Staff reporter
Now it’s almost official. Most local football fans are turning into mathematicians after South Korea’s second group-stage World Cup match, trying to calculate the probable outcomes that would lift the national team to the knockout stage.
So far, the team’s efforts have been effective just once, in 2002, when South Korea edged out Portugal 1-0 in its last match in Group D. This time, the reckoning again takes place with a complicated combination of possible outcomes.
Cutting to the chase, South Korea’s destiny is not entirely in its own hands, even if it beats Nigeria on Tuesday in Durban. But in spite of the prevailing uncertainty, the berth will be very likely to be close at hand with the win.
Currently in Group B, South Korea is still in second place, slightly ahead of Greece in overall goals, as both countries are equal in points and goal difference. The final standings are decided by points, then goal difference, overall goals scored and finally the outcome of head to head games.
South Korea will have six points if it beats Nigeria, with the Africans condemned to the bottom of the group. Korea will progress if Argentina defeats or draws with Greece.
Even Argentina cannot guarantee safe passage to the next round, if they suffer a shock loss to the former European champions.
Should that happen, all three countries would be tied with six points, leaving qualification to goal difference. That would leave Argentina in the driving seat, and following the heavy loss to the South Americans the Taeguk Warriors could be ousted in spite of a win.
The prospects will be even murkier if South Korea draws with Nigeria. In that scenario, the Koreans would be eliminated if Greece beats Argentina. In the case their rivals draw, South Korea would go through unless Greece scores two or more goals.
The worst possible eventuality is a loss to the Africans, which will eliminate the East Asians out of the competition immediately. As South Korea is only one goal ahead of Nigeria on goal difference, defeat would inevitably lead to a change in the standings.
This year, the aim of reaching round of 16 is achievable as Nigeria is not as strong as it has been in the last decade.
Having fought hard in a close game against group leader Argentina, despite a 1-0 setback in the opener, Nigeria was dealt a severe blow as Greece came from behind for a dramatic 2-1 victory on Thursday in Bloemfontein.
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