An explanation required for disillusioned Italian

Can anyone explain to me how my boys have not finished in the top two of the group?

First image: http://bit.ly/oznLLU

Second image: http://bit.ly/pJDXvE

The above images show the group table and group results (both in the first image) and the tournament rules for the group stages (in the second image).

Now, as far as I can tell, my boys (Italy) should have qualified for the next round.

Italy, Belgium and England all have 6 points so, as the league sorting rules state in the second image, it goes down to results between teams to decide which two teams should qualify for the next round. I BEAT BELGIUM 2-1! So how on earth have UEFA/FIFA/FM/God/Allah deemed Belgium to be the runners-up of the group and not me?!?!

My goal difference is better than Belgium's, my team has scored more goals than them...

Has anyone got an explanation?

Cheers.

No, I don't, that's really unlucky, you deserve to qualify there.

In the games between the three sides on six points only one match was won by more than one goal, hence England top the group and you are third. I guess...

Goals against?

When three teams are tied, only results between those three teams count. All teams have beaten Russia, therefore in this 3-team-mini-league all have 3 points. So in this case it goes into goal difference, but disregarding the games with Russia:

England: 3-1(W) 0-1(L). 3 scored, 2 conceded. Goal difference: +1

Belgium: 1-2(L) 1-0(W). 2 scored, 2 conceded. Goal difference: 0

Italy: 1-3(L) 2-1(W). 3 scored, 4 conceded. Goal difference: -1

Highly unlucky, but the table is correct.

Yeah, you might be right actually. If you take away all the results featuring Russia, England have +1 goal difference, Belgium have +-0 and Italy have -1.

Yeah, you got there before noikeee. Cheers!

Edit: Someone beat me to it

I would say, in my defence, that that is hardly articulated in the rules.

I would say, in my defence, that that is hardly articulated in the rules.

I don't think you need to defend yourself, most of us would have reached the same conclusion as you. It could be worse though, in my current save the Italy manager qualified for Euro 2012 and promptly got sacked, at least you got to play the actual tournament.

I would say, in my defence, that that is hardly articulated in the rules.

Well yes, but it's covered under "results between teams".

Yeah, you're right. I deemed "results between teams" to mean head-to-head results between teams rather than a mini-league between teams. Noikee, you'll be pleased to hear Portugal went on to win the tournament.