Germany promoted to Blue Division

[DanSawyer]

This is not an exhibition match now. Germany have been promoted to the Blue Division. Not sure how that affects the play-ins later.

[rpowell]

Couple of possibilities:

1) Iroquois never make it. In which case everything is as before, but Germany's old division only has three teams.

2) Iroquois make it, but late. Iroquois could potentially be moved into Germany's old division. From there they would have to win all their games, and work their way through the various knock-out rounds, to get a chace of a play-in match to the semi-final.

If the organisers were to go for this option, then realistically the Iroquois could just about afford to miss the game against Spain tomorrow, but would have to be here by 6pm on Saturday to play Hong Kong: enough goal difference, and they would qualify by being one of the best 2nd place teams in the various lower level divisions.

[DanSawyer]

Correct but you miss an important point. Let's say red division has only three teams because the Iroquois don't turn up. After initial round Robin, the division winners and the top two second placed teams go into a division together. The remaining seconds and top thirds form another division, with the rest forming a third.

So how do you pick the top second teams when red division have only played two games each? They won't have as many points or goals as teams who've played three games.

[mandy]

Presumably you just take the one from that group

After all the top seed from that group is no longer in it

[rpowell]

Presumably you just take the one from that group

After all the top seed from that group is no longer in it

Your point is simply and elegantly made.

I think it's even right

[DanSawyer]

So two of the three go into the top division? The fact that the top seed has gone is a reason not to pick them. The top team goes through, but the second as well?

[rpowell]

So two of the three go into the top division? The fact that the top seed has gone is a reason not to pick them. The top team goes through, but the second as well?

No, I think what Mandy is suggesting is that only one team would go forward out of that three team group.

It's a good deal - previously it would have been Germany plus _maybe_ another team, if the second-placed side was better off in terms of points, goal difference and/or goals scored than most of the other second placed teams.

Go with Mandy's idea, and with Germany out of the way, the team that would have come second now has a 100% chance of the top team going through.

[DanSawyer]

Oh, I see. So 'just the one' team go through rather than 'just take the one' that comes second on that division.
Yes, that sounds fair.

[DanSawyer]

That said, what about deciding which are the top third placed teams? Do we think that division just automatically count as bottom end? So one team to each division?