Tiebreaking Formula

[beachesl]

Reuters, Monday June 21 2010 By Mike Collett
JOHANNESBURG, June 21 (Reuters) - A team could advance from the group stage of the World Cup for the first time ever by having their name drawn out of a hat later this week.
With results and standings in six of the eight groups being so close, a number of teams in each section could all finish level on points, goal difference and goals scored as well as matches between themselves.
The provision for a team to advance by the luck of drawing lots is buried away in Article 39 near the end of FIFA's book of World Cup regulations and has never been activated.
Replays and playoffs were used in the World Cup until 1958 and since then, despite the expansion of the tournament from 16 to 24 and then 32 teams, all qualifying issues have been settled by the six factors used to determine a team's group ranking.
The first is obviously points, followed by goal difference in all matches, and if that is equal then goals scored.
If two or more teams are equal on the basis of those criteria, then head-to-heads come into play.
If teams still cannot be separated then the greater number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams involved is used and finally, if they are still equal, FIFA draws lots.
FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot told reporters Groups A, C, D, F, G and H could yet be decided by the drawing of lots.
"The possibility still exists in six groups out of the eight," he told reporters.
Any draw would take place at Soccer City at 7pm local time (1700 GMT) after the last group matches that kickoff at 4pm and 11.30pm for the games starting at 8.30pm and would be conducted by a member of the World Cup Organising Committee.

[Trillium]

Portugal will not be affected by the rule... LOL.

[narduch]

Stolen from Wikipedia in an easier to read format:

Tie-breaking criteria

For the World Cup tournament, FIFA uses the following criteria to rank teams in the Group Stage.[60]

1. greatest number of points in all group matches;
2. goal difference in all group matches;
3. greatest number of goals scored in all group matches;
4. greatest number of points in matches between tied teams;
5. goal difference in matches between tied teams;
6. greatest number of goals scored in matches between tied teams;
7. drawing of lots by the FIFA Organising Committee.

[beachesl]

Thanks, you are right it is a lot clearer.

Hope it will never come to lots. I like the Euro 2008 format about the penalties if two teams playing the group stage are tied on points, as well as the extra last ditch method of calculating cards for a fair play decider. Also, I like the idea of a head-to-head decider ahead of the total goal difference, reduces the effect of a laugher like today.

[Toronto MB]

This is one aspect of competing at the World Cup for which Canada has provided a master-class!

Don't forget our magical coin toss in 2000 and our triumphant draw out-of-the-that in 2001.

Canada: random selection champions of the world!

[Unnamed Trialist]

Here it is from the FIFA site, as narduch reports it seems.

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/standings/whatif.html

It is pretty hard to go to coin toss with that many things going on.

[beachesl]

So, as I understand it, Italy and NZ go to lots if they tie their opponents with identical scores. Could happen.

Gattuso going in for Italy, smart move they need a spark.....come on Slovakia!!!!!!!!!!!!

[beachesl]

Possible Group F permutations, for your leisure and pleasure:
• If Paraguay win or draw against New Zealand, they will qualify for the last 16.
• If Paraguay win, they will top the group. They will also be guaranteed first place in the event of a draw, as long as Italy fail to win their game against Slovakia.
• If Paraguay draw and Italy win, top spot will come down to goal difference.
• If Italy beat Slovakia they will qualify. If they draw, they will still qualify as long as New Zealand fail to defeat Paraguay. Their fate will come down to goals scored if New Zealand draw against Paraguay.
•If New Zealand beat Paraguay, they will advance. If they draw, they can only qualify as long as Italy draw against Slovakia and they finish with more goals scored than La Nazionale.
•If Slovakia beat Italy, they will be guaranteed progress providing New Zealand do not overcome Paraguay. If Slovakia and New Zealand both win, the European side will be tied with Paraguay on four points and goal difference will decide who goes through.