Bolton Wanderers Forum The-Wanderer.co.uk

...is this Friday. I know most here aren't that bothered about the national team, but it'll be interesting to see what happens...

Who will England get, and who would you prefer to see them get? Predict here.

Has the format been decided? Was reading today that we may not be seeded cos FIFA like to make up the rules as they go along.

Found me answer.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footba ... s-out.html

Pots:

Pot 1 (seeds)
South Africa, Germany, Brazil, Italy, Spain, England, Holland, Argentina.

Pot 2 (Europe)
France, Portugal, Slovenia, Switzerland, Greece, Serbia, Denmark, Slovakia.

Pot 3 (Africa and South America)
Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria, Algeria, Paraguay, Chile, Uruguay.

Pot 4 (Asia, Oceania and North/Central America)
Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Mexico, Honduras.

Slovenia, Algeria and the Aussie bastards will do.

How've Ireland got on with their request for an extra spot?

They've been told to f*ck off. Unsurprisingly.

superjohnmcginlay wrote:They've been told to f*ck off. Unsurprisingly.

superjohnmcginlay wrote:Has the format been decided? Was reading today that we may not be seeded cos FIFA like to make up the rules as they go along.

And it will be fixed as usual. Also, how can South Africa be a seed? Home nation yes but seed NO.

FaninOz wrote: Also, how can South Africa be a seed? Home nation yes but seed NO.

That's the very bit that jumped out at me, too. Surely that can't be right, can it?

Bruce Rioja wrote:

FaninOz wrote: Also, how can South Africa be a seed? Home nation yes but seed NO.

That's the very bit that jumped out at me, too. Surely that can't be right, can it?

It's usually like that - Japan and South Korea were seeded last time. It's a stupid rule.

Home nations are seeded, means that they're more likely to get through which is 'better' for the tournament, apparently, because it keeps the interest of the home nation in what's going on.

Ideal draw for England? Switzerland, Algeria and New Zealand/North Korea

Worst draw for England? Portugal, Ivory Coast and USA/Mexico

blurred wrote:Home nations are seeded, means that they're more likely to get through which is 'better' for the tournament, apparently, because it keeps the interest of the home nation in what's going on.

Ideal draw for England? Switzerland, Algeria and New Zealand/North Korea

Worst draw for England? Portugal, Ivory Coast and USA/Mexico

Yeah that's the only reason that I could think of as to why they might do it.

Have the FSA (or anyone else) been keeping tabs on where SA are up to with stadia, infrastructure, accomodation, security etc.? It all seems to have gone a little quiet on that front.

Bruce Rioja wrote:How've Ireland got on with their request for an extra spot?

They're in pot five.

Bruce Rioja wrote:Have the FSA (or anyone else) been keeping tabs on where SA are up to with stadia, infrastructure, accomodation, security etc.? It all seems to have gone a little quiet on that front.

The FSA no longer exist

And yes we have - my boss has been out there at least 3 times this year, if I recall correctly (some of the stories he's told us are none-too-cheerful, I have to say... and I'm sure he's not telling us everything!)

We'll be launching our own World Cup site on Friday to keep everyone abreast of all these sorts of issues, as well as giving guides to the cities, directories of accommodation and services, all that sort of thing. We're offering a free text service to anyone heading out to SA to keep them up to date on any and all issues that could affect fans, as well as the usual blogs, twitter and all that nonsense on the website.

Not sure of the URL for the new site (if it's separate to ours or will be contained within - I think it's the former), but the information currently is on http://www.fsf.org.uk/worldcup/ where it'll all get linked to from Friday morning.

Verbal wrote:

Bruce Rioja wrote:How've Ireland got on with their request for an extra spot?

They're in pot five.

They haven't got a pot to piss in, poor buggers.

I take it it's one team from each pot in the groups?

In which case, I predict:

England
Denmark
Chile
Mexico

boltonboris wrote:I take it it's one team from each pot in the groups?

Yep, no more than 2 European teams in a group, and no teams from any of the other continents/associations in the same group. Ie, We can be drawn with France, but Brazil can't play Uruguay nor can South Africa be drawn with Ghana, etc.

If you fancy a little bet, check on the odds for Chile qualifying from their group.

They're the best of the pot 3 South Americans (IMO) and they have a 1/3 chance of drawing South Africa, who are poo, and would require a particularly unlucky draw to not advance. They should be able to overcome the majority of Pot 4, and could give most of the European pot a run for their money, too (France/Portugal excluded). If you can get odds on that before the draw I'd say it's worth taking.

blurred wrote:If you fancy a little bet, check on the odds for Chile qualifying from their group.

They're the best of the pot 3 South Americans (IMO) and they have a 1/3 chance of drawing South Africa, who are poo, and would require a particularly unlucky draw to not advance. They should be able to overcome the majority of Pot 4, and could give most of the European pot a run for their money, too (France/Portugal excluded). If you can get odds on that before the draw I'd say it's worth taking.

Will Zamorano and Salas be playing?

boltonboris wrote:Will Zamorano and Salas be playing?

Sadly not. Although Humberto Suazo and Mati Fernandez make up for that, in my eyes.

Oh, and they might take Waldo Ponce, who is one of my favourite ever footballers (only because of his name).

blurred wrote:

boltonboris wrote:Will Zamorano and Salas be playing?

Sadly not. Although Humberto Suazo and Mati Fernandez make up for that, in my eyes.

Oh, and they might take Waldo Ponce, who is one of my favourite ever footballers (only because of his name).

Him from Villareal? He looks a good 'un he does!