Originally Posted by Auld Yin (Post 8687580)

And all this means exactly WHAT? A big fat Zilch. For many years I have ridiculed the North Americans for the overly statistical approach to Baseball, NA Football etc, etc. Now it's happening in soccer, FCS. If Argentina lost its third group game in 1978 it's strictly happenstance and nothing else and does not warrant any comment other than it lost.

Originally Posted by JamesM (Post 8686725)

Should Spain win then New Zealand will be the only unbeaten team at the World Cup!

Originally Posted by jimmydean (Post 8687048)

Nobody has ever lost their first match and then won the World Cup but in various different formats over the years

West Germany lost their second group game in 1954 to Hungary

West Germany lost their third group game against East Germany in 1974

Argentina lost their third group game in 1978

(Italy never won a match in their group in 1982 but won the cup)

Originally Posted by Auld Yin (Post 8687580)

And all this means exactly WHAT? A big fat Zilch. For many years I have ridiculed the North Americans for the overly statistical approach to Baseball, NA Football etc, etc. Now it's happening in soccer, FCS. If Argentina lost its third group game in 1978 it's strictly happenstance and nothing else and does not warrant any comment other than it lost.

Originally Posted by Oink (Post 8689557)

May I recommend the film, One Night in Turin. A documentary about the England WC experience in 1990. I believe if you rummage around the net you'll find a source for it.

Originally Posted by JamesM (Post 8691843)

If memory serves the World Cup for many tournaments was 24 teams with 16 progressing. This meant that you could navigate the group stage's with less points than would be required now so losing a group game was far less serious.

Originally Posted by jimmydean (Post 8693706)

Yes you are right......also 3pts for a win did not come in until 1994

Originally Posted by JamesM (Post 8693951)

JamesM Spain 2 Holland 1

Originally Posted by Novocastrian (Post 8693508)

Hi all.

Since Germany bombed out I'll change my prediction for todays little encounter to

Novocastrian Netherlands 3 Spain 1

I bought an orange shirt to wear at the Bar de Normandie tonight so that'd better be right.