have england really qualified?

[Kolin Kob 0]

how have england qualified? it doesn''t make sense. they haven''t yet ensured that they will be the second-placed team with the most points. to take just one example, if they lose against austria, and sweden win their next game, the runner-up from sweden''s group will be have more points than england.

the maths just don''t add up.

[Tacklebury 0]

It''s the two best second-placed teams that qualify automatically. We''re guaranteed to be one of those two, so yes we''ve qualified - albeit in confusing fashion...

[No Mad 0]

Tacklebury is right. We are guaranteed to be one of the two best placed second teams. Therefore we have qualified. It is official. See http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/. Croatia and Poland are qualified on the same basis as us. Sweden are not as they can be caught on 21 points (if they fail to get at least a point against Iceland) by Czech Republic if they beat Finland and by Romania if Armenia fail to beat Andorra (and Czech Republic don''t beat Finland)

This may be much more detail than you want but it is complicated because three of the eight groups have seven teams not six. The best-placed second teams are calculated by deducting the points picked up by second place teams in the seven-team groups against the seventh placed teams. Essentially, this means you need to deduct six points from all these teams - except only 4 for Romania if Armenia finish 7th (as they drew one of their games) and only 3 for Denmark as their remaining game against Kazakhstan won''t count for these purposes.

If two teams competing for best second place have same number of points (could be Sweden and either Czech Republic or Romania on 21) they will assess goal difference (excluding v 7th team), then goals scored (excluding v bottom team) then disciplinary record, then drawing of lots!

If two teams finish joint second in a group, they will consider head to head points, then head to head goal difference, then head to head goals scored, then total goal difference, then goals scored, then a play off.

Now that should clear that up. It''s not really confusing is it?!?!?!

But none of that affects us. WE ARE DEFINITELY THROUGH

In case you are still interested - the European qualifiers are as follows:

Germany as hosts

Holland as winners of group 1. Second is between Czech Republic and Romania

Ukraine as winners of group 2. Second is between Turkey, Denmark and Greece.

Portugal as winners of group 3. Second is between Slovakia and Russia

Group 4 - two from Israel, Switzerland, France and Ireland

Italy as winners of group 5. Second is between Norway and Slovenia

Poland and England from Group 6 - guaranteed to be among top two second-placed teams

Group 7 - two from Serbia and Montenegro, Spain and Bosnia

Group 8 - Croatia on same base as England and Poland. Sweden are guaranteed at least a play-off place

[James Long 0]

Basically its really complicated but believe me, we have qualified.

Groups 1-3 have 7 teams each, Group 4-8  6 teams each. Now there are 8 automatic top spots and the 2 best runners up get automatic entry to Germany from Europe plus the 3 Play off winners. Because Groups 1-3 have 7 teams, to make it fair for the groups of 6 teams, the 2nd place teams of Groups 1-3 have their results against the 7th placed team removed. Czechs had 24 points, England 19pts before yesterdays game. But when considering Group 1 has 7 teams to be fairer for everyone, the Czechs lose their results against the 7th placed team who happen to be Armenia (and who the Czechs did the double over). So 6 points taken away and leaves them for this purpose on 18 points. England win took it to 22 points. The Czechs because of their unfair advantage are on 18 and lost to Holland. They need 4 points and only got one game. Romania now are 2nd in the group but they''ve completed their fixtures so can''t beat England who still have one. Czech''s also need to win their game on Wednesday to get a play off spot because a draw and they lose out to Romania based on the previous results thingy now in place between teams. Sweden are on 21pts in group 8 with the 3 points advantage over the Czech''s. 1 pt from them on Wednesday gives them 22 pts and whatever the Czech''s did would mean they couldn''t be caught.