Poland in World Cup Round of 16 95th on goal difference: Sensational mockery for Mexico

Same points, same goal difference in direct matches and overall, at least until the 95th minute of added time. Poland and Mexico reach the qualification for the third round of Group C of the World Cup with statistics that mirror each other: 4 points, 2 goals scored and 2 conceded, 0 in goal difference, 0 in number of goals scored in the second game of the group.

Then Saudi Arabia scores the 2-1 goal and throws Tri into a hell of regrets. It is goal difference that rewards Poles who qualify by virtue of a better overall calculation for a goal. The result had been balanced until then, until the Saudi team took the leap that ended the residual hopes of the Central Americans after the bad news for the Alviceleste triumph (2-0).

How would it have been possible to define the exact classification? How could it be decided who would be the second to access the round of 16? The classification depended on one of the last criteria of the highlighted classification: the use of fairplay, or better, the count of the cards that the two teams received during the first phase.

By regulation, the result would have been in favor of Poland, which received only 5 yellow cards against 7 from Mexico. The next round is thus in their hands, the opponents are left with the mockery of a tremendous and cruel elimination, despite the victory against Saudi Arabia (and two goals annulled for offside). Worse would have been resorting to the last opportunity provided by the rules: the FIFA draw.

Lozano’s despair at the end of Mexico’s match against Saudi Arabia.

Fifa regulation in case of equality of points ends

There are five parameters provided by the Federation to resolve classification situations such as those in Group C of the World Cup, the one referring to Poland and Mexico, referred to in point five, at least until Saudi Arabia definitively freezes Lozano & co. Here are all the parameters provided by the group stage regulations:

1. Best overall goal difference
2. Number of goals scored overall
3. Head-to-head victory
4. Best head-to-head goal difference
5. Best on-pitch sporting conduct and therefore who scored the most fair play points in the group stage.
6. FIFA draw.