shedite
03/04/2009, 9:38 AM
Apologies if this is in a thread elsewhere, but just looked through the qualifying tables and noticed that Georgia could end up playing a vital role in the qualifying.
Obviously if we win the group, none of this matters, but if we come second, only 8 of the 9 runners up get into the playoffs. At present, we are the 8th best, one spot from missing out as runners up.
This is because with the uneaven group numbers, results agains the bottom teams don't count. At present, that's Georgia (who we got 6 points from), meaning we have only 4 points. If they overtook Montenegro (who we got 4 from), we would gain 2 more points, moving us up to a healthier 5th place and probably ensuring we get a playoff spot at worse.
It's a bit off yet, but worth keeping in mind.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(UEFA)#Ranking_o f_second-placed_teams
Obviously if we win the group, none of this matters, but if we come second, only 8 of the 9 runners up get into the playoffs. At present, we are the 8th best, one spot from missing out as runners up.
This is because with the uneaven group numbers, results agains the bottom teams don't count. At present, that's Georgia (who we got 6 points from), meaning we have only 4 points. If they overtook Montenegro (who we got 4 from), we would gain 2 more points, moving us up to a healthier 5th place and probably ensuring we get a playoff spot at worse.
It's a bit off yet, but worth keeping in mind.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(UEFA)#Ranking_o f_second-placed_teams