How are World Cup 2022 group stages decided by a tie-breaker in Qatar? Is it goal difference or head-to-head?
ByTNT Sports
Updated 02/12/2022 at 17:46 GMT
As we get to the business end of the 2022 World Cup group stages, there are a lot of people wondering how two or more teams with the same number of points would be separated. Would it be by goal difference? Or head-to-head perhaps? Well never fear because Eurosport is here to explain all and make sure you know exactly what is going on in the final group-stage matches.
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The 2022 World Cup group stage has reached its final round of matches. Every team has played two games and now they all know what they need to make it through to the knockout stages.
If you want to double-check you can see our excellent permutations article here.
But what happens if there are two or more teams who end the group stage on the same points? There are no universal rules in football as every federation has different preferences, so you may be wondering what the tie-breakers are for the 2022 World Cup group stage?
Well, luckily, we are here to help. Here are the 2022 World Cup group stage tie-breakers.
Improbably, on Wednesday night in Group C, Poland and Mexico - at one point - were two yellow cards away from having to draw lots to see who would qualify for the last 16.
With Poland losing to Argentina 2-0 AND Mexico beating Saudi Arabia 2-0 AND their fixture ending 0-0, it meant that they could not be separated – with just minutes remaining – by goal difference, goals scored or head-to-head. Thus, it meant Poland were going through on account of fewer yellow cards. And, so, had Poland incurred two yellow cards and the results had remained the same, their fates would have been decided by the drawing of lots.
However, a late Saudi Arabia goal meant that Poland went through on goal difference.
On Thursday, Germany were knocked out on goal difference after Japan beat Spain 2-1.
Then on Friday Uruguay were knocked out on goals scored after South Korea grabbed a late winner against Portugal - that meant South Korea and Uruguay were level on points and goal difference. However, as South Korea had scored more goals - four to Uruguay's two - they progressed.
2022 World Cup group stage tie-breakers in full
1. Points obtained in 2022 World Cup group matches
That's fairly obvious, we think.
2. Goal difference in 2022 World Cup group matches
So yes, goal difference is the big deciding factor. That means you might see some aggressive football in the final group games from teams wanting to improve their goal difference.
Of course, the opposite might be true, and we may well just see negative football as teams protect clean sheets.
3. Goals scored in 2022 World Cup group matches
So this might be the factor that takes into account goals. Some teams have scored far more goals than others depending on the group, which might lead to some attacking play to try and counteract that.
4. Points obtained in matches between the teams who are level (head-to-head)
Yes, FIFA may give this a fancy name, but this is basically head-to-head. Did you beat the team you're level with? Then congratulations, you're going through.
5. Goal difference in the matches against the teams who are level
This one is slightly more nuanced, as it is more for when we have three teams level. But it's good to know given how tight some of the groups are.
6. Goals scored in the matches against the teams who are level
Again, this is for if we have three or more teams who are level.
7. Fair play points in all group matches
Now this is where it gets really improbable, and also great fun. If the first six points render us with teams who are still level then we get fair play as a decider. It's important to note that one player can only receive one fair play demerit per game.
Here is the points system:
- Yellow card = -1 point
- Indirect red card (two yellow cards) = -3 points
- Straight red card = -4
- Yellow card followed by a straight red card = -5 points
8. Drawing of lots
Come on, we all know we want this one to happen.
What happened between in Poland, Mexico, Argentina and Saudi Arabia?
Poland snuck through in second place behind Argentina on goal difference ahead of luckless Mexico.
However, right up until the dying seconds of both matches, it looked very much as though the Poles would be advancing by way of the fair play rule.
With Mexico leading 2-0 against Saudi Arabia, they had matched Poland's win over the same opponents by the same scoreline, while both sides were also on the receiving end of 2-0 defeats to Argentina as well as playing out a 0-0 draw with one another.
This meant it went down to yellow cards. Poland had only picked up five to Mexico's seven meaning they would go through.
Mexico therefore needed another goal against the Saudis to leapfrog Poland but as they pushed forward, they were caught on the break and saw their World Cup dreams go up in smoke.
How did Germany crash out of the Group stage?
Germany exited the group stage of the World Cup for the second successive tournament after missing out on goal difference in Group E.
Following a shock loss to Japan in their opening match, the four-time former winners drew 1-1 with Spain and beat Costa Rica 4-2.
After also being stunned by Japan, Spain finished level on points with Germany behind the Asian side who topped the group.
However, Luis Enrique's side progressed courtesy of their opening match 7-0 thrashing of Costa Rica giving them a superior goal difference to the Germans.
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