‘Like old times’ – De Bruyne relishes Salah showdown in World Cup opener
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Canada were largely the better team, but could only manage a draw against a stout Bosnia, with Cyle Larn scoring the equaliser 12 minutes from time.A day later, Boualem Khoukhi etched his name into Qatari footballing folklore after his stoppage-time header earned a point for his team, dashing the hopes of victory for a wasteful Switzerland side.
With both games ending with the same scoreline, all four nations are tied on goal difference, goals scored, goals conceded and head-to-head record.
But, as it stands, it is Switzerland who top the group for a very specific reason.
Murat Yakin’s side currently sit in first place in Group B due to their superior disciplinary record after the first round of matches.
Switzerland were shown just one yellow card in their game against Qatar, with Canada and Qatar both picking up two, and Bosnia given three.
Canada are second in Group B, despite having the same result and disciplinary record as Qatar, because of the final tie-breaker in FIFA’s rules.
If teams cannot be separated through results, goals or cards, the team higher in FIFA’s official world rankings will be favoured.
As a result, 31st-ranked Canada sit above 50th-placed Qatar through the opening round of games.
According to Opta, it is Canada, though, who have the highest odds in Group B to reach the last 32 of this year’s World Cup.
Jesse Marsch’s team have an 85.63% chance of qualifying for the next round, while Switzerland are 81.97% likely to progress, per Opta. Third-placed Qatar have a 39.83% chance of getting through the group stage compared to 59.78% for Bosnia.
Jesse Marsch and his coaching team before their opening game
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Canada still have to play Qatar and Switzerland, with all their games played on home soil. Switzerland, meanwhile, will take on Canada and Bosnia in Los Angeles and Vancouver respectively.
According to FIFA rules, points decide the group winner, with goal difference between the teams concerned the next tie-breaker.If no winner can be found, the highest goalscorers of the teams will advance. If that is level, goal difference in all group matches would be used next.
If they are still tied, the “highest team conduct score” – the number of yellow and red cards obtained – can separate the teams before the FIFA world rankings is the final decider.
The disciplinary record decider was briefly seen in Group C too, with Morocco going top after their draw against Brazil before Scotland’s victory over Haiti.
No Moroccan player received a booking during their 1-1 draw in New Jersey, while Brazil’s Roger Ibanez and Casemiro both received yellows in the first half, with the pair being substituted at half-time.
With identical records after their opening match, Morocco sat above Brazil, before Scotland earned three points against Haiti to supplant the African side.
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