| 1. |
USA |
Plus |
Home team, big crowds, noisy fans, experience, skill, psychological dimension, good preparation. |
| Minus |
Demanding off field promotional events. |
|
| 2. |
CHINA |
Plus |
Long preparation, skill, speed, experience, improved
psychological dimension, different side of draw than USA. |
| Minus |
Finishing not up to the level of the rest of their game. |
|
| 3. |
NORWAY |
Plus |
Different side of draw than USA, experience, strength, skill,
staying power, in the easiest group. |
| Minus |
Limited play choices, slower than many teams in the tournament. |
|
| 4. |
GERMANY |
Plus |
Good balance of young and veteran players, have opened up
their playing style, added new choices, trying to remain unnoticed. |
| Minus |
Limited exposure to many top teams in pre Cup preparation. In same
group as Brazil, and on same side of draw as USA. Toughest group. |
|
| 5. |
BRAZIL |
Plus |
Better physical condition than before, highly skilled, faster than
most other teams, good mixture of youth and veterans, have an
extremely attractive playing style. |
| Minus |
Same group as Germany, same side of draw as USA, resort
to time delaying spoiling tactics when under pressure. |
|
| 6. |
SWEDEN |
Plus |
Young team ready to break out of four years of preparation, with
world class goalkeeper who can help them do it, play an attractive game. |
| Minus |
Not quite believing in their own ability to go to the top, could
meet Norway in quarter-finals. |
|
| 7. |
DENMARK |
Plus |
Capable of upsetting top teams, pleasant conventional playing style. |
| Minus |
Inconsistent game play, could meet Germany or Brazil in quarter-finals. |
|
| 8. |
RUSSIA |
Plus |
Good ball skills, aggressive approach, easier group to advance from. |
| Minus |
Inexperienced at this level, their strong physical style could
rebound against them if officiating is strict. |
|
| 9. |
AUSTRALIA |
Plus |
Long and competitive preparation for Cup, no pressure since they
will be host team for Sydney 2000 Olympics. Strong, aggressive
play could upset higher seeded teams. |
| Minus |
Sweden and China in their group, development on the verge,
probably will peak in 2000. |
|
| --TIED WITH-- |
| 9. |
ITALY |
Plus |
Good ball skills, experienced soccer-savvy team. |
| Minus |
Has not faced many high level teams outside of Italy during
pre Cup preparation. In the toughest group. |
|
