Yet another Confederations Cup
It used to be that in each four-year cycle, the world would get to peek at an Oceanian team only twice: (1) during a brief World Cup qualification playoff, which the Oceanian team would lose; and (2) during the Confederations Cup.
This year, however, there are two traditional Oceanian teams in the Confederations Cup: New Zealand and Australia. The latter team defected to Asia some years ago and recently won the championship of that continent. But we all know better. Australia is not in Asia.
An honorary third Oceanian contestant is Chile, by virtue of its claims upon Easter Island and Antarctica.
Like Oceania, Europe supplies three contestants: Russia, Portugal, and Germany. The field is rounded out with Mexico and Cameroon.
So much for the contestants. Now, their division into groups.
A: Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, and Russia.
B: Australia, Cameroon, Chile, and Germany (this is the Group of Death).
Notice that alphabetically Group B has the first four teams, and Group A has the last four. This is appropriate, just as it is that an Oceania-heavy tourney should be played in Russia. It’s the World Turned Upside-Down.
I plan to report on this important tourney.
This year, however, there are two traditional Oceanian teams in the Confederations Cup: New Zealand and Australia. The latter team defected to Asia some years ago and recently won the championship of that continent. But we all know better. Australia is not in Asia.
An honorary third Oceanian contestant is Chile, by virtue of its claims upon Easter Island and Antarctica.
Like Oceania, Europe supplies three contestants: Russia, Portugal, and Germany. The field is rounded out with Mexico and Cameroon.
So much for the contestants. Now, their division into groups.
A: Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, and Russia.
B: Australia, Cameroon, Chile, and Germany (this is the Group of Death).
Notice that alphabetically Group B has the first four teams, and Group A has the last four. This is appropriate, just as it is that an Oceania-heavy tourney should be played in Russia. It’s the World Turned Upside-Down.
I plan to report on this important tourney.