We have a chance....

We have a chance!  We definitely have a chance of making it to the next round in the Word Cup.  This is so exciting.  After watching the match between France and Mexico last night and I know we have a chance.   For those of you who are not in the know, I have done a bit of research to determine if it is possible for us to make it to the next round.     

According to the rules of the tournament, the the first and second placed teams, in each group, proceed to the next round.  Determining who those teams are is bit more complicated then just looking at the points.  To understand this, let us look at how the score card works.  When a match is played, the score card is updated as follows:
  • 3 points are awarded for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for a loss
  • Goals for and against are tallied and updated on the score card
At the end of the group matches, the first and second placed teams are determined by the following criteria:
  • The goal difference in all group matches
  • Number of goals scored in all group matches
  • Greatest number of points in matches between tied teams
  • Goal difference in matches between tied teams
  • Greatest number of goals scored between tied teams 
  • Drawing of lots by FIFA Organizing committee
This is where our chance lies. Since we have only one match to go, we have to win it.  And Mexico have to lose their last match.  If they do we will be tied.  Then the last four rules above apply.  Since we would be on par with Mexico in terms of points scored i.e. draw between us, loss to Uruguay and win against France we would have to proceed to the next rule.  This is where it becomes tricky. 

We have four goals scored against us, one in our match with Mexico and three in our match with Uruguay and we scored only one goal in our match with Mexico giving us a goal difference of -3. Mexico on the other hand have scored one against us, two against France and we scored one against them giving them a goal difference of +2.  So to come out on top using the goal difference rule we have to win by four goals to nil against France and Mexico have to loose by at least two goals to nil against Uruguay. This will not only satisfy the goal difference rule but also the maximum goals scored rule to put us through to the next round.

So on the 22 June, let us gather and support our team and cheer them on to make it to the next round.  But let us not forget our allies in all this and let us also turn up in droves to support Uruguay so that they can help make our dreams come true :-)   

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Surprise...

Although I have been surprised on many occasions in my life, very few have left an impression on me. There are even fewer where i can admit that i have been at a complete loss for words. On Wednesday I was surprised, pleasantly I might add, but to such an extent that I was, for a significant amount of time, at a complete loss for words. A friend of mine, that I had not seen in the last thirty years, and I arranged to meet at Sandton City for a cup of coffee.  Walking through Nelson Mandela Square, i could not help but notice, that all the restaurants were filled with tourists from all over the globe who had come to our beautiful country to share in the World Cup experience.  The chatter of people in various tongues contributed to the cosmopolitan atmosphere that prevailed in the square. We made our way to a coffee shop and proceeded to catch up on the last thirty years.  It was fascinating listening and chatting about how our lives had turned out.  It occurred to me at that moment
Read more

A Friend Indeed - The Second Leg

I am happy and sad at the same time.  Happy, because I had strengthened the bond that binds us and sad because I had had to leave home for the next stage of my journey, and it is never easy to take leave from the love and warmth of home, but go I must. Back on the paved road I head towards Springbok and after refueling the car, on towards Cape Town.  The road winding its way through the mountains.  Kamieskroon, Garies, Verhynsdorp, Klawer, Clan William, Citrusdal, Piketberg and Moorreesburg, towns seemingly forgotten along the way, before the familiar Malmesbury and Cape Town. A distance of some six hundred kilometres. Mouille Point, Cape Town.  A fresh wind blows across the parking lot.  The smell of the ocean assaults my senses.  The apartment is modern and tastefully furnished but it is the balcony which becomes my haven.  An early morning cup of coffee overlooking the most stunning of beach fronts is very hard to beat. A trip to Franschoek with its quaint streets and famous r
Read more

The Rose

Is it not strange how sometimes you hear and old familiar song and decide to actually listen to it and you realise what a fantastic song it is?  Today it happened to me.  I was on my way to Hyde Park, the rain splattering on the windscreen before being wiped away by the windscreen wipers when this song burst forth from the radio.  I turned the volume up because it sounded familiar and for the first time i listened to the song.  The lyrics blew me away and I rushed over to the shopping center and rummaging through the music DVDs found a copy of the song.  I have been listening to it non stop since then.  The song, The Rose, sung by Bette Midler and written by Amanda McBroom. The Rose Some say love, it is a river That drowns the tender reed Some say love, it is a razor That leaves your soul to bleed Some say love, it is a hunger an endless aching need I say love, it is a flower And you, its only seed It's the heart, afraid of breaking That never learns to dance It'
Read more