‘Really unfair’ – Third-place table chaos slammed by pundits as World Cup fans left in limbo

Gabby Agbonlahor and Jeff Stelling have slammed the World Cup’s third-place table system, which is ‘really unfair’ on fans. 

Scotland are among the nations currently in limbo, as they wait for the end of all group stage matches to see if they will progress to the knockout stage one of the eight best third-placed teams.

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Coming or going?

After finishing their first-round games on Wednesday night with a 3-0 defeat to Brazil, the Tartan Army ended the group stage with three points and a goal differential of -3.

Their tally was enough to lock up third place in Group C, putting them in the running to progress to the round of 32.

But having been the second group to complete their three matches, Scotland are only halfway through a nervy wait for the other ten groups to wrap up.

Their hopes of progressing are now hanging by a thread, after a disastrous round of Thursday results pushed them down the third-place rankings.

Until all is said and done though, thousands of the Tartan Army remain out in the USA, waiting to see if their journey will continue.

There will be added chaos if this does happen – if Scotland progress, they could end up going to New York, Boston or Mexico City.

With their fate potentially not being settled until the early hours of Monday morning, fans could be left scrambling for flights if Steve Clarke‘s side progress, whose players could then be in round of 32 action within 48 hours of this.

New system slammed

Scotland’s current situation hasn’t gone down well with talkSPORT hosts Stelling and Agbonlahor, who hit out at the impact of the World Cup’s new third-place system on fans.

Speaking on Thursday’s Drive, Stelling began: “Scotland may have to wait until the early hours of Monday morning, effectively, to find out whether they’re through to the next round of the World Cup.

“And they could be playing in Mexico City just 48 hours later.

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“The situation at the moment is, the fans are out there – they’re in Miami – and if they squeeze through in third place, they could be playing in New York or Boston or Mexico City. 

“So, as a fan, what do you do?”

Agbonlahor jokingly suggested there are worse places to be, who quipped: “Enjoy Miami!”

Highlighting the fan chaos, Stelling continued: “If you want to go and see your team, you don’t know where to buy tickets, which gate to buy tickets for. 

“You don’t know where to plan, how you’re going to get there. You don’t know where to book hotels.”

Agbonlahor agreed, who pointed out that Scotland’s supporters will face a tough task securing flights at short notice if their team make it through against all odds.

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The Aston Villa icon said: “We’re hearing reports that it could be Sunday before they find out – 48 hours before the game – good luck with getting flights. 

“And how much of the flight’s going to be, booking so late?

“So it’s not fair on the fans, this new setup that FIFA have done because it won’t just be Scotland fans there’d be other teams. 

“[Fans will wonder] Where do we go? Are we going home first? Have we got a chance to come back to Scotland before we go? 

“And costs, even staying in Miami. The cost to stay another few nights and maybe wait until the next game. Or do you guess? There’s a chance of Scotland getting into the [round of 32].

“It’s very difficult for fans, and unfair.”

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Highlighting the financial strain on fans remaining in Miami, he added: “In a tournament, the prices will be sky high.”

It isn’t just fans affected too, as Stelling said: “What are the players going to do? They’re in limbo at the moment aren’t they? Do they just train as normal? And how do you motivate yourself to do that?”

Summing it all up, the talkSPORT Breakfast presenter said: “Really unfair. I think impossible.”

How can Scotland still go through?

Scotland currently sit eighth – the final spot – of the third-place sides looking to qualify for the round of 32.

They slipped down the rankings after Paraguay, Ecuador, Sweden and South Africa all took points in Wednesday and Thursday’s fixtures.

Sweden, Ecuador, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Paraguay have all finished third with four points, while South Korea are also guaranteed to finish above the Scots in the third-place table on goal difference.

Of the six World Cup groups to have concluded, Scotland are the lowest-ranked third-place team.

With Groups G through to L still to wrap up, the Tartan Army now need four of the remaining six third-place teams to finish with fewer than three points, or with a worse goal difference, to breathe life back into their qualification bid.

A draw for Belgium against New Zealand would send them above Scotland, while the All Whites would need a win.

Even if Belgium lose to New Zealand, Iran can also go above Scotland with a draw against Egypt – meaning the Scots realistically need both Belgium and Iran to lose in Group G.

Cape Verde only need a draw against Saudi Arabia to climb above Scotland. If Cape Verde get a result, Scotland would need Uruguay to lose or draw against Spain. If Uruguay win, the third place team in Group H finishes above Scotland no matter what.

Victories for Senegal against Iraq in Group I and DR Congo against Uzbekistan in Group K would send those nations above Scotland.

In a possible lifeline for the Scots, Algeria, Austria and Croatia could still fall below them with a heavy defeat.

Algeria and Austria face each other in Group J, with a draw good enough for Algeria to finish above Scotland in the third-place table, while Croatia take on Ghana in Group L.