World Cup draw

[Colbert Report]

When is it?
How many groups are there going to be?
How does the seeding work? What seed will we be?
How many qualify? Group winners, then winners of a playoff between the runners-up?
Where can one follow it online?

[kingdomkerry]

World Cup 2010 draw to take place in Durban next November Thursday, 14 December 2006 The draw for the qualifying round of the 2010 World Cup will take place in Durban, it was confirmed yesterday, on November 25th and broadcast live to 200 countries.
The press briefing yesterday, fronted by LOC Chairman Irvin Khoza also confirmed that from November 27th next year Durban will play host to a series of meetings by officials from the world governing body FIFA to discuss preparations for the tournament.
Khoza confirmed that as well as FIFA representatives, national team coaches are expected to attend the event in Durban.
In other news from yesterday, Cape Town was warned that it would be deprived of a role in the 2010 World Cup if it delays the construction of a new stadium. "The LOC will not tolerate any delay. If there is any delay in Cape Town, Cape Town is out," Khoza said.
Green Point residents are considering legal action as the planned new stadium is to be built on municipal football pitches and a public golf course while the existing stadium in Green Point, remains.
The real threat to Cape Town is that if development doesn't begin early next year there is every chance they could lose the matches planned for the City, including a semi-final, as FIFA are increasing the pressure on the 2010 LOC to get things under development.
Negotiations are ongoing with the Cape Town municipality and an announcement is expected later this month according to Danny Jordaan, CEO of the 2010 World Cup LOC.

[ofjames]

When is it?
How many groups are there going to be?
How does the seeding work? What seed will we be?
How many qualify? Group winners, then winners of a playoff between the runners-up?
Where can one follow it online?

As far as i know there will be 9 groups in the european qualification section. With each group containing 5 or 6 teams, there will probably be 4 five-team groups and 5 six-team groups....something like that

The seeding is based on the current world rankings of the UEFA nations. On this basis, we will fit comfortably inside the third seed pot

All the 9 group winners qualify automatically. Unfortunately however, playoffs are back on the agenda for the teams finishing in second. Worse still, as europe has only been given 13 qualification slots, only 8 of the 9 second place teams will qualify for a playoff. The second placed team with the worse record will NOT gain a playoff spot!!

(Clearly this qualification structure is much tougher than the one that was in place for euro 2008!!)

As regards the when and the how, I'm not exactly sure. I think the draw is before christmas mind

[Colbert Report]

Thanks lads. I'm worried though - if we finish second in a five team group, surely we'll have less points than a second placed team in a six team group? They'll have had two more matches than us to rack up points. Surely this must be taken into account. How do they decided the "best" eight of the nine runners up? It's a very subjective thing - hopefully they don't use the UEFA rankings.

If anyone knows where I can find the list of seeds, I'd love to see it. Hopefully we get a good draw.

[kingdomkerry]

Seeding information is in 'the official seedings thread' below.

Draw is on Sunday 25th of November. Fingers crossed we get a handy draw, though knowing us we would probably do better in a tough draw!

[Qwerty]

UEFA really needs to do a better job for it's members, Typically of the last 8, European teams make up 6 of the quarterfinalists. I don't see why under-performing zones keep getting easy groups. The U.S. basically walks into the World Cup along with Mexico.

[SÓC]

UEFA really needs to do a better job for it's members, Typically of the last 8, European teams make up 6 of the quarterfinalists. I don't see why under-performing zones keep getting easy groups. The U.S. basically walks into the World Cup along with Mexico.

Ask yourself how Blatter gets elected...

...with goons like Jack Warner and Co back him up so these regions get the extra spots.

Have a read off Andrew Jenning's book Foul some time. Cracking read, exposes a lot of the FIFA corruption which we have witnessed personally at Cork City

[Schumi]

if we finish second in a five team group, surely we'll have less points than a second placed team in a six team group? They'll have had two more matches than us to rack up points. Surely this must be taken into account.

The results against the team that finishes bottom of a 6-team group probably won't count for deciding the worst 2nd placed team.

[Superhoops]

As far as i know there will be 9 groups in the european qualification section. With each group containing 5 or 6 teams, there will probably be 4 five-team groups and 5 six-team groups....something like that

The seeding is based on the current world rankings of the UEFA nations. On this basis, we will fit comfortably inside the third seed pot

All the 9 group winners qualify automatically. Unfortunately however, playoffs are back on the agenda for the teams finishing in second. Worse still, as europe has only been given 13 qualification slots, only 8 of the 9 second place teams will qualify for a playoff. The second placed team with the worse record will NOT gain a playoff spot!!

(Clearly this qualification structure is much tougher than the one that was in place for euro 2008!!)

As regards the when and the how, I'm not exactly sure. I think the draw is before christmas mind

There are 53 teams in the European zone with 13 places in the finals up for grabs.

The teams will be drawn into 8 groups of 6 and 1 group of 5. The 9 group winners will qualify automatically and the best 8 runners up will be drawn in four home and away ties, with the winners of each of these ties going through to the finals.

These will be no disadvantage in being drawn in a 5 team group, as the results against the sixth seeded teams do not count in deciding the best 8 runners-up.

The draw takes place next Sunday afternoon, 25th November, in Durban, starting 3pm our time. The seedings will be based on the latest FIFA rankings which will be published on 23rd November.

Using the October rankings the seedings would be:
First Seeds: Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Holland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Croatia and England
Second Seeds: Romania, Scotland, Greece, Russia, Poland, Norway, Ukraine, Sweden and Serbia.
Third Seeds: Turkey, Denmark, Republic of Ireland, Bulgaria, Northern Ireland, Israel, Switzerland, Finland and Hungary,
Fourth Seeds: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Slovakia, Belgium, Cyprus, Wales, Moldova, Albania, Georgia and FYR Macedonia.
Fifth Seeds: Slovenia, Iceland, Armenia, Latvia, Austria, Lithuania, Belarus, Azerbiajan and Liechtenstein
Sixth Seeds: Kazakhstan, Estonia, Malta, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Andorra, Faroe Islands and Andorra

From a footballing point of view, I would be happy with:
Czech Republic or Croatia
Romania or Norway
Wales or Albania
Liechtenstein or Lithuania
Any of the sixth seeds bar Estonia.

[tricky_colour]

First Seeds: Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Holland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Croatia and England
Second Seeds: Romania, Scotland, Greece, Russia, Poland, Norway, Ukraine, Sweden and Serbia.
Third Seeds: Turkey, Denmark, Republic of Ireland, Bulgaria, Northern Ireland, Israel, Switzerland, Finland and Hungary,
Fourth Seeds: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Slovakia, Belgium, Cyprus, Wales, Moldova, Albania, Georgia and FYR Macedonia.
Fifth Seeds: Slovenia, Iceland, Armenia, Latvia, Austria, Lithuania, Belarus, Azerbiajan and Liechtenstein
Sixth Seeds: Kazakhstan, Estonia, Malta, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Andorra, Faroe Islands and Andorra

You can see how unlucky we were for Euro 2008 we had two first seeds in our group. (two other groups, Englands and Scotlands also had two first seeds in them).

Anyway I am very happy with the groups, none of the second seeds really scare me too much, would rather avoid Romania and Russia though.
England Croatia or Portugal would be easier first seeds. I think we could get the easiest group for a long time.

As long as we avoid Cyprus we will qualify

[danonion]

Montenegro as bottom seeds would be a disaster IMO

[danonion]

I'm disappointed we can't draw the wee north

[RogerMilla]

Montenegro as bottom seeds would be a disaster IMO

agreed

[RogerMilla]

I'm disappointed we can't draw the wee north

I'm not !

[drinkfeckarse]

I'd be happy with:

Czech Republic
Ukraine, Norway or Scotland
Albania
Liechtenstein
Andorra

[McShels]

My preferred choice

England, Scotland, Wales, Lichtenstein, Andorra.

Easy group for us!!!!!!!!

[elroy]

agreed

Well considering how well we despatched San marino earlier this year, we shoult hope to avoid them. No but seriously montenegro would not be good. The group with liecht as the fifth seeds will probably be the group that the top two finish with the highest points out of all the groups.

[shakermaker1982]

The group of death would look something along these lines IMO........

Italy
Sweden/Poland
Ireland
Slovakia
Slovenia
Montenegro

The group of life (get booking your tickets for South Africa.....if only!!!)

Croatia
Norway
Ireland
Albania
Liechtenstein
San Marino

[Wolfie]

The group of death would look something along these lines IMO........

Italy
Sweden/Poland
Ireland
Slovakia
Slovenia
Montenegro

The group of life (get booking your tickets for South Africa.....if only!!!)

Croatia
Norway
Ireland
Albania
Liechtenstein
San Marino

I think we'd struggle in the group of life such is our current malaise.

[EalingGreen]

I'm disappointed we can't draw the wee north

I'm not - but only because of all the political crap and knuckle-draggers it would attract out from under their stones.

On thr playing front, you might beat us in Croke, but I'd put my mortgage on our winning at Fortress Windsor!