2014 World Cup: FIFA rankings have Group D inching closer to Group G for toughest draw
Posted On Monday, 14th April 2014

Group D of the World Cup with Uruguay, Italy, England and Costa Rica are fighting with Ghana's group comprising of Germany, Portugal and the USA to be the Group of Death of the Brazil tournament.

When the US men’s national team was drawn into Group G with Germany, Portugal, and Ghana for the World Cup, many fans of the team saw their worst fears realized.

And one look at the latest FIFA rankings doesn’t help ease the stomach at all.

When FIFA released their rankings last Thursday, Germany and Portugal were placed as the No. 2 and No. 3 teams in the world, while the US came in at No. 13.

But with Ghana dropping from No. 35 to No. 38, there’s another group staking claim to the “Group of Death” moniker.

With Uruguay (5) Italy (9), England (11) and Costa Rica (34), Group D teams have an average ranking of 14.75 going by the current rankings.

This is only .75 behind the US’ group and represents a significant decrease in the difference between the two groups since the draw took place.

Back in December, Group G had an average ranking of 11.25, a full three spots lower Group D, its next closest competitor.

Since then Ghana has dropped from No. 24 to No. 38, allowing Group D to become a challenger for the Group of Death.

Group B – with Spain (1), Chile (14) and the Netherlands (15) – could be considered another contender for this title, but Australia has the lowest ranking in the tournament at 59.

This brings the groups average ranking all the way down to 22.25.

So what do you think is the World Cup’s Group of Death? Let us know in the comments below.





Edited by Joffa: 15/4/2014 05:40:21 AM

Group A

Brazil 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Croatia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mexico 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Cameroon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Group B

Spain 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Netherlands 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Chile 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Australia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Group C

Colombia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Greece 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Ivory Coast 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Japan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Group D

Uruguay 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Costa Rica 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
England 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Italy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Group E

Switzerland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Ecuador 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
France 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Honduras 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Group F

Argentina 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Bosnia and Herzegovina 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Iran 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Nigeria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Group G

Germany 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Portugal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Ghana 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
United States 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Group H
Belgium 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Algeria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Russia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
South Korea 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Group b. the last two World Cup finalists are in it.

Group G is stronger IMO.

G looks pretty deathly. Even D is pretty tough. Our group is obviously a big one too.

TBH the Group I consider to be the hardest to get out of is C - they just seem like 4 so evenly matched teams to me.

Columbia is ahead of the rest in group C.

Groups D and B have 3 good teams. Group G has 4.

Group D for me.

Group D and G are tuffest imo and of the 2 G probably wins out to me as the hardest.

I don't understand the fascination with Group D rivaling Group C for 'Group of Death' tag.
Spain > Italy
Netherlands > England
Chile > Uruguay
Australia > Costa Rica
4 to 0. Not even close.

Group G maybe, with Australia << USA. But Chile smokes Ghana, and the dutch are a better side than Portugal.

One poster mentioned Group C, not due to the presence of heavyweights, but the sheer evenness of the group.
Hard to disagree with atleast the second half of that. I'm psyched to see group C play out. Not least because we'll see Asia's best play Africas best(?).
With the respect African nations receive despite achieving very little, I'd be delighted to see Japan roll them. Heavily.

At the complete opposite end. Is Group A the most deceptively underwhelming?
Croatia Mexico and Cameroon are teams that seem intimidating at first, but in reality stuttered their way through qualification.

Completely disagree.

People are only calling Group B the group of death because we are in it, on papers its really only 2 (maybe 3) who have a realistic chance of going through, its not a group of deatht\