EURO 2008 - pots for the draw

[Hitro]

Yeah, I know, it might seem a little early for this, but there is something to talk about already.

It has been said that three of the four group "heads" (i.e. the top seeded team) will be the two hosts (Austria & Switzerland) and the title holders (Greece, if they qualify, which seems certain). That leaves one spot for the "best" team according to UEFA rankings.

Doesn't this clearly mean that being the best team will here screw you completely? It will inevitably mean having to play against a team out of the next best four and another one of the next best four after that.

Because let's face it, Greece is nowhere near the quality to get even in the second pot if there were no "group heads". Austria would never even make it to the tournament. Switzerland with the home advantage is probably the strongest of the three on paper, but even them don't belong amoung the first four.

So doesn't this mean you better don't become the best team in the qualification round(s)? Or in other words, shouldn't Germany better lose against the Czechs tomorrow?

 

[Lambert Simnel]

That would be quite bizarre as a seeding system.

 

[Hitro]

I'm fairly sure I have heard that somewhere else than in my fruitful imagination. And it would be in line with previous mechanisms.

 

[Pangur Bán]

Well, one of the second seeded teams will get unlucky and get France or Italy or whoever makes it to that spot. Otherwise, yeah. Funny ole world. Are Greece certain to be seeded under some rule, or are you speculating?

And if they were going to give it to two teams to host rather than one team, they should have given it to two two decents teams or one mediocre team rather than two mediocre teams. They should have given the tournament to Scotland! Hopefully UEFA will be punished by the exclusion from the tournament of one of the world cup finalists.

 

[Hitro]

But Austria is not a mediocre team. They're on a level with Georgia or even Malta.

 

[MCdread]

I'm not sure if they sort the teams by qualification record or by past tournaments (EC) performances. If the latter is the case, then Germany is safe, and it is Holland, France or Portugal that are screwed. If they qualify.

 

[Hitro]

Holland and Portugal should. France probably, too.

 

[TheLastOne36]

Well i'm not completely sure about portugal. If finland screws them up in the last minute,

So that probably means poland is safe, since we've never qualified to the tournament before.

 

[warpus]

IMO the seeding system described in the OP is ******ed.

They should be mainly looking at qualification standings - as that is the best indicator of relative squad strength - and would make for more interesting & fair groups.

 

[Kyriakos]

Even that way Greece would still have a shot at the top position, since it is 4 points ahead of the second team in its group (Turkey) and 5 from the third (Norway).
And i agree that Greece will in all probability be in the euro 2008, since it only needs 3 points to be certain of it, and even if it loses to Turkey it then has the game against Malta, in Greece

 

[scy12]

Personally i bet Greece will at the least make it to the semifinals if not to conquer it again as it is one of the best teams in the world right now.

 

[dionysos2048]

Switzerland will surprise you

 

[dutchfire]

Holland and Portugal should. France probably, too.

Sadly, there's a difference between should and will

 

[Marla_Singer]

Group games are always harder during Euros than world cups. There are necessarily at least 2 teams having the potential to be WC quarter-finalists in each group. Figures tell it: 4 groups in which you have to put Germany, France, Italy, Spain, England, the Netherlands, Portugal, Croatia... do the maths.

Heck, even some Euro qualifying groups are nightmares. Check for instance group B with WC champions, WC finalists, WC quarterfinalists and a surprizingly solid Scottish side. All this for only 2 qualifying spots!

 

[Volum]

Even that way Greece would still have a shot at the top position, since it is 4 points ahead of the second team in its group (Turkey) and 5 from the third (Norway).
And i agree that Greece will in all probability be in the euro 2008, since it only needs 3 points to be certain of it, and even if it loses to Turkey it then has the game against Malta, in Greece

Well, Norway has to win these next to games against Bosnia and Turkey, and when we have to win........We never do. Well draw Bosnia tonight, its so typical norwegian.

 

[Hitti-Litti]

Unfortunately Finland will be in the fourth pot.
























If it wins Portugal in Estadio Dragao...

 

[kryszcztov]

Personally i bet Greece will at the least make it to the semifinals if not to conquer it again as it is one of the best teams in the world right now.

May the Greek gods NOT listen to you.

 

[Hitro]

The team clearly did exactly what was needed today.

 

[TheLastOne36]

The team clearly did exactly what was needed today.

For those who didn't know, Greece 1-0 Turkey.

 

[scy12]

May the Greek gods NOT listen to you.

There is only one God and his name is Otto ... Believe me he will listen.