I agree with HoltDad on this issue, Group D is probably the Group of Death.

[Appa23]

Donovan v. Beckham in the opener.

You have to like the US draw, but the first knock-out game is going to be brutal (assuming you get that far). Likely the Germans or the Socceroos.

Group G is going to be brutal. Brazil-Portugal-Ivory Coast. North Korea could easily give up double digit goals, and may not even score.

I agree about the round of 16. Winning Group C is possible and would help a lot. I wouldn't count on Australia, though, from Group D. Serbia and Ghana will contend for that spot.

Group G sure looks to be the toughest group. I'm not sure there is a Group of Death where all four teams have a chance to advance but the competition between Brazil, Portugal, and Ivory Coast is probably the closest. Group A is also going to be a slugfest between Mexico, Uruguay, and France. No matter what HoltDad thinks.

I guess that you mean that Mexico, Uruguay, and France all will be contending for the "Round of 16" spot other than South Africa. FIFA really likes having host countries succeed and move to the single-elimination rounds.

I did think that Mexico lucked out with its grouping, until I realized that there would be only 2 spots and they had the host team and France in the group.

USA was very fortunate in its draw. We can hold off on the rematches versus Spain and Brazil for as long as possible. <g>

[andrewjackson]

Donovan v. Beckham in the opener.

You have to like the US draw, but the first knock-out game is going to be brutal (assuming you get that far). Likely the Germans or the Socceroos.

Group G is going to be brutal. Brazil-Portugal-Ivory Coast. North Korea could easily give up double digit goals, and may not even score.

I agree about the round of 16. Winning Group C is possible and would help a lot. I wouldn't count on Australia, though, from Group D. Serbia and Ghana will contend for that spot.

Group G sure looks to be the toughest group. I'm not sure there is a Group of Death where all four teams have a chance to advance but the competition between Brazil, Portugal, and Ivory Coast is probably the closest. Group A is also going to be a slugfest between Mexico, Uruguay, and France. No matter what HoltDad thinks.

I guess that you mean that Mexico, Uruguay, and France all will be contending for the "Round of 16" spot other than South Africa. FIFA really likes having host countries succeed and move to the single-elimination rounds.

I did think that Mexico lucked out with its grouping, until I realized that there would be only 2 spots and they had the host team and France in the group.

I know FIFA likes to have the host advance but I don't see any way that will happen this time. South Africa will probably finish 4th. Uruguay is good. I am befuddled that you refuse to recognize this.

[DadofTwins]

I like Australia to finish second in Group D, but not by a wide margin. I agree that whoever finishes fourth in that group will be the best fourth-place finisher in the tournament.

I'm not sold on Mexico. They got a good draw, but they looked really bad at times in qualifying. Granted, they came together late when they had to, but for a while there was some doubt whether they would even make it to South Africa. El Tri can either be really good or really bad, depending on the day. There's not a lot of middle ground there.

[Appa23]

I agree about the round of 16. Winning Group C is possible and would help a lot. I wouldn't count on Australia, though, from Group D. Serbia and Ghana will contend for that spot.

Group G sure looks to be the toughest group. I'm not sure there is a Group of Death where all four teams have a chance to advance but the competition between Brazil, Portugal, and Ivory Coast is probably the closest. Group A is also going to be a slugfest between Mexico, Uruguay, and France. No matter what HoltDad thinks.

I guess that you mean that Mexico, Uruguay, and France all will be contending for the "Round of 16" spot other than South Africa. FIFA really likes having host countries succeed and move to the single-elimination rounds.

I did think that Mexico lucked out with its grouping, until I realized that there would be only 2 spots and they had the host team and France in the group.

I know FIFA likes to have the host advance but I don't see any way that will happen this time. South Africa will probably finish 4th. Uruguay is good. I am befuddled that you refuse to recognize this.

I am somewhat kidding about South Africa being "guaranteed" a spot. It is just one of those underlying thoughts that I would not be surprised if South Africa has several calls in its favor during games. I would not be surprised if Mexico finishes 4th in the group.

We will see how things play out in 6 months. I hardly can wait.

[andrewjackson]

I like Australia to finish second in Group D, but not by a wide margin. I agree that whoever finishes fourth in that group will be the best fourth-place finisher in the tournament.

I'm not sold on Mexico. They got a good draw, but they looked really bad at times in qualifying. Granted, they came together late when they had to, but for a while there was some doubt whether they would even make it to South Africa. El Tri can either be really good or really bad, depending on the day. There's not a lot of middle ground there.

Mexico has advanced every World Cup since 1978. People thought they were in trouble in qualifying early but a lot of that was the schedule. Their games:

@ USA - lost 2-0
Costa Rica - won 2-0
@ Honduras - lost 3-1
@ El Salvador - lost 2-1

At that point they looked in trouble but they were the only team to play 3 road games.

T&T - won 2-1
USA - won 2-1
@ Costa Rica - won 3-0
Honduras - won 1-0
El Salvador - won 4-1

Five straight wins and they locked up qualification. They were never really in trouble.

@ T&T - tied 2-2

[snomaim]

Donovan v. Beckham in the opener.

You have to like the US draw, but the first knock-out game is going to be brutal (assuming you get that far). Likely the Germans or the Socceroos.

Group G is going to be tough. Brazil-Portugal-Ivory Coast. North Korea could easily give up double digit goals, and may not even score.

Back in 1966, North Korea pulled off one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history when it defeated Italy 1-0 and reached the quarterfinals where it took a 3-0 lead against Portugal but then lost 5-3 when Eusebio of Portugal led a comeback with four goals.

[silverscreenselect]

Donovan v. Beckham in the opener.

You have to like the US draw, but the first knock-out game is going to be brutal (assuming you get that far). Likely the Germans or the Socceroos.

Group G is going to be tough. Brazil-Portugal-Ivory Coast. North Korea could easily give up double digit goals, and may not even score.

Back in 1966, North Korea pulled off one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history when it defeated Italy 1-0 and reached the quarterfinals where it took a 3-0 lead against Portugal but then lost 5-3 when Eusebio of Portugal led a comeback with four goals.

Back in 1966, the Baltimore Orioles pulled off one of the biggest upsets in World Series history, sweeping the heavily favored Los Angeles Dodgers.

I doubt you could use that as an indication of what's likely to happen in 2010.

[DadofTwins]

I like Australia to finish second in Group D, but not by a wide margin. I agree that whoever finishes fourth in that group will be the best fourth-place finisher in the tournament.

I'm not sold on Mexico. They got a good draw, but they looked really bad at times in qualifying. Granted, they came together late when they had to, but for a while there was some doubt whether they would even make it to South Africa. El Tri can either be really good or really bad, depending on the day. There's not a lot of middle ground there.

Mexico has advanced every World Cup since 1978. People thought they were in trouble in qualifying early but a lot of that was the schedule. Their games:

@ USA - lost 2-0
Costa Rica - won 2-0
@ Honduras - lost 3-1
@ El Salvador - lost 2-1

At that point they looked in trouble but they were the only team to play 3 road games.

T&T - won 2-1
USA - won 2-1
@ Costa Rica - won 3-0
Honduras - won 1-0
El Salvador - won 4-1

Five straight wins and they locked up qualification. They were never really in trouble.

@ T&T - tied 2-2

Plus, they made a coaching change just before the first El Salvador game. Anytime a team changes coaches mid-competition, it leaves me with doubts about the players on the field. So far so good for El Tri, but we'll see . . .

[andrewjackson]

I just got an email from my apartment complex management company warning me that the pipes might freeze tonight. We are supposed to have our thermostats set at least at 60, leave a tap running, and open the cabinet doors below the sinks.

Just like in Michigan.

When it's below 0.

It's dropping all the way to 25. 25. The pipes are not going to freeze. Sheeeesh.

[Snaxx]

Fort Lewis College won the Division II title 1-0 vs Lees-McRae College and was the banner front page story in the Durango Herald today.

[silvercamaro]

Fort Lewis College won the Division II title 1-0 vs Lees-McRae College and was the banner front page story in the Durango Herald today.

Hurray for the Skyhawks!

[SportsFan68]

Thanks, Snaxx and SC!!

VICTORY! screamed the headline!

It was a blast.

Now Casey doesn't like football or soccer -- all that yelling, you know.