Graham
10-20-2003, 10:31 AM
Mathemagicians, can anyone help me with this calculation?
Suspicion is around that the (nominally random) draw for the Euro 2004 playoffs were rigged to have the higher rated sides avoid each other. (this is soccer for you lot that reckon 'football' involves running around and not touching the ball with your feet at all.... /images/graemlins/tongue.gif)
ie Russia, Spain, Turkey, Croatia and Holland have all been drawn against the 5 lesser teams (one of which, mine, Scotland, ranked 53 in world, has unfortunately drawn the biggest powerhouse of Holland, ranked 7, in the draw over the 2-leg playoff).
Basically, 10 teams are drawn against each other in pairs. What are the odds of the 5 highest ranking teams all avoiding each other in a random draw.
I can't do this type of calculation (but I'm willing to learn). It's some kind of combination problem, is it?
thanks
G
btw, The rumour is that heated balls are used in the televised draw to signify the higher ranked teams when ye olde dignitary draws numbered balls out of the bag. This could be all hokum, of course, but the same happened last time 4 years ago as well.
Suspicion is around that the (nominally random) draw for the Euro 2004 playoffs were rigged to have the higher rated sides avoid each other. (this is soccer for you lot that reckon 'football' involves running around and not touching the ball with your feet at all.... /images/graemlins/tongue.gif)
ie Russia, Spain, Turkey, Croatia and Holland have all been drawn against the 5 lesser teams (one of which, mine, Scotland, ranked 53 in world, has unfortunately drawn the biggest powerhouse of Holland, ranked 7, in the draw over the 2-leg playoff).
Basically, 10 teams are drawn against each other in pairs. What are the odds of the 5 highest ranking teams all avoiding each other in a random draw.
I can't do this type of calculation (but I'm willing to learn). It's some kind of combination problem, is it?
thanks
G
btw, The rumour is that heated balls are used in the televised draw to signify the higher ranked teams when ye olde dignitary draws numbered balls out of the bag. This could be all hokum, of course, but the same happened last time 4 years ago as well.