Colombia win to top Group H and eliminate Senegal on fair play
Colombia defeated Senegal 1-0 to advance to the World Cup round of 16 as Group H winners in a result that sent the African side out of the competition on the fair play ranking. Yerry Mina’s goal in the 74th-minute allowed Colombia to top the group on six points, while Senegal finished level on four points with Japan, who lost 1-0 to already-eliminated Poland in the other group game played simultaneously.
Both Japan and Senegal had even goal differences and had scored four goals each, but Japan advanced as runners-up because they only picked up four yellow cards in the group stage, while Senegal had six.
The fair play ranking is being used as a tiebreaker for the first time at the World Cup. Previously, a random drawing of lots would have decided which team would advance.
Japan lose to Poland but qualify for World Cup round of 16 via fair play from Senegal
Japan lost to Poland but qualified for the World Cup round of 16 by virtue of a better disciplinary record than Group F rivals Senegal.
Japan looked to be heading home after Jan Bednarek’s 60th-minute opener for Poland in Volgograd. That would have put them out, but Japan coach Akira Nishino who made six changes to his lineup was very thankful to Yerry Mina’s goal in Colombia’s win over Senegal.
Mina’s strike meant Japan and Senegal’s Group F records were the same. Fair play which was only introduced as a tiebreaker at this year’s World Cup was then used to split the pair, with Japan’s four yellow cards beating Senegal’s six. Japan, therefore, reached the round of 16 along with Colombia, with England or
Belgium tops, England to play Colombia
Belgium finished top of Group G after a 1-0 win over England in Kaliningrad.
England went to the game expecting a sure win but it wasn’t the case, England manager Gareth Southgate made a number of changes, including dropping captain Harry Kane to the bench and starting Trent Alexander-Arnold at right wing-back.
England made a bright start as Jamie Vardy raced down the right only to see his low cross well deflected by goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. But Belgium, also battled them to gain victory as Belgium’s Adnan Januzaj scored in the 51st second giving them victory over England
Tunisia secure third place in Group G with defeat of Panama
In SARANSK, Russia yesterday Tunisia made history as its players gave them smiles, Fakhreddine Ben Yousseffin score in the 51st minute and Wahbi Khazri in the 66th minute gave Tunisia a 2-1 victory over Panama in their final Group G match in Saransk on Thursday and secured the North Africans their first World Cup finals win in 40 years.
Tunisia, playing fluent and composed football, dominated the match but were trailing 1-0 at halftime after a shot by Panama’s Jose Luis Rodriguez took a deflection off Tunisian defender Yassine Meriah in the 33rd minute.
Having failed to finish off several chances in the first half, Tunisia took six minutes to assert themselves after the restart. Ben Yousseff picked up a neat low cross from Khazri to slot the ball home from close range.
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