World Cup Draw Today (11am CST)

[Limey]

Lots of moving parts here, as the FIFA seeding system makes the BCS look like 2+2.  England are in the unseeded European bowl, quite rightly, but, to balance the bowls, FIFA will draw one unseeded Euro team out of that bowl and toss them into the unseeded everyone else bowl.  Originally, that was going to be France, quite rightly with them being the worst-ranked  of the Euros, but at the insistence of the stereotypically French Michel Platini, the decision was changed to make it a random draw.

Thus, it is entirely possible to have a group of, say Brazil, Spain, England and USA.  Regardless, England aren't good enough to get out of whatever group they get (unless it is the hilariously weak one that will counter-balance the multiple groups of death that are possible), and USA will need a good draw also to progress into the knockout stage, I fear.

Engerland!  Engerland!  Engerland!  USA! USA! USA

The Guardian's sarcastically witty and superior minute-by-minute report is here.  While waiting for the balls to drop, you can always have a laugh with their create-your-own draw tool.

[subnuclear]

Is Belgium really that good at soccer?

[Limey]

Is Belgium really that good at soccer?

Nope.  They won my first simulation too.  Beating Spain on the way.

[Bench]

Nope.  They won my first simulation too.  Beating Spain on the way.

Chile beat Holland after vanquishing Brazil in the semis.  Thrilling!

[Bench]

(unless it is the hilariously weak one that will counter-balance the multiple groups of death that are possible),

Come on Group E!

[Bench]

Germany and Ghana.  Oof.

[MusicMan]

Germany and Ghana.  Oof.

Add England, and Jurgen will settle all family business at once.

[MusicMan]

Holy shit.  Spain-Netherlands rematch as the opener.

[Bench]

No better for the English either.

[Bench]

And of course France gets the pass.

[Bench]

So the US is in with Germany, Ghana, Portugal and the longest travel schedule of the tournament (9000 miles). 

[MusicMan]

Germany, Ghana, and Portugal.

[Uncle Charlie]

Germany, Ghana, and Portugal.

To be the best you have to beat the best, but ugh...these will be 3 very tough matches.  The back line better be in shape.

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

I saw the subject line of this thread and figured we were talking about Mexico.  Carry on.

[Limey]

Final draw:

Group A: Brazil, Cameroon, Mexico, Croatia
Group B: Spain, Chile, Australia, Netherlands
Group C: Colombia, Cote D'Ivoire, Japan, Greece
Group D: Uruguay, Italy, Costa Rica, Engerland!
Group E for Easy: Switzerland, Ecuador, Honduras, France
Group F: Argentina, Nigeria, Iran, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Group G: Germany, Ghana, USA!, Portugal
Group H: Belgium, Algeria, South Korea, Russia


Yep.  Stunningly, the home countries of Sepp Fatter and Michel Frenchini get the soft draw that can see them both through without breaking a sweat.  USA and Engerland both draw groups of death.  Groups C, E, F and H look like complete crap, and will ensure 8 rubbish teams soil the Round of 16.

[Bench]

  Groups C, E, F and G look like complete crap, and will ensure 8 rubbish teams soil the Round of 16.

You mean H?

[Limey]

You mean H?

Yep.  Oops.

[Ebby Calvin]

nvm

[Limey]

Huh?  I know less about soccer than I do baseball, so I'm genuinely confused.

Fixed!

[Bench]

Yep.  Oops.

Belgium needs a clean path to the finals.  So it is written, so it shall come to pass.

[Matt]

Belgium has a chance to make some noise. As far as Group G...Portugal was literally carried into the tournament by Ronaldo after playing like shit in a shit group. Ghana can be beaten. And Klinsman pretty much built the Germany team and its coach. *Positive thoughts*

[Limey]

Belgium needs a clean path to the finals.  So it is written, so it shall come to pass.

They have, on paper, the 2nd weakest schedule of the 32 teams in the finals.

USA has the 3rd hardest, and England the 10th hardest.  Argentina has the easiest and Australia the worst.