Quote Originally Posted by mobiletype
whatever did Jonathan Pearce mean by drawing lots to decide who tops the group in a tie-break situation?
This is for all the world cups:

5. The ranking of each team in each group will be determined as follows:

a) greatest number of points obtained in all group matches;

b) goal difference in all group matches;

c) greatest number of goals scored in all group matches.

If two or more teams are equal on the basis of the above three criteria, their rankings will be determined as follows:

d) greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned;

e) goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned;

f) greater number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams concerned;

g) drawing of lots by the Organising Committee for the FIFA World Cup™.

6. The two teams coming first and second in each group qualify for the second round.