# World Cup qualification matches **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 26, 2013, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-qualification-matches/654036 "2013-03-26T19:37:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![polar\_bear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@polar\_bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/polar_bear)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-qualification-matches/654036/241 "2013-11-21T22:06:59Z")
I would expect it to have happened in the ‘old days’ when there were only 16 teams or less. Recently we had euro 2008 which had a group with WC 2006 finalists France and Italy. The group was eventually won by the Netherlands (talking about group of death!) after beating both by three goals. Not exactly what you asked for… but ahh, the memories ;). ---
**Author:** ![Esco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9de053/32.png) [@Esco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esco)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-qualification-matches/654036/242 "2013-11-21T22:31:41Z")
These would be the toughest draws IMO: Brazil, Mexico (or USA), France, Holland Brazil, Mexico (or USA), France, Italy Germany, Mexico (or USA), France, Holland Germany, Mexico (or USA), France, Italy ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-qualification-matches/654036/243 "2013-11-21T23:48:30Z")
I thought I’d have a look: 1934 - no groups and defending champs Uruguay didn’t travel to Europe. 1938 - no groups 1950 - Groups but losing finalist Czechslovakia didn’t play. No final per se but the last game in the winning group round between Uruguay and Brazil decided the winner. 1954 - Groups with Brazil and Uruguay drawn in different groups. 1958 - Groups but Hungary and West Germany in separate groups. 1962 - Groups but losing finalist from 1958 Sweden wasn’t there. 1966 - Same as 1962 - losing finalist Czechoslovakia didn’t attend. 1970 - West Germany and England in separate groups 1974 - Brazil and Italy in separate groups. 1978 - Netherlands and West Germany in separate groups. 1982 - Netherlands failed to qualify 1986 - Italy and West Germany in separate groups 1990 - West Germany and Argentina in separate groups 1994 - West Germany and Argentina in separate groups 1998 - Brazil and Italy in separate groups 2002 - France and Brazil in separate groups 2006 - Germany and Brazil in separate groups 2010 - Italy and France in separate groups. I really hope it happens just for giggles. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-qualification-matches/654036/244 "2013-11-22T01:08:50Z")
> [@Esco](#): > > These would be the toughest draws IMO: > > Brazil, Mexico (or USA), France, Holland > Brazil, Mexico (or USA), France, Italy > Germany, Mexico (or USA), France, Holland > Germany, Mexico (or USA), France, Italy Holland, Italy, Mexico & the USA are all strong candidates to be in a “Group of Death”. Maybe Japan too. That’s assuming the teams are sorted into the pots the way they’ve historically been. Which sucks since I’m a huge fan of two of those teams. ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-qualification-matches/654036/245 "2013-11-22T01:51:52Z")
> [@Esco](#): > > These would be the toughest draws IMO: > > Brazil, Mexico (or USA), France, Holland > Brazil, Mexico (or USA), France, Italy > Germany, Mexico (or USA), France, Holland > Germany, Mexico (or USA), France, Italy I think it’s a safe bet that the format of the draw won’t allow there to be more than two UEFA teams per group ruling out the last two possibilties If we assume the likely format is: Pot 1: seeds, Pot 2: unseeded UEFA, Pot 3/Pot 3 + ‘special’ Pot: CAF, unseeded CONMEBOL + France (as lowest ranked UEFA team), Pot 4: AFC and CONCACAF, For the toughest possible group I’d take Brazil from pot 1 as it would be almost inconceivable for them to go out in the 1st round on their home turf and also as a non-UEFA team it allows France to be in the group. Italy from pot 2 as again they’re very unlikely to slip up in the 1st round. France from Pot 3, though Chile would also be a tough team. USA from Pot 4 or maybe Japan (I wouldn’t Mexico though as they are a complete shambles at the moment). ---
**Author:** ![Esco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9de053/32.png) [@Esco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esco)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2013, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-qualification-matches/654036/246 "2013-12-03T00:30:29Z")
Another draw simulator. This is one is more elaborate: > **[World Cup draw 2014: create your own – interactive](https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2013/dec/world-cup-draw-2014-create-your-own-draw-interactive)** > > The 2014 World Cup draw takes place on Friday 6 December but here is your chance to create your own. This tool creates a draw for the group stage before using a realistic algorithm to find out who will go on to win ---
**Author:** ![TheBoltEater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@TheBoltEater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBoltEater)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2013, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-qualification-matches/654036/247 "2013-12-03T01:14:25Z")
> [@Esco](#): > > Another draw simulator. This is one is more elaborate: > > [World Cup draw 2014: create your own – interactive | Football | theguardian.com](http://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2013/dec/world-cup-draw-2014-create-your-own-draw-interactive) Hey, I’ll take that! My draw came out with the US finishing 2nd in Group D behind Uruguay, but beating out Russia and Cote d’Ivoire. 2nd round - victory over South Korea. 3rd round - at long last we beat Ghana! Semis – the US takes down Argentina!! We’re into the Finals! Finals – lose to Colombia. Damn it Klinsmann! Why switch to a 3-6-1 before the Finals, WHY?!? This draw also has Brazil finishing last in Group A behind Ghana, England and Japan. Hmmm… sure, why not? ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-qualification-matches/654036/248 "2013-12-04T11:56:43Z")
I guess the newly-announced twist to the draw means that some pretty horrendous groups of death are now possible. Apparently one team will be randomly chosen from the nine-team European pot 4 and put into pot 2, with the constraint that they can only be drawn into a non-European seed’s group. That means that groups such as Brazil, Italy, USA, Netherlands are possible, if unlikely. ---
**Author:** ![Esco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9de053/32.png) [@Esco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esco)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-qualification-matches/654036/249 "2013-12-04T14:09:05Z")
Man, this is getting confusing 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-qualification-matches/654036/250 "2013-12-04T15:31:34Z")
> [@Esco](#): > > Man, this is getting confusing 😕 Welcome to FIFA? ---
**Author:** ![Esco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9de053/32.png) [@Esco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esco)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-qualification-matches/654036/251 "2013-12-04T18:05:57Z")
FIFA, where you just need to leave a brown envelope at the door to get things done ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2013, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-qualification-matches/654036/252 "2013-12-06T17:03:58Z")
And the draw begins. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2013, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-qualification-matches/654036/253 "2013-12-06T17:17:53Z")
The U.S. is so f\*\*ked. Germany, Ghana, and to cap it off, Portugal. Great. Edit: So, with the gigantic grain of salt that [FIFA rankings](http://www.fifa.com/worldranking/rankingtable/)should be taken with, that’s the 2nd, 5th, and 24th ranked teams along with the 14th ranked U.S. ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2013, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-qualification-matches/654036/254 "2013-12-06T17:18:09Z")
Tough group for the USA. ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2013, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-qualification-matches/654036/255 "2013-12-06T17:19:24Z")
Group A - Brazil Croatia Mexico Cameroon Brazil, and who else? Group B - Spain Holland Australia Chile Holland and Spain go on Group C - Colombia Japan Greece Ivory Coast Seems like a really well-balanced group, any of the four has a shot. Group D - Uruguay Costa Rica Italy England That’s a tough one to be in - Any two of England, Italy, and Uruguay might go to next round. Probably not England though. Group E - France Switzerland Honduras Ecuador Fuck Platini and his manila envelopes Group F - Argentina Iran Nigeria Bosnia Interesting group, I’m glad for the Bosnians, looks like they have a shot at going forward. Group G - Portugal Germany Ghana US Sucks for the US, this is probably the ‘group of death’ for them. Bummer. Group H - Russia Belgium South Korea and Algeria This group is not really World Cup worthy ☹ Definitely the easiest of the eight. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2013, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-qualification-matches/654036/256 "2013-12-06T17:21:29Z")
> [@Svejk\_1](#): > > Group A - Brazil Croatia Mexico Cameroon > > Brazil, and who else? > > Group B - Spain Holland Australia Chile > > Holland and Spain go on > > Group C - Colombia Greece Ivory Coast > > Seems like a really well-balanced group, any of the four has a shot. > > Group D - Uruguay Costa Rica Italy England > > That’s a tough one to be in - Any two of England, Italy, and Uruguay might go to next round. Probably not England though. > > Group E - France Switzerland Honduras Ecuador > > Fuck Platini and his manila envelopes > > Group F - Argentina Iran Nigeria Bosnia > > Interesting group, I’m glad for the Bosnians, looks like they have a shot at going forward. > > Group G - Portugal Germany Ghana US > > Sucks for the US, this is probably the ‘group of death’ for them. Bummer. > > Group H - Russia Belgium South Korea and Algeria > > This group is not really World Cup worthy ☹ Definitely the easiest of the eight. I’d say E is the easiest and G is definitely the Group of Death. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2013, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-qualification-matches/654036/257 "2013-12-06T17:22:30Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > The U.S. is so f\*\*ked. Germany, Ghana, and to cap it off, Portugal. Great. Yep. Saw the draw and though, oh crap, we’re done. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2013, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-qualification-matches/654036/258 "2013-12-06T17:24:47Z")
I’ll say D is the group of Death, 3 former champions. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2013, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-qualification-matches/654036/259 "2013-12-06T17:25:49Z")
US can get through with 4 points and luck with the other results. Fuuuuck though, really rough draw. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2013, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-qualification-matches/654036/260 "2013-12-06T17:28:06Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > I’ll say D is the group of Death, 3 former champions. I’m not sure what wins almost 40 years ago for England and 60 fpr Uruguay have to do with anything. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-qualification-matches/654036.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-qualification-matches/654036.md?page=14)