This is the most intriguing group with all four teams still with more than a chance to qualify and shockingly England don’t look too good going against the best team in this group so far – Slovenia. Meanwhile USA are the favorite as they are up against a sluggish Algeria. It has all ingredient for the ‘Three lions’ shock exit. Let’s look how:
Results
| 12 Jun 10 | ENG | 1:1 (1:1) | USA |  | |
| 13 Jun 10 |  | ALG | 0:1 (0:0) | SVN |  |
| 18 Jun 10 | | SVN | 2:2 (2:0) | USA | |
| 18 Jun 10 | ENG | 0:0 | ALG | |
Fixtures
Slovenia-England, 23 June, Port Elizabeth, 7:30 (IST)
USA-Algeria, 23 June, Tshwane, 7:30 (IST)
The look says it all
Trending
Group Table
| Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
| Slovenia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| USA | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| England | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Algeria | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Qualifying criteria
According the Regulations of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, the ranking of each team in each group will be determined as follows:
a) greatest number of points obtained in all group matches;
b) goal difference in all group matches;
c) greatest number of goals scored in all group matches.
If two or more teams are equal on the basis of the above three criteria, their rankings will be determined as follows:
d) greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned;
e) goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned;
f) greater number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams concerned;
g) drawing of lots by the FIFA Organising Committee.
Michael Bradley
Permutation and Combinations
Slovenia
Slovenia are currently at top of the table with match up against England.They can qualify to the next round by:
- Beating or drawing against England(they end up at 7 or 5 points)
- They lose against England but:
a) USA draw with Algeria.
b)Algeria beat USA so that Slovenia’s GD is still greater.
England
They have to avoid a loss which would guarantee their early ticket home. But England can save themselves the embarrassment if the following happens:
- Beating Slovenia but that looks hazy considering their rubbish performance against Algeria.
- Draw against Slovenia and hope USA draw with Algeria .This is the most interesting part where USA and Algeria will end up at same points , same goal difference and same goals scored if England can secure their draw with 2 goals more than USA. In that case, if you refer to the qualifying criteria the head to head match will be seen which ended 1-1 as well and FIFA might end up drawing lots. Bizarre but possible!
USA
A loss will rule USA out of the World Cup as Algeria will grab 3 points. However the Yanks can book their last 16 place as follows:
- Beating Algeria regardless of what happens in the other match.
- Drawing with Algeria and :
a) Slovenia beat England. So Slovenia end up with 7 points and USA with 3 ahead of England and Algeria’s 2.
b) Slovenia draw with England. In that case it will come down to goal difference and goals scored .( Refer to England’s permutation for this situation).
Algeria
They are the underdogs for many reasons and can qualify by:
- Beating USA and :
a) Slovenia beat England. So they end on 4 points and Slovenia 7 ahead of USA and England’s 2.
b) England beat Slovenia such that GD of Algeria is more than that of Slovenia.
c) England and Slovenia draw (and Algeria beat USA by more than 1 goal to eran a higher GD than England).
Predictions
England really will have to come up with much better football than they have showed so far. But I fancy Slovenia to draw with England and USA to beat Algeria. Slovenia and USA rightly going forward being the two better teams.
