# If you're following the World Cup... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 17, 2006, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096 "2006-06-17T20:20:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2006, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/21 "2006-06-18T09:39:49Z")
[QUOTE=chowder] Really? you sure about this because it seems a an “unfootballish” way of doing it. :dubious: I would have thought some sort of play off system or even a penalty competition between the 4 teams involved. [/QUOTE] I say, old boy, GorillaMan is a big football fan! Tiebreaking criteria If teams are even on points at the end of group play, the tied teams will be ranked as follows: a) Greatest number of points obtained in all group matches; b) Goal difference in all group matches; c) Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches. d) Greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned; e) Goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned; f) Greater number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams concerned; g) Drawing of lots by the Organising Committee for the FIFA World Cup™. > **[2006 FIFA World Cup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_FIFA_World_Cup#Tiebreaking_criteria)** > > The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which had won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six populated continents participated in the qualification process which began in September 2003. Thirty-one teams qualified from this process along with hosts Germany for the finals tournament. It was the s... ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2006, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/22 "2006-06-18T09:40:52Z")
[QUOTE=kambuckta] Australia plays Brazil in about 5 hours time. I am so hoping that all the Brazilian players suffer from some sort of minor seizure about 15 minutes into the game which renders them unable to use their feet for anything but tapdancing. 😃 [/QUOTE] They’d still win! :eek: 😕 :o ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2006, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/23 "2006-06-18T09:43:06Z")
[QUOTE=chowder] Really? you sure about this because it seems a an “unfootballish” way of doing it. :dubious: I would have thought some sort of play off system or even a penalty competition between the 4 teams involved. [/QUOTE] OK, it’s slightly more complicated. [Official regulations](http://eur.i1.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/i/eu/fifa/regen.pdf) (PDF) If two teams rank equal in the table, and the match between them wasn’t a draw, the winner of that match progresses. If they’d drawn, then it’s lots. If three teams rank equal in the table, a ‘mini-table’ is created just using the results from the matches between these teams. If two teams are still equal in this new table, and they’d drawn their match, then it’s lots. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2006, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/24 "2006-06-18T09:44:13Z")
Damn you, **glee** …but at least I got it from the horse’s mouth 😛 ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2006, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/25 "2006-06-18T09:53:55Z")
[QUOTE=glee] I say, old boy, GorillaMan is a big football fan! Tiebreaking criteria If teams are even on points at the end of group play, the tied teams will be ranked as follows: a) Greatest number of points obtained in all group matches; b) Goal difference in all group matches; c) Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches. d) Greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned; e) Goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned; f) Greater number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams concerned; g) Drawing of lots by the Organising Committee for the FIFA World Cup™. > **[2006 FIFA World Cup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_FIFA_World_Cup#Tiebreaking_criteria)** > > The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which had won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six populated continents participated in the qualification process which began in September 2003. Thirty-one teams qualified from this process along with hosts Germany for the finals tournament. It was the s... [/QUOTE] Sorry old bean but being new to the SDMb I was unaware of Gorillamans appreciation of the beautiful game. Toodle pip and all that 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2006, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/26 "2006-06-18T15:03:36Z")
Started out “meh”, with maybe a nod to past favorites like England and Brazil, but after yesterday’s showing I’m going with Argentina for sheer _joie de vivre_ both on and off court (did you see Maradona prancing in the stands like a kid?) … and I’m still waiting for the day Israel makes it to the Mondial again (I was too young to follow in 1970 ☹ ) ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2006, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/27 "2006-06-18T15:26:29Z")
[QUOTE=GorillaMan] Damn you, **glee** …but at least I got it from the horse’s mouth 😛 [/QUOTE] Yes, but I scored first! (cue robotic dance / running around with shirt over head and finally leading SDMB in mass dive) ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2006, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/28 "2006-06-18T15:29:41Z")
[QUOTE=chowder] Sorry old bean but being new to the SDMb I was unaware of Gorillamans appreciation of the beautiful game. Toodle pip and all that 😃 [/QUOTE] Allow me to welcome you to our spiffing community. 😃 Of course our friendly transatlantic hosts provide most of the comment, but there’s a reasonable number of us tea-drinking chaps to season the mixture. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Clam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3bc359/32.png) [@Happy\_Clam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Clam)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2006, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/29 "2006-06-18T15:45:30Z")
[QUOTE=glee] Allow me to welcome you to our spiffing community. 😃 Of course our friendly transatlantic hosts provide most of the comment, but there’s a reasonable number of us tea-drinking chaps to season the mixture. [/QUOTE] Oi, wot a toff! 'Eave 'arf a brick at 'im! 'E’s worse than me trouble and strife, and I ain’t ‘avin’ no giraffe, neither! ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2006, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/30 "2006-06-18T17:41:45Z")
Oz were doing really well against Brazil until the second half. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2006, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/31 "2006-06-18T17:42:52Z")
Still, they’ve got 10 mins to equalise. ---
**Author:** ![light\_strand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a6a055/32.png) [@light\_strand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/light_strand)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2006, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/32 "2006-06-18T17:51:52Z")
Me: US, Brazil, Husband: Germany, US Both: Italy in the next game, and then: Whichever team is playing against Italy. ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2006, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/33 "2006-06-18T18:13:31Z")
Holland, of course. Then any underdog. Like Australia - showed guts against Brazil. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2006, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/34 "2006-06-18T18:20:55Z")
Canada’s not in it, so I have nobody to root for except I hope an underdog wins. There’s a lot of underdogs, though. ---
**Author:** ![Arch\_Trout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9f8e36/32.png) [@Arch\_Trout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arch_Trout)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2006, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/35 "2006-06-18T19:36:34Z")
Argentina then after that any team that’s the underdog. And any team that play England. ---
**Author:** ![mamboman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@mamboman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mamboman)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2006, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/36 "2006-06-18T19:44:18Z")
[QUOTE=Arch Trout] Argentina then after that any team that’s the underdog. And any team that play England. [/QUOTE] Me too! Australia first, then Argentina and Italy (coolest jersies, you see - although the Italian strip this WC leaves a lot to be desired) and then anyone who plays (and preferably beats or even better humiliates) England. mm ---
**Author:** ![PastAllReason](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f07891/32.png) [@PastAllReason](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastAllReason)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2006, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/37 "2006-06-18T19:50:33Z")
I’ve been cheering for Argentina since the '94 World Cup. I’ll confess that it started with the somewhat arbitrary fact that I thought that Gabriel Batistuta was particularly, ahem, attractive. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2006, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/38 "2006-06-18T20:04:54Z")
Trinidad & Tobago, with Italy as my emergency backup, and after that Anybody But Brazil. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2006, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/39 "2006-06-18T20:17:58Z")
[QUOTE=Happy Clam] Oi, wot a toff! 'Eave 'arf a brick at 'im! 'E’s worse than me trouble and strife, and I ain’t ‘avin’ no giraffe, neither! [/QUOTE] Coming as I do from oop norf of Merrie England (Manchester) I’m afraid the cockney rhyming slang is lost on us peasants. Just 'cos we aint as posh as what you suvverners is, is a fing wot we 'ave to endure. Rumour is we are getting electric lights AND running water soon and with a bit of luck they’ll be closing the dark satanic mills and opening summat called a library. Thanks for the welcome gents/ladies 😃 I love you all ---
**Author:** ![The\_Batman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@The\_Batman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Batman)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2006, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/40 "2006-06-18T20:50:24Z")
Mexico then Germany then anyone but Brazil. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096.md?page=3)