Socceroos need Denmark to do the ‘right’ thing

FOOTBALL: The Socceroos’ chase for a place in the second round could go down to the wire – and gridlock in Group C is a distinct possibility.

Australia needs to beat Peru, ideally by several goals, and hope that France beats Denmark. If the Danes get a point, everything else is irrelevant and Australia is going home.

But if France and Australia win, the way teams on equal points are split becomes hugely relevant. First up it’s goal difference and goals scored. If teams are still equal, it is the same list of criteria in the head-to-head games.

At that point, if teams still cannot be split, disciplinary records come into play. Points are taken off for each yellow and red card.

If Australia were to win 1-0, and Denmark were to lose to France 2-1, they would be inseparable.

Same points, goal difference, goals scored and head-to-head record. And guess what? Going into the final round of games, Denmark has four yellow cards, Australia three. It’s that tight.

A 1-0 loss for Denmark coupled with a 1-0 win for Australia would send Australia through on goals scored.

But beyond that, every goal for Denmark has to be matched by the Australians.

And what happens if it really does descend into gridlock? Essentially it’s drawing lots – two team names put in a bag and one drawn out.

It’s not an entirely unprecedented situation. In 1990, the Republic of Ireland and Holland finished with the same records, behind England, in Group F.

With the best four third-placed teams going through, they were split by the drawing of names from a hat.

Ireland went through in second place, met Romania and won. Holland ended up with Germany, and lost.

These could be the stakes facing Australia. Don’t be surprised if the players are warned to avoid yellow cards like the plague. It could come down to that.