This is a humorous post before last matches but if you are interested in real visual analysis of chances for Chile, Spain, Switzerland and Honduras to go out of the group stage of 2010 FIFA World Cup, follow this link: Group H, Spain-Chile, Switzerland-Honduras analisys of chances to qualify

Take a look at the image on the left. It is a visualisation of chances to qualify to the round of 16 out of group H. It resembles a dog, doesn’t it?

Is this an omen for Spain, Chile, Honduras or Switzerland? Good or bad? Who will win?

Do any of today playing countries have a dog in their national emblems or any other signs?

Is this Swiss Mountain Dog, maybe? And if so, is this good or bad omen for Switzerland? Will Switzerland win their match and mayby Honduras, Chile or  Spain will qualify? We will see in a few hours. Anyway, good luck for them all.

Today next World Cup matches: Italy vs. Slovakia and Paraguay vs. New Zealand. What results. What results Italy need  to qualify? What are the chances for New Zealand to qualify? What are the chances for Slovakia or Paraguay? Look at the below image. ( More visual analysis are available here: World Cup Analysis )

Each square on the image represents results of both matches. Colors tell us who will be qualified. As you can see Italy (white and blue) need to win against Slovakia to be sure to be qualified. What about a drawn match Italy vs. Slovakia? If New Zealand win (black squares bottom) Italy are out of the next round (New Zealand and Paraguay qualify). If  Paraguay win, Italy are in (and Paraguay). If Paraguay against New Zealand ends with a draw, there are three possible scenarios. 1) Paraguay (and New Zealand) scores more goals then Italy => Paraguay and New Zealand qualify (black squares in the middle). 2) Italy scores more goals then Paraguay => Italy and Paraguay quallify. (white squares below black diamonds). 3) Italy Slovakia 0:0, 1:1, 2:2, 3:3, …. and Paraguay New Zealand 0:0, 1:1, 2:2, 3:3, … respctively => drawing of lots will be needed because Italy and New Zealand have same number of points and goals for and against and the match Italy against New Zealand is drawn (1:1)

Slovakia need to win against Italy to qualify (red squares) and Paraguay must not lose more then … depends on Italy Slovakia result (gray squares)

Paraguay if they win or draw, they are in round of 16. If they lose, there are some chances to qualify (black squares)

New Zealand if they win, they are in. If they lose they are out. If they draw there are some chances – black squares and diamods in the middle of the image (see Italy’s above)

The below table shows situation in FIFA 2010 World Cup’s  Group C before last matches of the group stage. Each square on the drawing represents different result of  last both matches in group C (Slovenia – England  and Algeria – USA). Colors on the drawing show us who will go out the group and will be qualified to round of 16.

More similar visualisation can be found on: FIFA 2010 World Cup Groups

White and blue squares on the drawing tell us that USA will be qualified. As you can see, if the USA team wins against Algeria at least 1:0, it will be qualified to the next round (England vs Slovenia does not matter in this case). If USA draw to Algeria and England do not win to Slovakia, USA will be qualified in most cases, but there are some results that promotes England insted of USA (black squares in the middle).

Drawing of lots

There are also three pairs of interesting results (USA – Algeria 2:2,1:1,0:0 and England – Slovenia 1:1,2:2,3:3) marked by the black diamonds. In this case both teams have same number of points (3), same number of goals (3,4 or 5 depending on the result) and same number of goals scored in match between USA and England. Due to the terms of FIFA World Cup, drawing of lots will be needed to find the winner.

When does FIFA draw of lots to find the winner.

Below are the FIFA’s criteria that allows to find the winner of the group stage:

1.greatest number of points in all group matches;
2.goal difference in all group matches;
3.greatest number of goals scored in all group matches;
4.greatest number of points in matches between tied teams;
5.goal difference in matches between tied teams;
6.greatest number of goals scored in matches between tied teams;
7.drawing of lots by the FIFA Organising Committee.