Monday, October 16, 2006

World Cup and Chinese Astrology

Not long after the recent Football World Cup I noticed an interesting
coincidence regarding the relationship between winners of the tournament
and Chinese astrology.  As you may be aware, Chinese astrology is based
on a 12-year cycle - each year in the cycle has an animal sign.

What I noticed was that this year is the Year of the Dog, and Italy won
the World Cup.  Twelve years ago was also the Year of the Dog, and I
remembered (painfully) that Brazil defeated Italy that year.  24 years
ago, another Year of the Dog, Italy won the World Cup.  I was noticing
a pattern.  To illustrate, I constructed a table of past winners (and
runners-up) with the relevant Chinese sign (see below).

The observations:
* Italy and Brazil are the ONLY winners in the Year of the Dog (3 each)
* Italy has made the final in two other Years of the Dog, but lost both
  to Brazil
* Germany is the only multiple winner in the Year of the Horse (2)
* Germany and Argentina are the only teams to make the final more than
  once in the Year of the Horse (4 times and 3 times respectively)
* Six different teams have won (once only) in the Year of the Tiger
* Brazil has won every final it has reached, EXCEPT for two of its
  three finals in the Year of the Tiger

So if history is any guide ...
2010 (Tiger)  Could be a chance for a first-time winner
2014 (Horse)  Germany or Argentina should make the final
2018 (Dog)    Brazil, Italy or both should make the final



World Cup Finalists and Chinese Signs
YearWinnerRunner UpChinese Sign
1930UruguayArgentinaHorse
1934ItalyCzechoslovakiaDog
1938ItalyHungaryTiger
1950UruguayBrazilTiger
1954GermanyHungaryHorse
1958BrazilSwedenDog
1962BrazilCzechoslovakiaTiger
1966EnglandGermanyHorse
1970BrazilItalyDog
1974GermanyNetherlandsTiger
1978ArgentinaNetherlandsHorse
1982ItalyGermanyDog
1986ArgentinaGermanyTiger
1990GermanyArgentinaHorse
1994BrazilItalyDog
1998FranceBrazilTiger
2002BrazilGermanyHorse
2006ItalyFranceDog
WINNERS
 BrazilItalyGermanyUruguayArgentinaEnglandFranceTOTAL
Horse10211106
Dog33000006
Tiger11111016
TOTAL543221118
[I did this analysis on July 12/13, but only now got round to writing it up]