England will not be seeded in Brazil next summer

World Cup 2014: England will not be seeded in Brazil next summer

England's failure to qualify as one of eight seeded teams for the 2014 World Cup has been confirmed with the release of the latest Fifa rankings.
Hosts Brazil and the top seven ranked qualifiers will be kept apart in the group stages of next year's tournament.

England, who climb from 17th to 10th spot, will be in a European pot.
"It's pretty unnecessary to worry too much about whether we are the first or second out of the hat [on 6 December]," said England manger Roy Hodgson.

Each of the eight seeds will be assigned a group in the World Cup finals draw.
Those groups will be completed by teams from three different geographical regions.

England will have to face one of Brazil, Spain, Argentina, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Colombia and probably Uruguay.

Uruguay's place in Brazil depends on them winning a play-off against Jordan next month. If they are beaten in the two-legged tie, the Netherlands will take the final seed ahead of Italy.

The rankings' emphasis on recent results rather than teams' record in major tournaments means 2010 World Cup runners-up Netherlands and 2006 winners Italy miss out on being kept apart from the other traditional powerhouses of world football.

As fellow European nations, however, they would be kept apart from England.

France coach Didier Deschamps, whose side have to win a two-legged play-off to make the finals after being beaten by Spain in their qualifying group, has criticised the system.

"From my point of view it's not very logical,'' said the former Chelsea midfielder.

He added that it was a "double punishment" that his side were in Group I, the only European one with five rather than six teams, meaning they had two fewer matches to earn ranking points.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24562306

Switzerland?!?!?!?

Originally Posted by Lok

Switzerland?!?!?!?

Rankings.

So Colombia find themselves seeded when they haven't even qualified for a World Cup since 1998

Uruguay in the playoffs - yet would be seeded if they get through.

It's a bit of a weird system all right.

Mental.

How have Switzerland got a higher ranking than the beaten finalists of the last World Cup and Euro's?!?

who cares. harder the group as possible. dont want any excuses when we win it

does it really matter?

england have already avoided italy, holland, portugal and france

Originally Posted by Ginners

who cares. harder the group as possible. dont want any excuses when we win it

To be fair, this England have been a slightly more tolerable proposition recently. Watching them the other night with no Terry, no Cole, fewer shocking cloggers like Barry, Milner, Parker etc. Was almost a side worth liking.

Not gonna go now

Originally Posted by Ginners

who cares. harder the group as possible. dont want any excuses when we win it

Exactly, playing against more serious opponents might actually bring the best out of us. We usually £#%&! up against the mediocre nations.

Originally Posted by Sparky***

Exactly, playing against more serious opponents might actually bring the best out of us. We usually £#%&! up against the mediocre nations.

Not really. You do always get through the groups (maybe huffing and puffing at times but you get there), but the against the really top teams are where you get found out.

Originally Posted by Sparky***

Exactly, playing against more serious opponents might actually bring the best out of us. We usually £#%&! up against the mediocre nations.

How many games against top teams have England beaten at a major championship in the last 20 years? 30 years even.

Originally Posted by Sparky***

Exactly, playing against more serious opponents might actually bring the best out of us. We usually £#%&! up against the mediocre nations.

Yep, Brazil, Portugal, Germany and Italy are all pretty shit

Originally Posted by andyroo

Not really. You do always get through the groups (maybe huffing and puffing at times but you get there), but the against the really top teams are where you get found out.

Originally Posted by dodger

How many games against top teams have England beaten at a major championship in the last 20 years? 30 years even.

Originally Posted by barca99

Yep, Brazil, Portugal, Germany and Italy are all pretty shit

Jesus, that didn't take long did it.

Originally Posted by Sparky***

Jesus, that didn't take long did it.

still

Originally Posted by Sparky***

Jesus, that didn't take long did it.

I wasn't having a go. I'm not one of these Anyone But England types... well not the football team anyway, cricket's another story

Originally Posted by Sparky***

Jesus, that didn't take long did it.

I see what you mean, people say it with United in the champions league group stages. Getting a harder draw brings the best out in players and it does with United from time to time but with England!

Originally Posted by S/Side.Red

To be fair, this England have been a slightly more tolerable proposition recently. Watching them the other night with no Terry, no Cole, fewer shocking cloggers like Barry, Milner, Parker etc. Was almost a side worth liking.

can't be overstated just what a difference it makes just by not having those players in the team. carragher is another one. there's still a couple who need £#%&!ing off out of it, but it could yet turn into a likeable team playing decent football.

Originally Posted by barca99

I see what you mean, people say it with United in the champions league group stages. Getting a harder draw brings the best out in players and it does with United from time to time but with England!

I'm serious. The more of a "we've got nothing to lose" attitude we can foster the better. Being underdogs would suit us better because it may tone down the pressure and unbearable jingoistic press-led hype.

Originally Posted by Sparky***

I'm serious. The more of a "we've got nothing to lose" attitude we can foster the better. Being underdogs would suit us better because it may tone down the pressure and unbearable jingoistic press-led hype.

That "E.A.S.Y." headline after the group draw last time out :shakehead: