World Cup Tiebreakers...

[CookieMonster.sixpack]

If two teams tie on points in the group stage the tiebreakers are as follows...

1. Goal Difference
2. Goals Scored
3. Result of the match between the two teams

Doesn't that seem ridiculous? Shouldn't No. 3 be No. 1?

The way it currently stands if the US was to tie with Ghana on points, Ghana could go through ahead of us on goal difference or goals scored despite the US beating them on the field (pitch for you purist).

 

[RebelAlumnus]

I don't think Ghana is the threat. We have to get a result (any result) against Portugal and hope they don't beat Ghana by more than 3.

Obviously, a win against Portugal secures advancement, but no less than a draw is absolutely required. A loss = going home.

As for your question....absolutely. Goal diff should be second in this tournament.

 

[CookieMonster.sixpack]

Yes. My main point is that head-to-head result ought to always be the first tie breaker, no matter the competition. Yet in the World Cup it's behind goals scored!

FIFA gonna FIFA I guess.

 

[seshomoru]

That's just the way group play works.

Everyone essentially gets 270 minutes of soccer. You have the chance to get points by winning or tying your 90 minute interval against another side. So, we get credit for our win against Ghana with 3 points. That's how they reward you for beating a team, and it's essentially bonus points. Basing the first tiebreaker on head to head would basically be giving you double credit for the win. After that... goal differential is a great way to judge how you played the 270 minutes against the group. It rewards both goal scored and good defense over the entirety of group play and is quite a fair judge of how you are playing. That's why yesterday was so big. We get three bonus points essentially and Portugal is sitting there with zero points and a -4 differential versus our +1. It's like a double whammy for how bad they played.

 

[patdog]

Exactly. Beat Portugal and we're through. Draw with Portugal and we need the combined goals Portugal beats Ghana by and we lose to Germany by to be 4 or fewer. It it's 5, Portugal likely goes through on goals scored. The thing that scares me about drawing with Portugal is by then Ghana will be eliminated and have nothing to play for (of course, Germany won't really have anything to play for either since they will already be through and will only need a draw against us to win the group).

 

[FlotownDawg]

A draw against Portugal and 1 or 2 goal loss to Germany should get us through

to the next round, assuming Germany beats Ghana. The only way we don't advance in that scenario would be if Portugal hammered Ghana by at least 3 goals, which after yesterday's games, doesn't look likely.

 

[o_1984Dawg]

Honestly it's in our favor. Much more likely we'd be in a tie for 2nd with Portugal than with Ghana, and also it gives Germany a cushion so they can rest players against us.

 

[rugbdawg]

We could lose to Portugal by one or two goals and then tie Germany

in a completely meaningless game for the Germans. That'd put us through if Ghana ties Portugal. Ghana isn't gonna back down against Portugal at all especially if they are already eliminated. It'll be about national pride.

Edited to Add: It's super important that Germany get 3 against Ghana. That eliminates any incentive for the Germans to give a **** in the third game against us. If we need a result, we should be able to get it.

 

[rem101]

Jurgen should ask his countrymen to let us through since they'll have nothing to play for.**

 

[LiterallyPolice]

If two teams tie on points in the group stage the tiebreakers are as follows...

1. Goal Difference
2. Goals Scored
3. Result of the match between the two teams

Doesn't that seem ridiculous? Shouldn't No. 3 be No. 1?

The way it currently stands if the US was to tie with Ghana on points, Ghana could go through ahead of us on goal difference or goals scored despite the US beating them on the field (pitch for you purist).

I tend to agree... I think head to head should be more important. But it is consistent with a general theme of world soccer: Performance over multiple games is more important than a single match. You see this in these tie breaker rules, the aggregate format of many championships (2-game series that are, in essence, one long single game), and the idea of a tie being, at times, a good strategic move.

I think that is something that is completely lost on many people that are critics of soccer. It often isn't about winning/losing a single match. It's about strategy over multiple matches. I find it similar to pitching strategy in college baseball postseason.

 

[MSUDC11]

NT

 

[MSUDC11]

If we tie Portugal and Germany beats Ghana, then Ghana can't advance. Portugal would be our only threat.

Our chances of advancing are very good if we just get a draw on Sunday.

 

[patdog]

There's no reason Germany shouldn't be happy to settle for a draw against us, assuming they beat Ghana. If we beat or tie Portugal, I'd be very happy with the most boring 0-0 draw in the history of soccer.

 

[dickiedawg]

A win against Portugal doesn't secure anything if Ghana beats Germany.

 

[o_1984Dawg]

A few things to think about:

1. Germany plays Ghana in Fortaleza, the closest site to the equator after Manaus. Seems like that'd be a big disadvantage to Germany. Hopefully they still win.

2. Germany-Ghana is the day before USA-Portugal. So even if they didn't win, we'd have time to digest exactly what we need to get out of the match.