Group F: Possible roads through
June 9, 2002
GROUP F RANKINGS AFTER TWO GAMES PLAYED
FIFAworldcup.com
Sweden – 4 points, +1 goal difference, 3 goals for
England – 4 points, +1 goal difference, 2 goals for
Argentina – 3 points, 0 goal difference, 1 goal for
Nigeria – 0 points, -2 goal difference, 1 goals for
As things stand now, no team have yet booked a ticket for the second round, but Nigeria have been eliminated from contention after two difficult losses to Argentina and Sweden.
Nigeria will try to bow out in style with a strong showing against England, while Argentina and Sweden will meet with everything on the line.
Sweden
Sweden started slow in their opening match against England, but the Scandinavians came back to play some good football in the second half and save a point. Against Nigeria, Sweden got two goals from Henrik Larsson, one from the penalty spot, to eliminate the African side.
England
England split
points with Sweden in their first match and then upset the favoured Argentines 1-0 thanks to a David Beckham penalty kick. England’s only other goal of the finals came from defender Sol Campbell.
Argentina
The vaunted Argentine attack has yet to come alive, as they have managed just one goal through two matches, a 1-0 win over Nigeria and a 1-0 defeat to England. Gabriel Batistuta, who scored Argentina’s loan goal, has been the starting striker, with Hernan Crespo coming on in the second half in each match.
Nigeria
Although Nigeria did not play poorly in either of their two defeats, they have only a consolation match with England left before their FIFA World Cup™ experience is over.
SCENARIOS
If Sweden and England both win, the team with the greater margin of victory are the group winners, with the other taking second place.
EXAMPLE: Sweden win 3-1, England win 2-1: Sweden 1, England 2
If Sweden and England win by the same margin and England score two more goals than Sweden, then England win the group and Sweden finish second.
EXAMPLE: England win 3-2, Sweden win 1-0: England 1, Sweden 2
If Sweden and England win by the same margin and Sweden score as many or more goals than England, Sweden win the group and England take second place.
EXAMPLE: Sweden win 2-1, England win 2-1: Sweden 1, England 2
If Sweden and England win by the same margin and England score one more goal than Sweden, both teams advance to the second round but lots will be drawn to decide who wins the group and who takes second place.
EXAMPLE: Sweden win 1-0, England win 2-1: draw lots
If England win and Argentina win, England win the group and Argentina take second place. If Sweden win and Nigeria win, Sweden win the group and England take second place.
If Sweden win and England draw, Sweden win the group and England take second place. If England win and Sweden draw, England win the group and Sweden take second place.
If Argentina draw and England lose by more than one goal, Sweden win the group and Argentina take second place.
EXAMPLE: Argentina draw 1-1, England lose 2-0: Sweden 1, Argentina 2
If Argentina draw, England lose by one goal, and Argentina score two more goals than England, Sweden win the group and Argentina take second place.
EXAMPLE: Argentina draw 3-3, England lose 2-1: Sweden 1, Argentina 2
If Argentina draw, England lose by one goal, and Argentina score fewer than two goals more than England, Sweden win the group and England take second place.
EXAMPLE: Argentina draw 1-1, England lose 1-0: Sweden 1, England 2
If Sweden and England both draw and England score two or more goals more than Sweden, England win the group and Sweden finish second.
EXAMPLE: England draw 2-2, Sweden draw 0-0: England 1, Sweden 2
If Sweden and England draw and Sweden score as many or more goals than England, Sweden win the group and England finish second.
EXAMPLE: England draw 0-0, Sweden draw 0-0: Sweden 1, England 2
If Sweden and England draw and England score one goal more than Sweden, both teams advance to the second round but lots will be drawn to decide who wins the group.
EXAMPLE: England draw 1-1, Sweden draw 0-0: draw lots
OFFICIAL RULES OF THE TOURNAMENT
Rankings in each group shall be determined as follows:
(a) greater number of points obtained in all group matches;
(b) goal difference in all the group matches;
(c) greater number of goals scored in the group matches
If two or more teams are equal on the basis of the above three criteria, their place shall be determined as follows:
(d) greater 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 the group matches between the teams concerned;
(g) drawing lots by the Organising Committeee for the FIFA World Cup™.
The two teams coming first and second in each group qualify for the round of 16.