What the USA must do

[SCENARIOS] Friday’s Group C matches — the thrilling 2-2 USA-Slovenia game and dreadful 0-0 England-Algeria — left all four teams still in contention forberths in the second round. Here’s what the USA and its rivals must do on Wednesday to advance …

USA advances if …

— It beats Algeria;

— It ties Algeria AND Slovenia beats England;

— It ties Algeria AND Slovenia and England tie if the USA is not outscored by England bymore than one goal.

Slovenia advances if …

— It beats or ties England;

— It loses toEngland AND the USA and Algeria tie .

England advances if …

— It beats Slovenia;

— It ties Slovenia AND the USA and Algeria tie if England outscores the USA by three or moregoals.

Algeria advances if …

— It beats the USA AND Slovenia beats or ties England.

— It beats the USA AND Englandbeats Slovenia if the margins of victory in the two games are three or more goals.

Note: Other scenarios — notably, ties in both games (eg.USA-Algeria 0-0 and England-Slovenia 2-2) or England and Algeria wins (eg. Algeria 3-2 win and England 1-0 win) — could lead to teams being tied on goal difference and goals scored.

Ifthe USA and England tie on goal difference and goals scored, the tiebreaker will be … the drawing of lots.

If Slovenia and Algeria tie on goal difference and goals scored, Sloveniaadvances by virtue of its 1-0 win over Algeria.