Group G - the race for 2nd
With both England and Belgium already qualifying for the last 16, you'd think that their match next week will be a straight shootout to see who wins the group - but actually coming second might be the better bet for both.
In terms of the teams they would potentially face, the team who finish 2nd are likely to be on the "easier" side of the draw.
If things pan out as expexted (and there's every chance it won't) the team in 2nd could get Japan in the last 16, then mexico or switzerland in the quarter finals, whereas the team finishing first could well be playing the winners out of Brzil and Germany if they make it to the quarter finals.
Additionally to that, if belgium finish 2nd in the group, all their remaining games to the final would be in Moscow, which is where the team are based.
I wonder if in this, or other groups there will be any skulduggery when the last games play out.
Re: Group G - the race for 2nd
Why did England win 6-1 then? Not a very smart move if you want to finish 2nd :biggrin:
Re: Group G - the race for 2nd
Anyway, they are both GF-8 GA-2 GD-6 Pts-6, so what happens if they draw?
Re: Group G - the race for 2nd
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Wales-Bales
Anyway, they are both GF-8 GA-2 GD-6 Pts-6, so what happens if they draw?
So, England should have won by 4 goals or less v Panama, and now they have to go to all out to accumulate red and yellow cards! The battle of Kaliningrad looms :biggrin:
"The amount of yellow and red cards accumulated by a team throughout the group stage. Currently, England have two yellow cards to Belgium's three, meaning they currently top Group G by the slenderest of margins.
If fair play fails to produce a winner, it all comes down to the old-fashioned method of drawing lots. FIFA officials would put both names in a bag and draw out a winner. Imagine the drama... and cries of fixing."
https://asia.eurosport.com/football/...08/story.shtml
Re: Group G - the race for 2nd
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Wales-Bales
Anyway, they are both GF-8 GA-2 GD-6 Pts-6, so what happens if they draw?
It goes on the fair play rankings, if that's tied they draw lots
Re: Group G - the race for 2nd
Quote:
Originally Posted by
City123
It goes on the fair play rankings, if that's tied they draw lots
Fair play , that's not a bad deal.
Re: Group G - the race for 2nd
How many red cards can a team receive before the game is called off? I can see the England v Belgium game being very tactical :hehe:
Re: Group G - the race for 2nd
I think stubborn pride would stop England doing this. It will be interesting to see what happen's in the Brazil Germany group 1st. I think the media would be tough on them if they lost on purpose and if they win they will call him stupid for not giving them the best chance.
Re: Group G - the race for 2nd
To win the World Cup involves beating the Germans or Brazilians at some point.
Re: Group G - the race for 2nd
Quote:
Originally Posted by
TISS
To win the World Cup involves beating the Germans or Brazilians at some point.
So far England have beaten 2 sides they would be expected to beat.
To win the tournament they would have to beat 2 or 3 sides they would be expected to lose to.
Getting on the right side of the draw could be the difference between that being 2 or 3 sides in a row better than them they have to beat.
Re: Group G - the race for 2nd
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Rjk
So far England have beaten 2 sides they would be expected to beat.
To win the tournament they would have to beat 2 or 3 sides they would be expected to lose to.
Getting on the right side of the draw could be the difference between that being 2 or 3 sides in a row better than them they have to beat.
They should have least put themselves in a position to have this option, which Belgium now have!
Re: Group G - the race for 2nd
For the England v Belgium game, might a gambling man lump on 10 yellow cards or more or maybe more than one own goal? :sherlock:
Re: Group G - the race for 2nd
Quote:
Originally Posted by
MacAdder
For the England v Belgium game, might a gambling man lump on 10 yellow cards or more or maybe more than one own goal? :sherlock:
The permutations are endless :biggrin:
Re: Group G - the race for 2nd
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Wales-Bales
The permutations are endless :biggrin:
I hope the ingerlish go home and Kane is overtaken as top scorer,
Re: Group G - the race for 2nd
of course England will go for the win, its coming home, another win will just make is even more of a fact
Re: Group G - the race for 2nd
Don’t know why they just don’t put the last 16 teams in a hat and have a straight draw till the semis?
Re: Group G - the race for 2nd
Quote:
Originally Posted by
William Treseder
Don’t know why they just don’t put the last 16 teams in a hat and have a straight draw till the semis?
The world cup has never done that.
Re: Group G - the race for 2nd
Quote:
Originally Posted by
lardy
The world cup has never done that.
I know that. Just wonder why they don’t try it.
Re: Group G - the race for 2nd
Quote:
Originally Posted by
William Treseder
I know that. Just wonder why they don’t try it.
But you know why. It's the same reason why the first and second seeds at Wimbledon don't meet until the final. It's better to have Federer and Djokovic playing in the final than the third round. If a country reaches the world cup final you know they've earned it by playing at least one, probably two, 'good teams' on the way, rather than avoiding everyone decent by fluke.
Re: Group G - the race for 2nd
Quote:
Originally Posted by
lardy
you know they've earned it by playing at least one, probably two, 'good teams' on the way, rather than avoiding everyone decent by fluke.
Let's hope they don't apply this theory to the FA Cup, finals between the "big" 6 each season would be a total bore! It's happened 9 times since the PL was formed, it would have been a lot more if seeding was in place.
Re: Group G - the race for 2nd
Quote:
Originally Posted by
lardy
But you know why. It's the same reason why the first and second seeds at Wimbledon don't meet until the final. It's better to have Federer and Djokovic playing in the final than the third round. If a country reaches the world cup final you know they've earned it by playing at least one, probably two, 'good teams' on the way, rather than avoiding everyone decent by fluke.
But that’s not really true is it?. The last 16 of the World Cup, world snooker, Wimbledon etc, is made up of the top 16 competitors at that precise moment. Any of the 16 teams who qualify this week would still face stiff opposition in a draw from the hat system.
The canon fodder has already been weeded out earlier in the competition
Re: Group G - the race for 2nd
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Des Parrot
Let's hope they don't apply this theory to the FA Cup, finals between the "big" 6 each season would be a total bore! It's happened 9 times since the PL was formed, it would have been a lot more if seeding was in place.
Well it kind of already does apply, the top teams don't enter until the third round and many rounds have already taken place.
Re: Group G - the race for 2nd
I don't think this kind of gaming the draw is likely to happen, as surely teams would prefer to maintain momentum into the knockout stages? But you never know, it'll be interesting to see
