Fifa World Cup draw mystery
Now that all the teams have booked their place, what will the fixtures be?
No sooner had the last of the qualifiers booked their place that the entire football world looks forward to the World Cup draw. December 4th is the date and Cape Town in South Africa is the place to be to find out what the group matches will be.
The excitement is starting to build but it hasn’t reached fever pitch and this is because no one knows what will happen. Fifa have yet to come out and announce how the seeding is going to be structured so any attempt to predict matches is going to be pure guess-work.
Yes, Fifa may decide to use the template they followed back in 2006 but then again, they may decide on a far more random and abstract mechanism. Whatever method is likely to create the best environment for television viewers (or more accurately sponsors) is likely to be the chosen method.
Thanks to fernando231074
Fifa are currently weathering a barrage of comments for the way they (with Uefa acquiescing) changed the rules of the draw for the European play-offs. This allowed the top teams to be seeded and avoided the potentially commercial disaster of a France versus Portugal tie.
Fifa will point to the fact that one of their top seeds in Russia were knocked out but it is hard to take when the rules are changed during a campaign.
Another issue that is causing consternation amongst many people is the fact that South Africa are billed as a top seed. No offence to the host nation but they are a fourth seed team at best and you can guarantee that if it wasn’t for the fact that they are hosts, they would be nowhere near this competition.
There is a desire to see the host nation remain in the tournament for as long as possible, it makes great business sense and what is good for the local economy of the host. However, every single team that is in the second, third and even fourth pot will be praying that their top team is the host nation.
Perhaps South Africa should ask Guus Hiddink if he would like to take charge of them during the tournament seeing as the Dutchman won’t have anything else to do.
When the draw begins, all the quarrels and concerns will be washed away but there is a strange feeling in the build up to this tournament that Fifa may have another surprise or shock in store.
Show some transparency please FIFA!!
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A few of us were talking last night about the chances of seeing Guus Hiddink taking over as manager of one of the finalists. Maybe France could do with a change at the top before heading into the finals.
I think the SFA should approach some of Scotland’s most successful business men like Tom Hunter, David Murray or Duncan Ballantyne and maybe see if they could put together a package that would entice Guus to a new office at Hampden Park.
Well Sir David, thanks for taking time out of your rather busy schedule at the moment…
Guus Hiddink surely wont be out of work for long – if his contract is up – but it’d be interesting to see where he goes.
Its astounding that Domenech is still in charge and Hiddink would be a great shout to take over the French national team.
His past two World Cup trips have been taking smaller footballing nations which would maybe indicate thats where his talents lie…but he did a great job at Chelsea with some of the biggest names in the football world.
As for the SFA teaming up with some big business men….it would certainly follow the Irish model which got them Trapattoni and a juggling act away from the World Cup.
Sadly, there is no money in Scottish football, so if you would allow Duncan Bannantyne to answer for everyone, “I’m out.”