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Dutch and Czechs ones to avoid in World Cup
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-12-08 11:25
LEIPZIG, Dec 8 (Reuters) - The Czech Republic and the Netherlands, ranked
second and third in the world but unseeded at the 2006 World Cup, pose the
biggest threat to the top teams in Friday's draw for the finals.
The
unbeaten Dutch topped their qualifying group with 10 wins and two draws while
the Czechs, who reached the semi-finals of Euro 2004, finished second in the
same group and secured their place in next summer's finals through the playoffs.
They were not seeded for the finals in Germany from June 9 to July 9 because
both failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup while the Czechs also missed the
1998 tournament.
FIFA determined the top eight seeds among the 32 teams by awarding points
based on performances in the last two World Cups and FIFA world rankings over
the last three years.
World champions Brazil, hosts Germany, England, Spain, Mexico, France,
Argentina and Italy earned the seeding slots.
The only other team ranked among the top eight in the world to miss out on a
seeded place were the United States who paid the price for being ranked 32nd and
last in the World Cup finals in France eight years ago.
TOUGH OPPOSITION
Friday's draw takes place at the Neue Messe trade hall in front of nearly
4,000 invited guests, including 31 of the 32 national coaches, in a 90-minute
ceremony starting at 2030 local time (1930 GMT).
Portugal, ranked 10th in the world and also unbeaten in their qualifying
campaign, are another dangerous floater.
They finished runners-up when hosts of last year's European Championship and
coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who took his native Brazil to a World Cup triumph in
2002, is bidding to become the first man to win the trophy with two countries.
The format for the finals will follow the formula used at the first 32-team
finals in France eight years ago.
The eight seeds will be allocated to one of the eight four-team first round
groups with the others added according to geographical criteria.
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