The Coon Dog
13-11-2007, 12:58 PM
Only 2 of England, Croatia & Russia can qualify.
* As they stand at present:
Croatia 26 pts
England 23 pts
Russia 21 pts
Isreal 17 pts
FYR Macedonia 11 pts
Estonia 4 pts
Andora 0 pts
* Remaining fixtures for these teams:
Sat 17 Nov
FYR Macedonia v Croatia
Isreal v Russia
Wed 21 Nov
England v Croatia
Andora v Russia
Previous meetings between these sides in the group:
Russia 2- England 1
England 3 - Russia 0
Croatia 0 -Russia 0
Russia 0 - Croatia 0
Croatia 2 - England 0
If two or more teams are equal on points, the following criteria are applied to determine the standings:
# a) Higher number of points obtained in the group matches played among the teams in question.
# b) Superior goal difference from the group matches played among the teams in question.
# c) Higher number of goals scored in the group matches played among the teams in question.
# d) Higher number of goals scored away from home in the group matches played among the teams in question.
# e) If, after applying criteria a) to d) to several teams, two or more teams still have an equal standing, the criteria a) to d) will be reapplied to these two to determine the standing of these teams. If this procedure does not lead to a decision, criteria f) and g) will apply.
# f) Results of all group matches: 1. Superior goal difference 2. Higher number of goals scored 3. Higher number of goals scored away from home 4. Fair play conduct.
# g) Drawing of lots.
Therefore:
*Croatia only needs to draw one of its two remaining games to qualify.
*If Croatia lose both remaining games they will be level on 26 points with England & therefore both England & Croatia will qualify if Russia fail to beat Isreal (I'm assuming Russia will win its final game v Andora).
*If Russia wins its final 2 games it will qualify.
*If Russia does not win v Isreal then Croatia will qualify, irrespective if it loses its 2 remaining games.
*If England & Croatia are level on 26 points & Russia win both games, Russia qualifies first & England & Croatia would be split using the above formula which I have endeavoured to detail below:
-Firstly points against each other would be level, 3 each.
-Secondly goal difference. Croatia have a 2 goal buffer, so a loss by 1 goal would see Croatia qualify, whereas a win by 3 goals would see England qualify.
-Thirdly is the higher number of goals scored between the teams in question. This is irrelevant as a win by England by 2 goals would still not seperate the two teams.
-Fourthly would be the number of away goals scored between the teams, so a 3-1, 4-2, 5-3 etc... win to England would see them fail to qualify as they didn't score against Croatia in Croatia.
-Fifthly if it finished 2-0 to England then it would be goal difference for all group games. Currently Croatia's is 21 whereas England's is 18, but if England win 2-0, England will have a better goal difference than Croatia, in the event they are level on points (bear in mind Croatia would have to lose to FYR Macedonia for this to eventuate, which would worsen their goal difference even more).
*If Russia wins both games & Croatia draws either of its remaining 2 games, Russia & Croatia will qualify.
*England's destiny at the moment is not in its own hands. I needs either Isreal to draw/win against Russia, or to defeat Croatia by more than 2 goals (or 2-0 using the 5th point above) if Croatia loses to FYR Macedonia.
* As they stand at present:
Croatia 26 pts
England 23 pts
Russia 21 pts
Isreal 17 pts
FYR Macedonia 11 pts
Estonia 4 pts
Andora 0 pts
* Remaining fixtures for these teams:
Sat 17 Nov
FYR Macedonia v Croatia
Isreal v Russia
Wed 21 Nov
England v Croatia
Andora v Russia
Previous meetings between these sides in the group:
Russia 2- England 1
England 3 - Russia 0
Croatia 0 -Russia 0
Russia 0 - Croatia 0
Croatia 2 - England 0
If two or more teams are equal on points, the following criteria are applied to determine the standings:
# a) Higher number of points obtained in the group matches played among the teams in question.
# b) Superior goal difference from the group matches played among the teams in question.
# c) Higher number of goals scored in the group matches played among the teams in question.
# d) Higher number of goals scored away from home in the group matches played among the teams in question.
# e) If, after applying criteria a) to d) to several teams, two or more teams still have an equal standing, the criteria a) to d) will be reapplied to these two to determine the standing of these teams. If this procedure does not lead to a decision, criteria f) and g) will apply.
# f) Results of all group matches: 1. Superior goal difference 2. Higher number of goals scored 3. Higher number of goals scored away from home 4. Fair play conduct.
# g) Drawing of lots.
Therefore:
*Croatia only needs to draw one of its two remaining games to qualify.
*If Croatia lose both remaining games they will be level on 26 points with England & therefore both England & Croatia will qualify if Russia fail to beat Isreal (I'm assuming Russia will win its final game v Andora).
*If Russia wins its final 2 games it will qualify.
*If Russia does not win v Isreal then Croatia will qualify, irrespective if it loses its 2 remaining games.
*If England & Croatia are level on 26 points & Russia win both games, Russia qualifies first & England & Croatia would be split using the above formula which I have endeavoured to detail below:
-Firstly points against each other would be level, 3 each.
-Secondly goal difference. Croatia have a 2 goal buffer, so a loss by 1 goal would see Croatia qualify, whereas a win by 3 goals would see England qualify.
-Thirdly is the higher number of goals scored between the teams in question. This is irrelevant as a win by England by 2 goals would still not seperate the two teams.
-Fourthly would be the number of away goals scored between the teams, so a 3-1, 4-2, 5-3 etc... win to England would see them fail to qualify as they didn't score against Croatia in Croatia.
-Fifthly if it finished 2-0 to England then it would be goal difference for all group games. Currently Croatia's is 21 whereas England's is 18, but if England win 2-0, England will have a better goal difference than Croatia, in the event they are level on points (bear in mind Croatia would have to lose to FYR Macedonia for this to eventuate, which would worsen their goal difference even more).
*If Russia wins both games & Croatia draws either of its remaining 2 games, Russia & Croatia will qualify.
*England's destiny at the moment is not in its own hands. I needs either Isreal to draw/win against Russia, or to defeat Croatia by more than 2 goals (or 2-0 using the 5th point above) if Croatia loses to FYR Macedonia.