Round of 16 Qualification Scenarios: Group B

June 20th, 2010 | by: Ian Rose |

Now that the second round of group matches in each of the eight World Cup groups has begun, we are starting to get a clearer picture of who will make up the round of 16 at World Cup 2010. Here at WorldCupBlog, we love both football and numbers (that last part might just be me), so we will be going group by group, and giving you all the scenarios for the last round of games, so you know what your team needs to advance.

This time, we focus on Group B: Argentina, Greece, Nigeria, and South Korea

Remaining matches: Nigeria vs. South Korea, Greece vs. Argentina

Argentina: 6 points from 2 matches, +4 goal differential
* A win or draw against Greece will guarantee first place in group B.
* If Argentina lose to Greece, and Nigeria draws with South Korea, Argentina will qualify, but it will come to goal difference between Greece and Argentina for first place in the group (Argentina will still win the group unless they lose by 3).
* If Argentina lose to Greece, and South Korea beats Nigeria, three teams will be tied on 6 points, and it will come to goal difference between Greece, Argentina and South Korea.

South Korea: 3 points from 2 matches, -1 goal differential
* A win against Nigeria and a win or draw for Argentina against Greece puts South Korea through in second place.
* A win against Nigeria and a Greece win over Argentina puts South Korea through only if they beat Nigeria by more goals than Greece beats Argentina.
* If South Korea draws with Nigeria and Greece beats Argentina, South Korea is eliminated.
* If South Korea draws with Nigeria and Greece draws with Argentina, qualification between South Korea and Greece will depend on total goals scored, which South Korea leads by 1.
* If South Korea loses to Nigeria, and Greece takes any points from Argentina, South Korea is eliminated.
* If South Korea loses to Nigeria, and Greece loses to Argentina, South Korea is eliminated on goal difference.

Greece: 3 points from 2 matches, -1 goal differential
* If Greece beat Argentina, and Nigeria beats or draws with South Korea, Greece qualifies.
* If Greece beat Argentina, and South Korea beats Nigeria, it goes to goal difference between Argentina, South Korea, and Greece.
* If Greece draw with Argentina, and South Korea beats Nigeria, Greece is eliminated.
* If Greece draw with Argentina and South Korea draw with Nigeria, it goes to total goals scored, which Greece leads by 1.
* If Greece lose to Argentina and South Korea take any points from Nigeria, Greece is eliminated.
* If Greece lose to Argentina and South Korea lose to Nigeria, Greece is eliminated on goal difference.

Nigeria: 0 points from 2 matches, -2 goal differential
* If Nigeria draws or loses to South Korea, they are eliminated.
* If Nigeria beats South Korea, and Greece takes any points from Argentina, Nigeria are eliminated.
* If Nigeria beats South Korea and Argentina beats Greece, there will be a three-way tie on points, but this scenario guarantees Nigeria goes through on goal difference.

If your team does make it through, check our guide to Group A qualification to see who they might be facing next.

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http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/NKTBVSFIZP2LRF6JN3EB3NNJSI marian

” If Nigeria beats South Korea and Argentina beats Greece, there will be a three-way tie on three points and it will go to goal difference, so Nigeria will need to beat South Korea by one more goal than Argentina beats Greece.”
So, you're saying that if Argentina beats Greece 5-0, Nigeria has to beat South Korea 6-0 ?? I think 1-0 will be enough.
WorldCupBlog

That's a good point – I'll revise how I worded that.
http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/XSMHRXXHVUKLVNFAHTOP753YFQ A.J. Cooper

“* If South Korea loses to Nigeria, and Greece loses to Argentina, there will be a three-way tie on three points each, and it will go to goal difference.
* If Greece lose to Argentina and South Korea lose to Nigeria, three teams will be tied on three points, and it will go to goal difference.
* If Nigeria beats South Korea and Argentina beats Greece, there will be a three-way tie on three points and it will go to goal difference… (the rest or this sentence is wrong).”

In this situation, Nigeria will have the best goal difference of the three teams tied on points and will go through as second in group B. Consider that losing decreases goal difference and winning increases goal difference, and this becomes clear.

Also (this is getting really nitpicky, sorry) RE:
* A win against Nigeria and a Greece win over Argentina puts South Korea through only if they beat Nigeria by more goals than Greece beats Argentina.
Actually, if South Korea and Greece win by the same scoreline, South Korea will go through due to their additional goal scored.

In the unlikely event that South Korea and Greece finish with same goal difference, goals scored, and goals against, (this could happen if, for example, Greece win 2-1 and South Korea win 1-0) South Korea will go through over Greece due to their head to head result.
WorldCupBlog

Don't be sorry at all – nitpicky is what these posts are ALL ABOUT. We didn't get too many layers into the possibilities for simplicity's sake, but yes, there is the possibility with South Korea and Greece of going to the head-to-head result.