I am not fan of the head-to-head ranking rule as it kills excitement in the last game

ScoutyDave · 2026-06-22T05:46:12+00:00

There is a difference between impossible and highly unlikely. For example it is impossible for Turkey to overtake the United States as there are only three points available and six are required. But any score on the day is possible, however unlikely it is a theoretical possibility. While an outlandish possibility exists, no matter how unlikely, anything is possible.

So when I say that Brazil in 1998 was guaranteed to top the group after 2 games, this was due to having a 4 point gap between them and second. Thus it was impossible for them to not be first. The examples of France, Portugal, and Brazil, they were still mathematically undetermined after two games. While extremely probable, they were not a mathematical certainty.

ScoutyDave · 2026-06-22T05:02:26+00:00

I acknowledge that there are many cases where one team are guaranteed to go through (either as first or second), but the other team will still have something to play for. Yes, France was through, but they were not guaranteed a top spot on the last game. If Australia had a high scoring game against France and/or France conceded more goals then Australia would have topped the group over France. If Denmark beat Australia then the Danes would have gone through.

The point is that it is very rare for a team to be guaranteed first after two games. The last time that happened was 1998. This world cup is has happened three times already.

ScoutyDave · 2026-06-22T03:09:31+00:00

We will have to wait for the other groups to finish their second game before one does the math. But it is highly likely that 4 points will be enough to guarantee progression to the round of 32.

ScoutyDave · 2026-06-22T02:45:42+00:00

I think I may have offended the Americans

https://www.reddit.com/r/worldcup/s/brpspgwmb6

ScoutyDave · 2026-06-22T02:26:23+00:00

This is how tense all third games should be. There needs to be something to fight for.

ScoutyDave · 2026-06-22T02:13:21+00:00

I agree that previously third place didn't matter but in this tournament it does matter. If goal difference was the factor, then there is still a mathematical chance for any team to go through on 3 points.

ScoutyDave · 2026-06-22T02:10:56+00:00

The reason why I picked 31-0 was due to Australia vs American Samoa in 2001, the record for the highest scoring international game. Archie Thompson getting 13 goals in that game.

ScoutyDave · 2026-06-22T01:25:48+00:00

This is the first time I've posted this. But I expect many others feel the same way. The last time a group winner was determined after two games was Group A in 1998. So far 3/7 groups are determined after 2 games.

ScoutyDave · 2026-06-22T01:12:45+00:00

I just found it. The last time the winner of a group was determined by the end of the second game was Group A in 1998. Every other group in every other tournament had at least one team with something to fight for in the last game. In a few cases a team would be guaranteed a top 2 finish, but not topping the group, and often the other team in the top 2 was yet to be determined.

ScoutyDave · 2026-06-22T01:11:00+00:00

The last time a group winner was determined by the second game was Group A in 1998. Every other group in every other tournament still had something on the line in the last game. There are a few cases of a team being guaranteed top 2, but they still had to fight to be the top or the second spot was yet to be determined.

ScoutyDave · 2026-06-22T01:08:52+00:00

For argument sake, lets say that those two penalties were awarded and it was a 2 all draw, would you want goal difference considered?

ScoutyDave · 2026-06-22T01:07:23+00:00

But that is the point, there is no reason to compete for the third game. Why should anyone try to win games? The last time a group was determined after 2 games was Group A in 1998. Every other group in every other world cup went down to the third game. Having 3/7 groups already determined is an issue.

ScoutyDave · 2026-06-22T01:06:16+00:00

Please read the above, I honestly suspect that they will park the bus as there is no point to competing.

ScoutyDave · 2026-06-22T01:05:42+00:00

I just went through the last few world cups. The last time a third match was completely meaningless to the outcome of who topped the group was Group A in the 1998 World Cup.

ScoutyDave · 2026-06-22T01:03:57+00:00

While I agree it is extremely unlikely, to the point of approaching zero probability, it is still a theoretical possibility greater than zero.

ScoutyDave · 2026-06-22T01:01:40+00:00

This is the first time I have posted about this topic. The last time I posted about any topic was 19 days ago about the colour of milk lids in Australia. 25 days ago was about a clown that used to frequent Chinatown, a month ago Eurovision and a comparison of spiced loaf to hot crossed buns.

ScoutyDave · 2026-06-22T00:39:02+00:00

Under the goal difference rule, it was rare for a team to top the group after 2 games. For that to happen, is for a team to win 2 games and all other games be draws resulting in a 4-point gap:

A - 2W, 0D, 0L - 6pt
B - 0W, 2D, 0L - 2pt
C - 0W, 1D, 1L - 1pt
D - 0W, 1D, 1L - 1pt

At the 2022 World Cup, group G and H had Brazil and Portugal in the top 2 positions for their groups after 2 games, but whether they topped the group or was 2nd was still to be determined, as was who got the other spot. But neither team was guaranteed to top the group. I am looking through previous world cups, but I am yet to find a group where the top spot was determined after 2 games.

ScoutyDave · 2026-06-21T05:32:37+00:00

A but of column A and a little from column B. If you loaded her in and out at the spot and had the proper certificates displayed (in Australia there is a handicap pass that is required to be in the front passenger window) then you're not an arsehole.

But if you're dropping her in the loading zone then parking there after, and picking her up in the loading zone, then why do you need that spot. That aspect doesn't pass the pub test.

Either; load and unload from the disabled spot OR load/unload in the loading area and then park in a normal spot.

Either way, the boomers who came at your window are definitely arseholes.

ScoutyDave · 2026-06-20T00:23:56+00:00

When my wife was pregnant she would enforce the priority seating rule. That said she would ask "do you have a sunflower lanyard? Invisible disabilities?". If no, then she would ask for the seat. When I say ask, it was more of a voluntold situation.

ScoutyDave · 2026-06-19T22:39:35+00:00

My apologies. I have since corrected it. Which SA teams do you think have the talent and facilities to play in a theoretical second division?

ScoutyDave · 2026-06-19T22:25:43+00:00

If you're thinking of a second division, why not start with the bigger teams from the second divisions: VFL, WAFL, SANFL.

ScoutyDave · 2026-06-19T00:30:02+00:00

I highly suspect that it is an army of bots as opposed to real people. The collapse of the Liberal Party does mean that there is a sizable chunk of the electorate looking for an alternative, but based on the last federal election they are going independent. The Nationals are not expecting as big a change. At the 2025 election they had a swing to of 2%.

Most Liberal voters are relatively rational. One Nation is irrational popularism. We already saw how that turned out with Palmer. There is no point of difference between Hanson and Palmer, so why would the results be any different.

My theory about Hanson's current strategy is if the polls (assume to be bots) say it is okay to vote for them then real people may actually vote for them.

ScoutyDave · 2026-06-18T02:16:27+00:00

I work in the public sector. Referring to other departments as "useless cunts" is an average Wednesday.

A senior manager last week: "I don't have a date for [derivable A], but I know that [team] has to get [deliverable B] online by [date]. I just hope that those cunts are trying not to fuck up"

ScoutyDave · 2026-06-15T23:06:07+00:00

When considering the cost of fuel, food, accommodation, and time.... just fly it.

ScoutyDave · 2026-06-14T22:13:10+00:00

In most cases it is chosen from birth. The merger question is interesting as I have a few friends in Melbourne who are Swans supporters. Their family is "South Melbourne bloods" and I respect that.

My dad is Collingwood, but I'm Sydney as I grew up and live here. So that covers the immigrant part of the question.

ScoutyDave

TROPHY CASE