In a major football tournament, you often have to count on it, if not for the best thirds or for an equal number of points. And unlike at the European Championship, the goal difference is more important than the mutual result at the World Cup.
The Netherlands and Ecuador are completely tied after two matchdays in group A: they both have 4 points, a goal difference of +2 and 3 goals scored. And yet the Netherlands actually ranks above Ecuador.
That is because the Orange counts more fair play points. In Ecuador, three players already have a yellow card behind their name, in the Netherlands only Matthijs de Ligt has already run into yellow.
Teams are ranked based on these criteria:
- Points achieved in all group matches
- Goal difference achieved in all group matches
- Number of goals scored in all group matches
- Points scored in head-to-head results
- Goal difference in head-to-head results (in case of more than 2 teams with the same number of points)
- Number of goals scored in head-to-head results (in case of more than 2 teams with the same number of points)
- Fair Play Points in all group matches
Yellow card: -1 point
Red after 2 yellow cards: -3 points
Direct red card: -4 points
Yellow card and direct red card: -5 points - Draw
