The expanded 48-team World Cup format faces a major test of sporting integrity as multiple final-round group fixtures open tactical paths for mutually beneficial stalemates. Photo: IANS
Algeria have waited 44 years for a shot at Fifa World Cup revenge against Austria, but the clash is one of many in the final round of group games where sides could settle for a mutually beneficial outcome.
Austria's 1-0 defeat to West Germany at the 1982 World Cup has lived on in tournament infamy as "the disgrace of Gijon", after the teams played out a result that took both through at the expense of Algeria on goal difference. After worldwide condemnation and a fruitless formal complaint by Algeria, Fifa decided that in subsequent tournaments the final two games in each group would be played simultaneously.
But the expansion to a 48-team tournament, and with it the return for the first time since 1994 of some third-place sides progressing to the knockout stage, has opened the door to questions over the sporting integrity of the competition once more. Four points is almost certain to be enough to go through at least as one of the eight best third-placed sides from the 12 groups.
Australia and Paraguay face off on Friday morning locked on three points after both beat Turkey and lost to co-hosts the US. A stalemate in Santa Clara near San Francisco would allow both to progress.
