Why seeded groups in the world cup is crap.

[rolymiller]

...just watching the Denmark / france game and its rubbish. OK Denmark need a point but france don't need owt so hardly means an entertaining game. Same with Russia/ uruguay yesterday teams nowt to play for. If the teams werent seeded there would probably be less chance of the last group game being a waste of time plus there would also be a chance of one of the big boys being knocked out at group stage and one of the titches getting through. Same goes for the qualifying rounds really. Lets face it the teams England beat to get to the finals did not really prepare england for facing the big boys most Rotherham pub teams would have give em a good game.

[Silly-miller]

Down side to that is there’s a chance that all big teams could be knocked out before semi finals and no one would want to see a crap final match.

But it’s gonna be worse when USA Canada and Mexico hold it since only 5 more teams will be added to pot 1 and chances are two big teams like Germany and Brazil will be in same group

[mikemiller]

It was probably a trade off for increasing the number of teams participating. In effect, nearly all the groups get an extra "dozy dog". A couple of the groups this time are fairly evenly matched though . Has it ever been unseeded, or geographically unseparated? It would be a bit odd if a team got through the qualifying stage and then got drawn against the same teams again, as several teams now qualify from the same group.

[ragingpup]

..Lets face it the teams England beat to get to the finals did not really prepare england for facing the big boys most Rotherham pub teams would have give em a good game.

Howdy and Grist would back you here. According to them, Rotherham pub leagues are the all conquering quality standard. Not the bunch of aimless, hungover, sweaty, pot bellied lard arses that some of us thought... ;-)

[rolymiller]

...you forgot the term "doped up" as well raging. I watch quite a bit of Sunday league and the number of players who go off at half time to have a spliff of god knows what is incredible. It is sad that football at that level has been hijacked by some of the rougher elements of society. Maybe I'm turning into a grist by saying that eh? It must be a bit intimidating for decent living lads who want to have a kick about on a Sunday. (And its usually them who get "kicked about" poor buggers!)

Perhaps it can be argued that football as a sport even at the professional level has been hijacked by a lot of rough arses.

[mellowmiller]

I think it's difficult to put groups together without seeding teams but I agree that some of the third games are a waste of time.
When the group stages are over I think it would be a lot more interesting if the 16 teams who get through are put into a hat and drawn out just like in the FA Cup.
I don't like the idea of knowing who you will or could play in.the next round as this allows group games to be manipulated, ie you may want to lose your 3rd group game so you avoid one of the big guns in the next round and that doesn't seem healthy.
A straightforward draw in the last 16 would eliminate any skullduggery in the group games.
OK you may end up.with some of the so called stronger nations being drawn against each other but does that matter? That's what cup football should be about.

[rolymiller]

Yep decent points Mellow. Suppose one of the things you could do to have a better chance of teams having summat to play for in last game when groups are seeded, is to to ensure big boys play each other first. Then at least one of the teams will have some catching up to do in the other games against the mickeys. It also means at least one of the mickeys may have a good start and have summat to play for later on in the group games.

[mellowmiller]

Yep decent points Mellow. Suppose one of the things you could do to have a better chance of teams having summat to play for in last game when groups are seeded, is to to ensure big boys play each other first. Then at least one of the teams will have some catching up to do in the other games against the mickeys. It also means at least one of the mickeys may have a good start and have summat to play for later on in the group games.

Actually that's what happened in the Spain/Portugal group and it did make the 3rd games last night more interesting.

[jocksgloves]

In 1970, England and Brazil were in the same group, and produ ed a magnificent game. Should have been the final. Brazil thrashed everyone else .

[rolymiller]

Its just been said on telly now that Belgium are thinking about changing 10 players againat England cos they want to finish second because it will give em an easier passage to the semis. If England think the same, they will both want to lose this game! Not conducive to a good game is it and rather farcical somewhat eh?