Swiss v Israel....score

[Colbert Report]

That's like saying if you blew a one nil away lead to Israel and then a two nil home lead to Israel you don't deserve to go to the World Cup.

[tetsujin1979]

That's like saying if you blew a one nil away lead to Israel and then a two nil home lead to Israel you don't deserve to go to the World Cup.

To be fair, that's true, but every other side in contention for first spot/play off place has done the same
And we all still deserve to go to the World Cup!!
Like a wise man once said, the best team in a league wins it, the others make excuses for not winning it

[pineapple stu]

Why in the name of God can they not let overall goal difference and goals scored decide placings?! Far easier...

[Volcán Masaya]

Why in the name of God can they not let overall goal difference and goals scored decide placings?! Far easier...

Because different groups have different numbers of teams, some 6 some 7. On top of that some groups have more minnows that others and some minnows are excedingly weak (San Marino etc) while others have reached a decent enough level to where you can't put a bucketfull of goals past them anymore, or they even manage the occasional draw (Faeroes, Leichtenstein etc).

So to make things fairer, when deciding placings to break ties they use only results against top 4 teams.

[mypost]

if we run up a very big score in Cyprus.

A very big score for us, especially under the current conservative regime, is when we win 3-0.

[OwlsFan]

Yes, if we beat the Swiss and Cyprus and the French beat us and lose to the Swiss we'll be all tied and each will have the same amount of points from each other. Then it's down to goals scored against each other

We need to beat Cyprus and roll the Swiss . When is the Swiss vs France game ? Same night as we're in Cyprus?

[Stuttgart88]

Glad its keeping your interest up then Stuttgart88...

Huh?

[holidaysong]

When is the Swiss vs France game ? Same night as we're in Cyprus?

Yeah. Very important day for the group.

[tricky_colour]

Why in the name of God can they not let overall goal difference and goals scored decide placings?! Far easier...

I agree, the current system may be fairer but its way to complicated, without
it written down in front of you, and even if you do have it written down or
etched in your mind you also need to know all the results of all the fixtures
played to be able to figure out the situation. (I believe?).

Probably time to go back to 2 points for a win too!

[pineapple stu]

Because different groups have different numbers of teams, some 6 some 7.

Thatonly holds when you're deciding which two of the second-placed teams are the best, though. There's no need to go into complicated rigamaroles to decide first and second within a group, because everyone's played the same games.

[Stuttgart88]

Who was it who posted last week that Israel scoring a header from outside the box was a freak and would never happen again? Nobody ever scores from headers outide the box!

[paul_oshea]

eirebhoy id say!! or maybe it was the jollyrodger.

[geysir]

A very big score for us, especially under the current conservative regime, is when we win 3-0.

Conservative regime?? must be an epidemic going around.
Judging by the results of the weekend, yes 3-0 against Cyprus would be "massive".
Russia 2 Liechtenstein 0 ( dustbins must be getting craftier)
Armenia 0 Holland 1 ("hard earned")
Scotland 1 Italy 1 (late enough equalizer)
Wales 0 England 1 (deflected goal)
Andorra 0 Finland 0 (dustbins dig in)
Ukraine 1 Georgia 1 (Ukraine needed win to be sure but still qualified)
France 3 Faroes 0

[Peadar]

I take it we have no chance of being the/one of the best runner(s) up?

Unlikely, since that system favours the second strongest team in the weakest groups. The second strongest team in a tough group like ours will end up with less points and have to qualify via a play-off.

[Green Army Girl]

why does it feel like every worldcup we are always relying on other teams results.

[Cowboy]

why does it feel like every worldcup we are always relying on other teams results.

we are not at this point in time, we can control our own destiny

[Peadar]

why does it feel like every worldcup we are always relying on other teams results.

Because we're an average top 20 team with fans who expect us to over achieve based on our own inflated opinions of our ability.
Probably has a lot to do with the Sky Sports sales pitch about the Premiership being the best league in the world.

[paul_oshea]

because in every world cup group we do rely on other results!!! simply because we should have won certain games that we either drew or lost!

[Stuttgart88]

why does it feel like every worldcup we are always relying on other teams results.

It might have slipped your attention but this time around we're totally in control of our destiny. If other teams' results make it that bit easier for us then great, I'd be happy. Wouldn't you?

[Green Army Girl]

It might have slipped your attention but this time around we're totally in control of our destiny. If other teams' results make it that bit easier for us then great, I'd be happy. Wouldn't you?

Of course i would be happy but we wouldnt be worrying as much and leaving things down to if Switzerland and France draw then we will win the group etc.. I think we are easily the best team in our group (on our day of course) and when we face big teams like France thats when we really do ourselves proud but wouldnt it be nice for once to not have to worry as much as we always end up doing.