[Nonstatist]

Who, from scratch, would invent a game where the average score was 0 to 0, or 1 to 0 ? It's just like the Europeans to refuse any opportunity to moidify the game, to make it more "decisive" or "competitive" or "interesting". Arrogant, boring European game. zzzzzzzzzz.......

[1rudeboy]

Yeah, you're right. FIFA could make the goal larger, juice the ball, tighten the rule on fouls, etc. That would be so . . . American.

Heck, why stop there? Why not instant replay?

[AmishDude]

OK, I wanted to resolve this question of the differences in scores. Here it is after the second round in the 1998 World Cup:

• 4-1
• 1-0
• 1-0
• 4-1
• 2-1
• 2-1
• 1-0
• 2-2 (shootout 4-3)

Quarterfinals:

• 0-0 (shootout 4-3)
• 3-2
• 2-1
• 3-0

Semifinas:

• 1-1 (shootout 4-2)
• 2-1

Bronze: 2-1
Gold: 3-0.

A small sample to be sure, but 75% of the games ended with either a one or zero goal difference.

Flip a coin, save the effort.