Cheating Germans FIX the World Cup draw...

[Gwylan]

It's not always the previous winners who play the first game. England played the opening game of the 1966 WC ... and, yes, they were in Group A.

 

[Easy 10]

No Easy I think YOU are right. Winner of Group A plays the runner up of Group B in the 2nd Round, with the winner of B playing the runner up of A. The winner of the Winner A vs Runner up B plays the winner of the Winner C vs Runner Up D, with the winner of Winner B vs Runner Up A plays the winner of the 2nd Round game between Winner D vs Runner Up C.

It's pretty f***ing simple.

The DFB gave Brazil & Germany groups F & A because those two groups have the biggest venues (Berlin & Dortmund) meaning the two popular sides would have the biggest audiences. The fact that this also meant the two of them avoided each other was surely an oversight.

Cheers Shelts, I feel better now.
The reasoning is fair enough, obviously they should have the biggest venues. But they could've allocated those venues to whatever groups they liked after the draw couldn't they ? A rather CONVENIENT oversight methinks.

 

[Robot Chicken]

Cheers Shelts, I feel better now.
The reasoning is fair enough, obviously they should have the biggest venues. But they could've allocated those venues to whatever groups they liked after the draw couldn't they ? A rather CONVENIENT oversight methinks.

I thought the venues are already allocated to various groups before the draw is made?

 

[Ex Shelton Seagull]

Although Artois is right in saying that Germany could meet Brazil in the s/final, this would have to result from Germany finishing as runner-up in one of the most piss poor groups i've EVER seen in a World Cup. How "lucky" of them.

 

[perseus]

South Korea have got an easy draw. Them and Germany.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Are you sure about that ?



I always thought it was the hosts. I'm sure the first game is Germany v Costa Rica. Uncle Buck'll know.

In the past it has been the previous winners, last time it was France v Senegal and before that it was Brazil v Scotland.

However this is the first tournament that the holders have had to qualify for, so as that fixture was not a dead cert it meant it could not happen.

If the Hermans cannot play Brazil until the final, then that must mean we cannot either, as our group will play the teams from the Germans group in the second round.

 

[Easy 10]

Already hard that we can meet Brazil in the Semi's, so I guess that means that the Germans have only cheated to an extent.

But they're still cheats.

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

If the Hermans cannot play Brazil until the final, then that must mean we cannot either, as our group will play the teams from the Germans group in the second round.

Apparently we can. I did the BBc world cup predictor thingy.
england got knocked out by goofytoothed ronaldinho and co in the semi's.

 

[Gritt23]

I wish it was true, because then we would avoid Brazil until the Final, once we knock Germany out.

Anyone know who we are likely to meet in the Qtr Finals?

 

[Easy 10]

You'd think with all his money, he'd get his gob fixed wouldn't you. Ronaldo is almost as bad - they could both eat an apple through a tennis raquet.

 

[Easy 10]

I wish it was true, because then we would avoid Brazil until the Final, once we knock Germany out.

Anyone know who we are likely to meet in the Qtr Finals?

Dunno. I have England going out to Poland in the 2nd round after Sven plays Gerrard/Lampard in the middle (again), Rooney on the left wing, and Crouch up front on his own. Owen had already flounced off after being asked to play a holding midfield role because Sven forgot to bring one along to the tournament, and besides, "Owen eees Owen - he can do anything". Ferdinand switches off during a corner wondering what to do with his cash bonus, and the ball goes in off Crouch's elbow.

Terrible day. Terrible.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

So it may be better to come second in the group?

 

[Easy 10]

Could be.
Seriously though, how sweet would that be, dumping the Germans out of their own tournament nice and early. Mmmmmmm, that would feel soooooo good.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Could be.
Seriously though, how sweet would that be, dumping the Germans out of their own tournament nice and early. Mmmmmmm, that would feel soooooo good.

But pressumably we will not, as Sven is incharge.

 

[CHAPPERS]

But pressumably we will not, as Sven is incharge.

As if there wasn't enough agro on here at the moment!

 

[Robot Chicken]

According to the BBC World Cup Predictor http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/shared/spl/hi/predictor/html/football/world_cup_06/default.stm#

I had it as follows:

We win our group
We play Poland in the Second Round
Holland in the Quarters

The other Quarter Finals:
Germany v Argentina
Italy v France
Brazil v Spain

So we're headed for a Brazil semi final...meanwhile I can't see the Germans getting past Argentina in the Quarters.

My Semi Final line-up
Argentina v Italy
England v Brazil

Mouthwatering. The only danger is Holland in Group C.

I haven't taken into account any shocks. There's always one or two.

 

[Easy 10]

But pressumably we will not, as Sven is incharge.

Depends dunnit. If he picks a balanced team with a holding midfielder, a team that has shape, then we have a very good chance. THIS team, in my opinion, would go close:

Robinson
Neville Campbell Terry A Cole
Beckham Lampard (King/Carrick/Parker *) J Cole
Owen Rooney

* Svens mission between now and the summer is to find the holding midfielder, and it should probably be one of those three between King/Carrick/Parker

If however, Sven decides he simply cannot bear to split Lampard/Gerrard in the centre, then I see nothing to suggest that all the old problems won't come home to roost once we meet someone semi-decent. It's really not rocket science, although it seems to be for Sven.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

I think it's fair to say Germany are probably pretty happy with their group opponents. Much like we are, although I think Sweden will be tougher than Poland.

Italy or Argentina's groups are surely candidates for Group of Death.

I'm looking forward to it, it should be a great tournament, providing England's pond-life element can be kept away.

It will be immensely embarrassing if they're allowed to get to Germany and then crowd round the stadiums and cities singing "ten German bombers", "I'd rather be a Paki than a Kraut" or the Dambusters theme.

 

[Robot Chicken]

Italy or Argentina's groups are surely candidates for Group of Death.

I don't think there's a Group of Death this time...
Argentina and Holland in Group C - Serbia won't compare. I'm discounting Ivory Coast, maybe wrongly?

Italy, Czech Republic, USA and Ghana. Again, I'm going to discount Ghana. I will predict that Italy will win the group and as for the other qualifier...I think the Czechs.

Okay, that group is the nearest to a Group of Death but it won't be a surprise if the Czechs or USA don't qualify. Which surely marks a Group of Death.

 

[Easy 10]

Italy, Czech Republic, USA and Ghana. Again, I'm going to discount Ghana. I will predict that Italy will win the group and as for the other qualifier...I think the Czechs.

Okay, that group is the nearest to a Group of Death but it won't be a surprise if the Czechs or USA don't qualify. Which surely marks a Group of Death.

The Czech/USA game will be key in that group, as its those two who'll be scrapping for 2nd. The Czechs should have too much nouse for the Yanks as they qualified impressively, but I wouldn't have it down as a completely foregone conclusion, as the yanks seem to be getting better year by year.

Its a very interesting group. Could be tight.