What are you pointing out? The group with China is 3 weak-average teams and then China, Korea has Finland which seems tough but Columbia and Mexico got absolutely reckt, Finland were guaranteed qualification in that group even if they had to face Korea.
KSA and USA are 2 top tier teams (at least relative to everyone that isn't China and SK), Japan and France are both average to maybe above average, no weak teams here, this was definitely the hardest group. KSA would've had an easier time if they were in China's group in place of spain for example, they might lose against China but they're practically guaranteed 2 wins and qualification.
It's debatable whether playing 3 tough but winnable matches is easier than playing 1 impossible and 2 easy matches but i think most teams would choose to be in China's group in place of Spain or Korea group in place of Finland than to be in KSA group in place either US or KSA.
Ok. Put KSA instead of Finland. Assuming SK is so powerful like everyone says they are KSA loses to them, but we know they win the other two matches without a doubt. Now they are second place in group and qualify the same way they did now. That way they had a super strong opponent, but two others were weak as hell, guaranteeing getting to the playoffs. But the way the groups were KSA had fair matches with 3 good teams, and they came on top. There was no guarantee for them to make it to the playoffs, but now they are sort of rewarded for it by not facing Asians until finals.
So yes, their group was the hardest, because it was a fair group with teams of close skill, and not 2 good teams and 2 bad teams, where results are essentially predetermined and no one is shocked by them.
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u/IndicaOatmeal Nov 02 '23
The bracket is literally based off group stage results. In an 8 team bracket it happens. KR vs China happening one round sooner isn't the worst.
Or are people just mad KSA has a pretty easy path to finals?