World cup

[westcorklad]

I see Sepp Blatter will be at the Spain-Iran game this evening as a "special guest" of Putin. Says it all really.

[tony1]

No team look outstanding.

[tony1]

He now 6/4 to be top goalscorer.

Ronaldo strikes again and portugal lead at half time. Will he get another hat trick?

[Mr Sweet Guy]

Goooooaaaaallllllllllll

Goal for Spain and we got bees in the stadium.

[westcorklad]

Iran played very well and were unlucky not to get a draw. I could see them getting out of the group if they play the same way against Portugal. BTW those vuvuzuelas would really do your head in, I thought that was a South African thing. After today`s results Egypt,Saudi Arabia and Morocco can all start preparing for the flight home.

[westcorklad]

If spain and portugal both lost their final game by the same margin, how would it be decided who finishes 2nd ?

This is the criteria used for tiebreakers.

Tiebreakers

The top two teams after the round-robin is completed in each group are determined as follows

1.points obtained in all group matches;
2.goal difference in all group matches;
3.number of goals scored in all group matches;

If two or more teams are equal on the basis of the above three criteria, their rankings are determined as follows:

4.points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned;
5.goal difference in the group matches between the teams concerned;
6.number of goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned;
7.fair play points
first yellow card: minus 1 point;
indirect red card (second yellow card): minus 3 points;
direct red card: minus 4 points;
yellow card and direct red card: minus 5 points;

8.drawing of lots by the FIFA Organising Committee.



So in theory it could come down to a random draw as happened in 1990 when Ireland and Holland were deadlocked at the end of their group games. Ireland ended up in 2nd place and got to play Romania whereas the Dutch ended up playing West Germany. If the draw had turned out the other way round that World Cup would be remembered very differently in Irish football history.

[Barney Rubble]

This is the criteria used for tiebreakers.

Tiebreakers

The top two teams after the round-robin is completed in each group are determined as follows

1.points obtained in all group matches;
2.goal difference in all group matches;
3.number of goals scored in all group matches;

If two or more teams are equal on the basis of the above three criteria, their rankings are determined as follows:

4.points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned;
5.goal difference in the group matches between the teams concerned;
6.number of goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned;
7.fair play points
first yellow card: minus 1 point;
indirect red card (second yellow card): minus 3 points;
direct red card: minus 4 points;
yellow card and direct red card: minus 5 points;

8.drawing of lots by the FIFA Organising Committee.



So in theory it could come down to a random draw as happened in 1990 when Ireland and Holland were deadlocked at the end of their group games. Ireland ended up in 2nd place and got to play Romania whereas the Dutch ended up playing West Germany. If the draw had turned out the other way round that World Cup would be remembered very differently in Irish football history.

Dan Walker is after saying that Spain (I think) are top by the fair play points rule.

[westcorklad]

France and Denmark should both win their games today. Argentina are under a lot of pressure to get a result today as if they lose their World Cup hopes will be as good as over. If Messi is on form I will take them to get a narrow win maybe 2-1.

[peregine]

Croatia 2 Argentina 0 . Great goal from Modric. 8 mins to go.

[Barney Rubble]

Croatia 2 Argentina 0 . Great goal from Modric. 8 mins to go.

3-0 now - Argentina are very poor