C++ If statement error: expected ';' before '{' token

Question

I was writing this out for fun:

#include <iostream>
#include <cstdlib>
using namespace std;

int Arsenal = rand()%3;
int Norwich = rand()%3;

int main () {
  if (Arsenal > Norwich) {
    cout << "Arsenal win the three points, they are in the Top Four";
    return 0;
  } else if (Arsenal == Norwich) {
    cout << "The game was a draw, both teams gained a point";
    return 0;
  } else (Norwich > Arsenal) {
      cout << "Norwich won, Arsenal lost";
      return 0;
    }
}

and I tried to compile it in g++, yet I get this error:

arsenalNorwich.cpp: In function, 'int main'
arsenalNorwich.cpp:15:30: error: expected ';' before '{' token

I have no idea what I did wrong, and neither does the CS tutor at my school. Although it's just for fun, it's driving me crazy.

Answer 1

you missed one if here:

  else if (Norwich > Arsenal)
  ///^^^if missing

Meanwhile, it is not good to put

 int Arsenal = rand()%3;
 int Norwich = rand()%3;

before main . Another point is that you should first set random seed before calling rand() .

Your if-else can be simplified as follows:

if (Arsenal > Norwich) {
   cout << "Arsenal win the three points, they are in the Top Four";
} else if (Arsenal == Norwich) {
   cout << "The game was a draw, both teams gained a point";
} else { //^^^no need to compare values again since it must be Norwich > Arsenal
         //when execution reaches this point
   cout << "Norwich won, Arsenal lost";
}
return 0;