Well... I've been thinking about this...

And yes, there are scenarios in which a team can have played two games and have their fate resting on the third match.

The easiest one to explain, in which ‘an arrangement’ could be reached, is if the first two matches have ended 0-0 and the teams in the final game know that a scoring draw sends them both through.

But I’m not sure that this is much different to the final games in four team groups when two teams often know that a particular result will send them both through (eg if two teams have four points each and the other two have one).

There are plenty of final group games in four-team groups that just peter out as teams settle for a result.

I agree it’s not perfect – however in 1982 they had three-team groups in the second round which all (as I understand it) passed off without controversy. Whereas, ironically, it was in the earlier four-team first round groups that the notorious ‘anschluss’ game between West Germany and Austria took place.

Posted By: norway, Jan 10, 15:21:17