Dumb Football (Soccer) question from American

[Juggernaut]

Initially, I believe, you are placed in a group with 3 other teams and play a series of home-away games with each team. After that, I'm not sure how EUFA handles it.

First, all European teams are seeded due to how they managed in the two latest qualifiers (EC and WC) and placed in five pools IIRC. After that one team from each pool is drawn and put together in a group, Then they go on with next one, etc. There are not an even numbers of countries, however, so some groups will contain six countries, IIRC.
Then all teams play each other both home and away, as MBloomIII said. The group winners are instantly qualified for the WC, whilst the runner-ups are paired together two on two and competes in a home-and-away play-off on who will take the WC slot.

[MBloomIII]

Originally posted by Pembleton
Is Manchester United the NY Yankees of English Soccer? I believe I remember looking at the standings at the last world cup in 98 and they were the team with the most teams. If so, they must be hated as much as the Yankees are?

Yes they are. In fact the Yankees and Man. U. recently signed a deal to market each other. Manchester United is arguably the best league team in the world right now. However, they would not play in the World Cup. WC teams are all-star teams for each country and the games they play are known as Internationals. If the full International team plays a game outside of a tournament against another International team, it is known as a friendly and any player who plays in the game earns a cap, a term which simply means you played a game for your countries team.

Europe has a tournament among it's league's as well. To further complicate things, some countries have a tournament among their own domestic leagues. Manchester United recently won a treble championship, which is very rare. They won their domestic league championship (Premiership), they won their countries domestic league championship (the FA cup), and they won the European league championship (Champions League). All of these are competitions among professional teams.

Hopefully that is clear.

[David Floyd]

Next, we'll explain the Infield Fly rule and the Balk rule.

Sweet Jesus no, his head will explode

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Sagacious Dolphin
The funny thing about the MLS is that a game is not permitted to end in a draw.

Does the US play any sport where a draw is permitted, or does one side/person always have to win?

Hockey.

[MBloomIII]

Originally posted by Juggernaut

First, all European teams are seeded due to how they managed in the two latest qualifiers (EC and WC) and placed in five pools IIRC. After that one team from each pool is drawn and put together in a group, Then they go on with next one, etc. There are not an even numbers of countries, however, so some groups will contain six countries, IIRC.

That sounds correct, I believe I was confusing EuroCup qualifing with WC.

Typical American.

[Pembleton]

Originally posted by MBloomIII
Manchester United is arguably the best league team in the world right now. However, they would not play in the World Cup.

Right, I meant their standings in the Premier League. I see how my wording was unclear.

[MBloomIII]

Here's an answer to your earlier question concerning groupings.
Results for group 2 can be found here:

http://www.uefa.com/competitions/WorldCup/FixturesResults/round=1478/Group=1242.html

Group 1
:: Faroe Islands
:: Luxembourg
:: Russia
:: Slovenia
:: Switzerland
:: Yugoslavia

Group 2
:: Andorra
:: Cyprus
:: Estonia
:: Netherlands (Holland)
:: Portugal
:: Rep of Ireland

Group 3
:: Bulgaria
:: Czech Republic
:: Denmark
:: Iceland
:: Malta
:: Northern Ireland

Group 4
:: Azerbaijan
:: FYR Macedonia
:: Moldova
:: Slovakia
:: Sweden
:: Turkey

Group 5
:: Armenia
:: Belarus
:: Norway
:: Poland
:: Ukraine
:: Wales

Group 6
:: Belgium
:: Croatia
:: Latvia
:: San Marino
:: Scotland

Group 7
:: Austria
:: Bosnia-Herzegovina
:: Israel
:: Liechtenstein
:: Spain

Group 8
:: Georgia
:: Hungary
:: Italy
:: Lithuania
:: Romania

Group 9
:: Albania
:: England
:: Finland
:: Germany
:: Greece

[Pembleton]

I assume these groupings are mostly random. If so, I see how teams can have a better chance of being upset just by being placed in a stronger group.

[Juggernaut]

...and guess which team managed the best?

[Hueij]

Hup Holland Hup...

Originally posted by Pembleton
I assume these groupings are mostly random. If so, I see how teams can have a better chance of being upset just by being placed in a stronger group.

There is a sort of ranking before the groups are formed. IIRC countries are grouped together, based on level of play, and when the final groups are formed countries with the same ranking can't end up in the same group.

About the Netherlands not participating, that has nothing to do with losing confidence. It has to do with 19 year old kids getting filthy rich way to fast and easy, the continueing saga of Kluiverts' exploits on the road to maturity being a point in case

[Solly]

Originally posted by Pembleton
Is Manchester United the NY Yankees of English Soccer? I believe I remember looking at the standings at the last world cup in 98 and they were the team with the most teams. If so, they must be hated as much as the Yankees are?

We won the treble in a couple of years back - something never achieved before, and probably never will be again. The treble was winning the English Premiership, the English FA Cup, and the European Cup.

[Juggernaut]

Originally posted by Juggernaut
First, all European teams are seeded due to how they managed in the two latest qualifiers (EC and WC) and placed in five pools IIRC. After that one team from each pool is drawn and put together in a group

Originally posted by Pembleton
I assume these groupings are mostly random.

[Dauphin]

I always chuckle when I hear Americans say offence when discussing football.

On the contrary, we've seen World Cup futbol and it's still boring

Watching USA vs Iran doesn't really count.

Did you see the Argentina vs England game in the '98 tournament? Best game of the tournament.

[mactbone]

You can tie in football too. What's funny is that they college and pro both changed their rules on it recently.

In college, if you were tied at the end of regulation, it was a tie. Now, one team gets the ball at the opposing twenty. They then have to try and score. Irregardless of what they do, the other team gets a chance at the opposing team's twenty. I liken this rule to shootouts. Last year a college games lasted into 7 overtimes before finally being finished.

In pro, they used to keep doing overtimes until someone won. Now, during the regular season, they just play one sudden death overtime, and if noone scores, then it's a tie.

"A tie is like kissing your sister"

[Dauphin]

Last year a college games lasted into 7 overtimes before finally being finished.

If you have to have a winner, just have a penalty shoot-out.

Now, one team gets the ball at the opposing twenty.

Twenty yard line? Is that something you guys invented?

I think I know what you mean though, and I personnaly would like to see a one-on-one shoot-out scenario - where you are given the ball from 25yrds out and have 10 seconds to put it past the keeper. It would be better than the current penalty shoot-out situations.