....does not mean we can't qualify. Just thought I'd mention it now before the media goes over the top on this supposed do-or-die game.
It will if Italy and Costa Rica draw (or indeed if Costa Rica win) - admittedly a day later. If Italy beat Costa Rica and we lose to Uruguay, we can still get through IF we beat Costa Rica, Italy beat Uruguay and we have the best goal difference of the three tied on 3 points.
As long as Italy and Costa Rica don't draw we can still go through, whoever wins. Positions are separated by goal difference, goals scored, results between tied teams in descending order.
Yep. The fact Italy v Costa Rica is the following day will only compound any jitters if we draw/lose.
Draw or win provided Italy do the business over Costa Rica. I think we'll beat Costa Rica and there Uruguay would have to beat Italy.
Italy will have to beat Italy? I know they're unscrupulous and corrupt, but that seems a step too far even for them.
Nope. If we lose to Uruguay and Costa Rica beat Italy, CR will be on 6 points, and Italy and Uruguay will each be on 3 points and yet to play each other, meaning one of them will get to 6 or both will end up on 4. We'll be out.
It is possible to go through on 2 Points with 2 draws and a defeat so to suggest it's game over if we lose is wrong (I know this situation can't happen with England and that we might be out if we lose depending on other results, I just found this interesting) P W D L PTS Team A 3 3 0 0 9 Team B 3 0 2 1 2 Team C 3 0 2 1 2 Team D 3 0 2 1 2 Team A win all games All other games are draws but Team B lose to Team A by less goals than both Teams C and D and they would go through.
Another possibility is a four-way tie on 4 points - as in Ireland's group in 1994. All four teams also had a 0 goal difference, so it came down to goals scored.
As over18and legal has said, if we can't beat any of the teams in this group, we deserve to be come straight home. And be shot.
It would be funny if all the games in one group ended 0-0. Would they send the final group games through to extra time/penalties to decide who advances or would FIFA do a draw to decide which 2 teams advance?
