It's always at the 'bottom' as the last-resort in the criteria for separating teams who are level on points in football qualifying groups - after goal difference, goals scored and head-to-head record - but to my knowledge has never actually been required. Certainly not in a major tournament.

The current African Cup of Nations has delivered just such a scenario after a bizarre set of results in one of the groups.

All but one of the games ended 1-1.

Guinea and Mali are having to wait until this afternoon to discover their fate!

 

Even the flags are just about the same.  It does seem wrong that it comes down to the drawing of lots and there should be some way of separating teams in this situations.  With just 4 teams in a group it is not exactly an improbable scenario.  Perhaps giving the nod to the side that had the most corners in the 3 games would at least give an indication of attacking intent.

 

At least the side that loses out will have the small consolation knowing that they went home undefeated.

Like the only side to be undefeated in the 1974 World Cup...

Like the only side to be undefeated in the 1974 World Cup...

Yes those were the days. Hopefully return before I pop my clogs!!

Somewhere in the back of my mind , there was a European cup final decided by a coin toss 

I think it may have involved Liverpool

It was before the days of penalty shoot outs

Edited January 29, 201511 yr by Laurence

It's always at the 'bottom' as the last-resort in the criteria for separating teams who are level on points in football qualifying groups - after goal difference, goals scored and head-to-head record - but to my knowledge has never actually been required. Certainly not in a major tournament.

The current African Cup of Nations has delivered just such a scenario after a bizarre set of results in one of the groups.

All but one of the games ended 1-1.

Guinea and Mali are having to wait until this afternoon to discover their fate!

1-1.jpg

 

 

Just give the cup to he Ivory Coast

I'm sure there was a time when if teams couldn't be separated, it went down to yellow and red cards.  Don't know if that was ever brought in though!

Somewhere in the back of my mind , there was a European cup final decided by a coin toss 

I think it may have involved Liverpool

It was before the days of penalty shoot outs

Nah, it was a quarter final against Cologne in 65. Also Celtic v Benfica in 69, also the quarter final.

I think the away goals rule came in later in 65 but it wouldn't have affected either tie.

Liverpool had two goalless draws then a 2-2 in the playoff. Celtic won 3-0 at Parkhead before losing in Lisbon by the same score. Billy McNeill guessed correctly.

Another one I remember very clearly was in 72 when Rangers beat Sporting Lisbon 3-2 then lost by the same score over there. They played extra time which ended 1-1 and it went to penalties which Sporting won, 4-2 I think.

Then some journalist came up with the rule book showing that away goals counted double even in extra time.

So in contrast to modern times, Rangers actually benefited by following the rules rather than breaking them

It's always at the 'bottom' as the last-resort in the criteria for separating teams who are level on points in football qualifying groups - after goal difference, goals scored and head-to-head record - but to my knowledge has never actually been required. Certainly not in a major tournament.

The current African Cup of Nations has delivered just such a scenario after a bizarre set of results in one of the groups.

All but one of the games ended 1-1.

Guinea and Mali are having to wait until this afternoon to discover their fate!

 

If this was the first time it has come to this, could the beneficiaries be described as Guinea pigs?