This is driving me mad, please help!

[mariner2]

Can anybody explain to me (because I've only been watching football since 1966 and so don't know all that much about it) how Italy were top of their group until those late goals went in and clarified it all. At the time Italy, Croatia and Spain were all on 5 points, but Italy had scored the least number of goals, had the worst goal difference and hadn't won head to head against either of the other two. . . . . yet they were top of the group, when by my reckoning they hadn't even qualified??

[factor-fiction]

I think they draw up a mini league based on the results between the top 3- that is ignoring the results against the bottom side (Eire)

[HowardKennitby]

http://en.wikipedia.o...Euro_2012#Group_stage

[mariner2]

Ah . . . at last I see aglimmer of logic - so all results against Ireland don't count or something but not quite sort of . . . . ?

[Duncer]

A perfect lesson in how to take a very simple game and a relatively simple system and turn it into the most convulted nonsense.

[MoonRocker]

sorry if I'm being thick here but by which of the criteria in howards link were italy on top at the time referred to in the original question?