Goal difference or Head to Head

[Zed Car]

Just had a discussion with 2 of my mates about using head to head rather than goal difference to decide the groups in the Euros.
They think head to head is best but I think it should be decided by goal difference.

I think GD is best because Poland have now downed tools because they are out after being beaten by Austria. They should be given the chance to outdo Austria results across their 3 games.

Also it gives France an advantage against Netherlands in the race for top spot as Poland will now down tools against France whereas Austria and Netherlands will be going at it 100%.

What are your preferences here. Would add a vote option if I knew how but I don’t

 

[chrismpw]

Goal difference.... has stood the test of time.

In my world-weary view, most change to things that have worked well, come because some nomark is desperate for something on an unimpressive cv. That or someone has figured a way of collecting money from the change which I don't think is the case here.

 

[Brett Angell Delight]

I’ll beat yous all on both

 

[TheBigIguana]

For league seasons it should be GD. Everyone plays everyone home and away and no one game should count greater than any other. Head to head as a tiebreak eventually is fine, but it should be down the list.

In a tournament head to head should come first. It's an event of limited games and being better on the day should matter. GD can come after that.

 

[Drico]

For league seasons it should be GD. Everyone plays everyone home and away and no one game should count greater than any other. Head to head as a tiebreak eventually is fine, but it should be down the list.

In a tournament head to head should come first. It's an event of limited games and being better on the day should matter. GD can come after that.

This is a fair point.

It is a cup competition after all. So, your logic is sound.

 

[Kurt.]

Rock-Paper-Scissors

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

I think head to head encourages teams to go for wins, but it increases the chances of dead runners, which hamper excitement in group stages

 

[Jamo Martinez]

Everyone's right.

 

[barneygumble]

For what it's worth, Head-to-Head in League games definitely could work, it does in some league.

Means every game has meaning in the longer term.

But in a 3 game group, feels harsh. Early red card or something, feels that your tournament is in tatters before it's even begun.

 

[arch stanton]

a head to head game means an extra game has to be fitted in to the schedule and then played, all these toots are already whining about playing too many times.

 

[Drico]

 

[Drico]

 

[Billy Dean]

Got tickets for Slovakia v Romania on Wednesday. That group is brilliantly set up now. Can’t wait

 

[Drico]

The above graphics might be useful.

People wonder how the four best third-placed sides are distributed in the draw. Well, there's an app a table for that. At the moment, the row of interest is ACDE.

This will change, of course, but currently the second round draw is looking like this:

Spain v. Slovakia
Germany v. Denmark

Portugal v. Hungary
France v. Belgium

Romania v. Slovenia
Holland v. Turkey

England v. Austria
Switzerland v. Italy

 

[Huyton Layne]

Turks with -1 GD currently above Georgia with 0 GD.
Seems odd but rules is rules.