10.18.13
FIFA Seedings, World Cup Simulators, and More
With the Hex now in the rearview mirror, the ASN Morning Read looks toward the World Cup draw, FIFA rankings, the Champions League, and Michael Bradley's return to first-team soccer.
BY
Jesse Yomtov
Posted
October 18, 2013
9:48 AM
October’s FIFA rankings have the U.S. at 13th, missing out on a seed for the World Cup draw. The eight seeded teams are Brazil, Spain, Germany, Argentina, Colombia, Belgium, Switzerland and Uruguay (or the Netherlands if Uruguay doesn’t qualify). There are going to be several groups of death.
This World Cup draw simulator is highly addictive and incredibly depressing. The first simulation I did put the U.S. in a group with Brazil, Ivory Coast and the Netherlands. Doh!
Alex Labidou spoke to a Champions League club’s scout
about Juan Agudelo, who is set to join Stoke City in January. The scout gave an (anonymous) full breakdown of the 20-year-old, and reasons why he will and won’t succeed in Europe. While he has a nose for goal and the scout compares him to Javier Hernandez, Agudelo hasn’t scored at the same rate as Hernandez did before he left Mexico.
Brian Sciaretta laid out the 23 players to make the World Cup squad. Agree? Disagree? Tell him in the comments section.
While the Jacksonville Jaguars make their case as the NFL’s worst team, owner Samid Khan is seeking synergy between his American football team and his English football team, Fulham. Interesting story in the New York Times.
Michael Bradley is in Roma’s squad against Napoli today. He hasn’t played since Sept. 1.
Don Feria/isiphotos.com
