The last week saw the final round of group matches played to definitively decide who would progress through to the Round of 16. We already had some ideas about who was doing well and who was likely to qualify, with Yung Jones, Baggyg, nidasbym and a few others out of reach at the top of their respective tables, but there were still plenty of twists and turns to fill the other slots and determine the group winners and runners up.
The post this afternoon will run through each group in turn, while you can head to the official tournament forum thread here for match write ups and videos from those that played them. At 6PM BST later today, we’ll then be featuring a draw, with Peter picking the matches at random for the Round of 16. We’ll also clarify the rules for the knockout stages in that post.
First, let’s head over to group one to see where we stand with that.
Group One
With Marvzilla and Roynaldo both on 9 points and separated by goal difference alone last week, they were the favourites to progress, and Roy put in two big games to secure his spot in the knockout rounds. Marvzilla faced off against jimmy-google, though, and jimmy was able to get two big wins to catch and pass Marvzilla for the runner up spot.
Results:
Table:
Group Two
Yung Jones was already home and dry by the end of last week, with the others in his group very close together on points. Amphlett and Colmshan played their matches first, with Amphlett getting a draw and a win to sneak past into second place on the table, heaping the pressure on Sam to try and get any points at all from Yung Jones.
Unfortunately, though he was able to score a goal in both matches and restrict Yung Jones’ scoring, he simply couldn’t hold him off for a draw and lost both matches.
Results:
Table:
Group Three
With Wick and jonny_bolton playing each other in week three, Baggyg was already mathematically through, but still put in two good games against commisar_dave to top the group. Behind him, it was a winner-takes-all tussle, with Wick starting the week a point behind jonny_bolton, but getting the two wins to pass him for second place.
Results:
Table:
Group Four
Hennerzcfc and Alisha held the advantage going into the final round of games, but nothing was quite certain. Shoebak needed to win against Hennerz to be in with a shout of qualifying, but was unable to get the results, only able to hold for a draw in the second match.
Alisha’s first match against Azian put her practically beyond reach, anyway, winning 4-2, but Azian, with nothing but pride to fight for, came back strongly in the second match to show that had he had the full six matches to play himself, he might well have been able to qualify.
Results:
Table:
Group Five
There was a little catching up to do in this group, but loay123 just needed a couple of points to secure his spot, and his single victory over BrendanCalls was enough to see him through, with BerackyWack coming in just a single point behind him in the runner up spot.
Results:
Table:
Group Six
This was another group where any of the players could potentially qualify, if the last two matches went their way. However, having held a decent points advantage going into the final week, XBLakie_ChanX and Crazy_Del simply pulled further away, turning the final matches into dead rubbers.
Results:
Table:
Group Seven
Nidasbym utterly dismantled a gobsmacked Ro6afc11 on his way to a totally dominant group win, with six wins out of six and a goal difference that just snuck past Yung Jones’ from Group Two!
Rob’s agony must have only been increased when BlackRedYellow beat Pocono for the runners up place, leaving third and fourth places separated by a single goal.
Results:
Table:
Group Eight
Group Eight was a slight oddity with MrJaggySnake needing to play all six matches, while the other three had completed their other four. It meant that there was a distinct uncertainty, that was only added to when Jaggy stepped away from the competition and SpikeyMikey stepped in.
Dellboy nipped to the group win, while GazPhillips’ two wins gave him second place ahead of the final two games between Spikey and Youles. Unfortunately for Youles, he was only able to get a win and a draw, leaving him just a single point off second place and qualifying.
Results:
Table:
So as we leave the group stages and head to the knockout rounds, the players who have qualified are as follows:
Who will those that qualified play in the next round? Well, come back to TSA later today at 6PM BST, when Peter will be hosting a draw featuring ping pong balls, bowls and everything to determine the match ups for the Round of 16.
dellboy1983
This is awesome, nice one guys.
I’m gutted I won’t be about for the live draw. Actually playing real footy tonight that also kicks off at 6pm.
Glad I finished top of the group though, some of the other group winners look a bit awesome!
Youles
I think you’ll do well mate. Since you smashed me in the second match I changed my formation – you certainly highlighted some weaknesses! Since then I went unbeaten in 4 and conceded just once in 360 minutes. Good luck!
Youles
It’s a shame my group weren’t all given the “3-0 Standard” to replace our games with Jaggy, especially as he was allowed to remain despite not playing a single game in two weeks. I would suggest in future competitions that this happens, or everyone plays the same opponent, so that the final group standings reflect the outcome of the people that actually played each other.
tonycawley
Good feedback, thanks.
I’d suggest that in future competitions if people sign up they actually bother to take part lol.
But yes, you’re right.
GazPhillips
Haha.. It should be a given, you sign up for a FIFA competition you will need to play a couple of games a week!!. My last message from him ( Before he deleted me from his friends were “FIFA really isn’t my game) .
Youles & Dellboy were both a pleasure to play and arranging games was easy. Looking forward to the next round where I can hopefully up my game.
Youles
Yeah, just a bit of continuity since Del was awarded a 3-0 win rather than a different opponent. Sadly this time it’s potentially cost me my place in the next stage (as Jaggy didn’t appear to be that good).
Stefan L
It’s a tricky one. The only reason why we gave Del a 3-0 was because at that stage it was a moot point and it meant we could polish the tables with all 6 matches. The 3 point swing made absolutely no difference to anyone’s standings in the group. If we’d given 3-0 to people when there were still positions at stake and people dropped out, it would have completely skewed the result and disadvantaged those that did play the games.
tonycawley
Exactly, had we not found replacements for most matches, I think there would have been about 10 forfeited matches. Too many 3-0 results making the groups a bit meaningless. It has to be done, and I think if the 3-0 awarded to del would have made a difference in terms of who qualifies then we would have found some other alternative as that wouldn’t have been fair.
Youles
I guess it’s just disappointing for me that no one stepped in at the second Tuesday when MrJaggy still hadn’t played a single game and said now we’ll find a replacement, before anyone had played him. Obviously you can’t give 3-0 results when someone drops out after playing some games, my point was that either games that were played by people who dropped out would have to retrospectively be changed to 3-0, or everyone played the new opponent. Anyway, it was obviously not of concern to anyway other than me, so I’ll have to take it on the chin.
Crazy_Del
I know Youles but even if I lose to Yiddo I still qualify and replacing someone on the final game makes no difference as that final someone is already out of the comp!
Looking forward to live stream draw xD
Slightly worried about Roynaldo with the team he is currently building up…. it looks stronger…. *gulp*
Youles
Yes mate, hence my explanation above – I wasn’t saying your result wasn’t fair.
loay123
where is the draw ??? im lost
freezebug2
I’m not involved with the tournament but a quick props for this cracking article layout and general organisation of the whole thing. Can’t beat a good tourney ;)