The Final 16 by the Numbers

June 24th, 2006 | by: WC Bob |

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The second round features:

* 6 of the 7 World Cup champions

* 8 seeded teams from this year’s tournament.

* 10 teams are from Europe, 3 from South America, 1 from CONCAF, 1 from Africa and 1 from Oceania.

* 4 teams advancing for the first time. They are Australia Ecuador, Ghana, and Ukraine.

* 2 teams that lost their first match in group play. They are Ukraine and Ghana.

* 1 team the kept a clean sheet in group play. That is Switzerland.

* 3 teams that scored 8 goals. They are Spain, Argentina, and Germany.

* 1 team with 12 yellow cards in group play. They are Ghana, second only to Tunisia’s 14.

* 2 teams with 4 yellow cards in group play, the least of any teams tournament. They are England and Germany.

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diego

I wonder if and how the results so far will affect the number of slots each confederation receives for the 2010 World Cup.

After their relatively decent showing in 2002, CONCACAF was awarded and extra 1/2 a spot, which I believe they should lose now after their dismal showing this time around.
Maybe that 1/2 will be given to Africa, knowing that the host will take one of the spots.
Or perhaps it should go to South America.

I know it makes things complicated for teams and add a lot of expense, but personally, I think I would like to see a few more cross-confederation play-offs.
diego

BTW, round of 16 by confederation:

Oceania: 1/0.5 = 200%!!! :)
Europe: 10/14 = 71%
South America: 3/4.5 = 66%
Concacaf: 1/3.5 = 28%
Africa: 1/5 = 20%
Asia: 0/4.5 = 0%
Claude

I agree that CONCAAF has too many places. I think two are enough and that Africa should be assigned the additional spot.
Hobart

maybe asia should lose some too?
Keyser

5 to africa is way too much.
I’d give 4 to africa, 1 to oceania, 3 to asia, 5 to south america, 3 to concacaf, 16 to europe
http://www.werder-online.de AKC77

I think Asia should keep the amount of spots since really Australia is now an Asian Team since 1st of January 2006.
I know it would be fun to see Solomon Islands or New Zealand get flattened 10 : 0 by Brazil, but come on. Maybe in a few years time. On that note I don’t think the Ozeania Cup Winner winner should play a South American Team, but an Asian Team. That way it might not take a New Zealand or Solomon Islands another 32 Years to qualify for a World Cup.
http://portugal.worldcupblog.org Luis Paulo

* 10 teams are from Europe, 3 from South America, 1 from CONCAF, 1 from Africa and 1 from Oceania.

This is why it’s outrageous for South America to have so few teams at the world cup whie Concacaf, Asia and Africa has much more than they should have.
bobbio

But South America only has fifteen countries. More then 3 and the ratio would be way out of proportion!
Michel

Actually, South America (CONMEBOL) has just 10 countries. That only reinforces bobbio’s point, though.