Austria may prefer to lose their final World Cup group game in a potentially controversial finish to Group J.
The strange situation is caused by the 48-team World Cup schedule and pathways into the knockout phase.
Argentina are guaranteed top spot in Group J. Austria are currently second, level on points with third-placed Algeria but ahead due to a better goal difference. Jordan are fourth and already eliminated.
Second place in Group J will go into the last-32 and face the winner of Group H – that currently looks set to be European champions and World Cup favourites Spain.
If the team which finishes third in Group J is among eight of the best-performing third-place sides, they will go into the last-32 and face another group winner.
As things stand, Algeria are in line to meet USA.
While co-hosts USA have had an impressive tournament so far, there is no doubt the world’s No 1 ranked Spain – on paper – are the tougher opponent. USA are ranked 14th.
The opponent for third place in Group J will change, though, depending on where in the third-place table they finish.
Algeria may also prefer to lose this fixture, although a draw would also see them remain in third place on goal difference.
The situation for Austria and Algeria will be clear at kick-off.
Both teams will know who their last-32 opponents would be depending on the result of the match, as the final games in Group J are the final fixtures of the group phase.
Every other group will be complete when they kick off at 3am, UK time, on Sunday June 28.
A repeat of the ‘Disgrace of Gijon’?
Horst Hrubesch of West Germany heads in during a 1-0 win against Austria at the 1982 World Cup – a result which suited both teams
This is not the first time Austria have been involved in a potentially controversial final group game at a World Cup.
Infamously, in the 1982 World Cup, West Germany and Austria tamely played out a 1-0 win for West Germany which saw both sides progress and group rivals Algeria knocked out.
The match was later labelled the ‘Disgrace of Gijon’ after the Spanish city where the game was played and led to the system of final group games being played simultaneously in a bid to avoid a repeat.
It is not uncommon, though, that teams have known they could be put on a more favourable path through the knockouts by not winning a group game.
In the 2018 World Cup, Gareth Southgate’s England benefitted from losing their final group game to Belgium and finishing runners-up in their group.
England went on to face Colombia and Sweden in the knockouts before losing to Croatia in the semi-finals. Belgium, meanwhile, were put on a path to face Brazil in the quarter-finals then France in the semi-finals, after overcoming Japan in the last-16.
