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WHY WORLDCUP FINAL GROUP STAGE MATCHES ARE PLAYED SIMULTANIUSLY

Worldcup's third and final set of group stage matches for each group are always played simultaneously. This was enforced to prevent teams from coming to agreements before games to arrange a mutually-beneficial result which will harm one or both of the other teams in their group who have played or are yet to play their final matches. This was possible because before now, the final group stage matches were played on different days. One was played today and the other the next day.

There have always been rumors of teams coming to agreements before games to arrange a mutually-beneficial result, but none were as shamefacedly obvious as West Germany's fix with neighbor Austria in 1982. It was the final group game and the equation was specific: If West Germany won by one or two goals, both teams were through. Any more, Austria was out while a draw or Austrian win would have sent the Germans home. Knowing what they needed because Algeria had played Chile a day before, West Germany went 1-0 up after 10 minutes, and then both teams pointlessly kicked the ball around, barely breaking a sweat and ensuring they both qualified at Algeria's expense.

It was reported that one television commentator refused to commentate on the farce and another suggested people switch over to something else.

How did the Algerian feel?

Did the Algerian players take offence? Not at all, Merzekane says. "We weren't angry, we were cool," he says. "To see two big powers debasing themselves in order to eliminate us was a tribute to Algeria.

From all over the world calls came for FIFA to punish the Europeans or stage a replay, but in the end all the world's governing body did was rule that henceforth the last pair of games in every group must be played simultaneously. "Our performances forced FIFA to make that change, and that was even better than a victory," Belloumi says. "It meant that Algeria left an indelible
mark on football history."