I think the system they have set-up for the World cup is better than the last one.

To me the top teams have more of a chance to get to the semi's. The top 2 teams in each division go through to the next round and then all the teams play against each other. So in the end there is only 6 countries that you would not play against out of the starting 16 teams.

In the second round you play 7 games and the top four teams on points are through to the semi's. That will be harder - compared to Australia's last run to the semi's in the last Wolrd Cup. The added plus for the team that finishes on top after the 2nd round is that they get to play the 4th placed team. It means that a bad performance on one day will not take a team out of the running and the best teams will be in the semi's.

I think pool C & D have the worst of the run as the 2 top teams have to play against each other as there first game. While Pool A & B have warm up games before they meet each other. With the points earned in the first round counting towards the second round the teams that came second in the Pools will have to play catch up against the other teams.