Why fair play rules, or drawing of lots, could decide Group G winner

Be prepared for things to get weird in Group G.

Dominant performances from Belgium and England on consecutive days already have the two sides into the knockout stages of the World Cup, with only first and second place in the quartet to be decided when the pair meet on Thursday in their opening-round finale.

The Red Devils hammered Tunisia 5-2 on Saturday to assume top spot, only to see the Three Lions respond by drubbing Panama, 6-1.

Related: England batters Panama to set up Group G decider with Belgium

As a result, they're now level on six points apiece, having both scored eight and conceded two goals thus far in the tournament. Should the two European heavyweights draw their match in Kaliningrad, the fair play rule could determine who wins the group.

If two teams are level on points, the tiebreakers, per FIFA, are as follows:

• Goal difference in all group matches
• Goals scored in all group matches
• Greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned (head-to-head)
• Goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned
• Greater number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams concerned
• Greater number of points obtained regarding fair play conduct (yellow cards = -1, indirect red card (as a result of a second yellow card) = -3, direct red card = -4, yellow card and direct red = -5, with only one of the deductions applied to a player in a single game)
• Drawing of lots by FIFA

At the moment, the Three Lions are ahead on fair play points, having received one fewer yellow card in Russia. If Gareth Southgate's men pick up one more yellow card than Roberto Martinez's charges on Thursday, then the drawing of lots would be necessary to separate them and decide a group winner.

Given the way the knockout stage bracket is shaping up looking ahead to the latter stages of the tournament - thanks, primarily, to Germany looking likely to finish second behind Mexico in Group F - coming second in Group G may actually be more desirable than topping the section, which could make things very interesting next week.