>>>>Speaking of trophies -- OK, OK, that was a reach of a segue -- did the U.S. get hosed in the World Cup seedings or did the U.S. get hosed? Our team, although not a serious threat to win it IMO, is seeded #8 in the world in the FIFA rankings. Not only were they passed over in the seedings of the top 8, they were placed in the "group of death" preliminary round with two other highly ranked teams. Call me a conspiracy theorist but I suspect Bush, Cheney, and Rummy have as much to do with this as team strength. We have never been more disliked or distrusted around the world. Until we change our ways other countries are going to stick it to us every chance they get.
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>>>I don't know much about FIFA rankings but to blame our seeding on world opinion of the US is a bit of a stretch. If I recall, last year we did OK in the World Cup, and our team this year is supposedly even better.
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>>The men's team last played in the World Cup in 2002 and did pretty well, our best showing ever. My point was that we did not draw a top 8 seeding, as the FIFA ranking would have indicated, and were dumped into a bracket where we are highly likely to be slaughtered. I take it entirely as an Up Yours.
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>Mike you dont really believe that the most watched sport on the planet and the sport which garners mountains of money actually gives a damn about making a political statement with its groupings do you? Teams are placed in groups in order to give those teams that will generate the biggest payoffs in respect of latter stages (quarter finals and up) the best chance of reaching those stages. E.g. everybody wants to see Brazil vs. Italy in the final. Far less want to see Togo vs. Angola :)
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>Dont be so hard on your country, America is great. Let the rest of us berate you guys (and beat you in the World Cup :)

right. rankings are based on a formula.

South Africa should be in . Who knocked them out ?