Upsets and Permutations

The Titans struggled and stumbled while the Underdogs triumphed in Friday's eighth day of group play. Germany LOST, and the US and England each tied with teams of lesser rank (at least according to Fifa). Serbia WON, and Slovenia and Algeria did better than expected (again, at least according to Fifa's ranks and the global media). In short, although Groups A, B and C have concluded the second phase of group play, the tournament is still wide-open.

Indeed, the situation is so close in all three groups that the final result might come down to something called 'goal difference' or (shudder) the 'drawing of lots by the Fifa Organizing Committee' ---!!!

Remember, the top two teams from each of the eight groups advance into the Round of 16 (which starts Saturday June 26). The teams are ranked within the group as follows (skip this if you will be annoyed by how confusing it all is):

From Fifa's website:

"According to 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."

All three groups are up for grabs! Cool.