root for low scoring ties in all remaining big 4 matches. RIght now israel has scored 7 in those matches, Ireland 4, Switzerland 4 and france 1. If all those matches are nil nil or even 1-1 ties we win the group by tie breaker
I hate to say it but that was a quality ball and a quality finish by the Swiss. Israel could draw someone like Russia or even Scotland in a playoff.
Briman's post (104) is correct, but I offer a scenario at post 97 where Israel can finish second without a tiebreaker. Then again, if Briman's scenario plays out as hoped, Israel qualifies directly without a playoff. But does anything ever play out as haped? We can dream!
Well france scored, california's scenario is looking more and more possible sadly. it would occur if france wins this and draws switzerland and then Ireland draws switzerland.
France seems to be getting the upper hand here clearly! they might have a chance to win Switzelrnad or possibly tie them at home... i dont know.. this is getting confusing as is.... wildcard (cyprus) chocked.. who else do they got to play?
ok ...here is the final scores: Israel 2 - 0 Faroe Islands (PHEEEW) Switzerland 3 - Cyprus 1 France 1 - Ireland 0 standing to follow: Team Points Switzerland 16 France 16 Israel 15 Ireland 14 Cyprus 4 Faroe Islands 1
Updated standings: ------GP----Pts----GD--------Remaining SUI---8----16------11--------France, Ireland FRA---8----16------8---------Switz, Cyprus ISRAEL 9---15------4---------Faroe IReL---8---13------1---------Cyprus, Switz Needed for Israel to win group: 1. Israel defeat Faroe 2. SUI/FRA draw 3. SUI lose to Ireland 4. France lose to Cyprus, or draw while Israel defeats Faroe by 5 5. Ireland lose to Cyprus. Needed for Israel to qualify for playoff if Cyprus loses remaining matches: 1. Israel defeat Faroe 2. France defeat Switzerland 3. Ireland and Switzerland draw If FRA/SUI draw, Israel will need help from Cyprus to survive to the playoff. The France 1:0 Ireland result was not terrible for Israel. A 18-18-18-18 tie was unlikely. France, Switzerland OR Ireland had to win its remaining "big" matches against the other two, with the other two drawing. Had the FRA/IRL match gone any other way, Israel's chances would be just as complicated, we would just be rooting for the same series of results, but in different matches. As a USA fan I was rooting for Ireland so that USA might earn a seed. Oh well. Maybe Spain will lose to Serbia . . .
Not very good at all. Since the teams in this group have been sharing the points a lot, they won't be one of the two best 2nd place teams....not by a long shot. If England doesn't win their group (All Poland needs is a draw against them to take the group) then they will probably be one of the top 2nd place teams.
I can say unequivocally that there is 0 chance we're a "favored second". There's a better chance we come in first (and that chance is just a whisker above 0). But our odds for 2nd don't look so bad.