Why seeded groups in the world cup is crap.

[fc_miller]

Like said in this thread, do a fresh draw in rnd of 16.
Pot 1 with teams that finished top, pot 2 teams that finished 2nd.
Then no one knows which route they will get in the group stage.

[Grist_To_The_Mill]

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... ;-)

That they may be but still more entertaining than women’s football.

It’s not a very high bar to get over.

Still the sheep seem to like it.

[Grist_To_The_Mill]

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?

Other than finishing second for a draw advantage, both England and Belgium will be wanting to avoid injuries and bookings.

“Bragging rights” might lift it but it might be a very feminine game.

[mikemiller]

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.

The "Seedsters" seem to be good judges though - of the four groups completed so far , 8 out of 8 favourites are through to the next stage. Can't see that pattern changing much. Only possible exception is Group H, where the teams are fairly evenly matched (in my view anyway) and there is no obvious favourite. Doesn't look like any rank-outsider will be progressing very far, let alone making it to the final.
I'd love to be proved wrong though.

[Grist_To_The_Mill]

The "Seedsters" seem to be good judges though - of the four groups completed so far , 8 out of 8 favourites are through to the next stage. Can't see that pattern changing much. Only possible exception is Group H, where the teams are fairly evenly matched (in my view anyway) and there is no obvious favourite. Doesn't look like any rank-outsider will be progressing very far, let alone making it to the final.
I'd love to be proved wrong though.

True about no obvious favourite, I’ve not seen a stand out team yet, the big boys have had lack lustre starts.

Had it not been for VAR adding to the entertainment most of it would have been quite uneventful

[millavanilla]

After losing to mexico, toni kroos gets a last gasp winner against sweden..they never give up.. even when theyre not playing well..they dominate the ball arrogantly ( as well as my sunbed) because it comes natural.."we're better than you"..dont you just know whats going to happen...hope not..

[WanChaiMiller]

Its the most exciting World Cup group games Ive ever seen. Sides seem prepared to attack. Maybe not the best quality. But Iran / Portugal Spain / Morocco was really good.

[millavanilla]

After losing to mexico, toni kroos gets a last gasp winner against sweden..they never give up.. even when theyre not playing well..they dominate the ball arrogantly ( as well as my sunbed) because it comes natural.."we're better than you"..dont you just know whats going to happen...hope not..

I know its not this thread, but i take it all back...var is brilliant!..no fifth star on the shirt for a while..ive just won the world cup on my own...

[mikemiller]

The "Seedsters", rather surprisingly got Group F wrong! I think that Switzerland were ranked higher than Serbia, so ok on Group E.
11 out of 12 " favourites to progress" correct so far

[mikemiller]

Only possible exception is Group H, where the teams are fairly evenly matched (in my view anyway) and there is no obvious favourite.

Couldn't have got much closer - Japan progress on Fair Play rule, as runner-up to Columbia