Colombia has salvaged Japan’s standing by defeating Senegal 1-0 on Thursday (28/6/2018) at the Cosmos Arena in Samara, Russia. In the other match at the Volgograd Arena in Volgograd, Japan lost 0-1 to Poland, but still advanced to the Round of 16 as the Group H runner-up.
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AP PHOTO/ANDREW MEDICHINI
Poland\'s Piotr Zielinski (right) runs with the ball as Japan\'s Gaku Shibasaki tries to stop him during the group H match between Japan and Poland at the 2018 soccer World Cup at the Volgograd Arena in Volgograd, Russia, Thursday, June 28, 2018.
SAMARA, THURSDAY – Colombia has salvaged Japan’s standing by defeating Senegal 1-0 on Thursday (28/6/2018) at the Cosmos Arena in Samara, Russia. In the other match at the Volgograd Arena in Volgograd, Japan lost 0-1 to Poland, but still advanced to the Round of 16 as the Group H runner-up.
Japan fared better than Senegal in fair play points, gaining four yellow cards (-4) to Senegal’s six (-6) in three group matches. This was a determining factor, as both teams have collected four points, scored four goals and have a zero goal difference. Japan is the first team in World Cup history to advance to the Round of 16 on fair play points, with this year marking the first time the fair play point system is being applied to determine team positions in the Round of 16.
“I feel my players’ disappointment, but I will keep on encouraging them,” said Senegalese national team coach Aliou Casse as quoted on the FIFA website.
For Japan, making it to the Round of 16 is a repeat of their achievements in the 2002 and 2010 World Cups. Japan has made it to the Round of 16 three times in their six World Cup appearances. Asia is now represented in the World Cup’s Round of 16, after failing to do so in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
“We did not win, and we depended on the results of the other matches,” Japanese coach Akira Nishino said.
AP PHOTO/EUGENE HOSHIKO
Poland goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski saves a shot on goal during the group H match between Japan and Poland at the 2018 soccer World Cup at the Volgograd Arena in Volgograd, Russia, Thursday, June 28, 2018.
For Poland, its victory against Japan was a relief after two previous defeats. The team is now out of the World Cup. Jan Bednarek scored Poland’s single goal at the 59th minute.
Poland’s poor Group H results was a repeat of their failure in the 2002 and 2006 World Cups. The country has failed to make it to the Round of 16 since the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
Japan changed its formation from 4-2-3-1 to 4-4-2 and positioned Shinji Okazaki and Yoshinori Muto as strikers to face Poland’s offensive strategy. Japan also rotated five players in its line-ups. Apart from Okazaki, Japan placed Takashi Usami and Hotaru Yamaguchi in the midfield and Gotoku Sakai and Tomoaki Makino in defense.
Japan’s altered formation strengthened its attacks in the first 15 minutes, but weakened its defense, with Robert Lewandowski and Kamil Grosicki easily breaking through the defense.
Poland made several attempts on the Japanese goal in the first half. Grosicki’s header almost resulted in a goal, but goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima caught the ball before it passed the goal line. Poland then intensified its assaults in the second half. In the 59th minute, Bednarek used an assist from Rafal Kurzawa’s free kick to score a goal.
Takashi Inui and Makoto Hasebe tried to retaliate, but the Japanese team failed to score.
AP PHOTO/GREGORIO BORGIA
Colombia\'s Juan Cuadrado, right, vies for the ball with Senegal\'s Youssouf Sabaly during the group H match between Senegal and Colombia, at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Samara Arena in Samara, Russia, Thursday, June 28, 2018.
Colombia’s ‘help’
After losing 0-1 to Poland, Japan ranked third in the Group H standings, with Senegal drawing 0-0 against Colombia. The two teams used an offensive strategy and tried for a win in order to secure the ticket to the Round of 16. Colombia finally scored in the 74th minute with a header from Barcelona defender Yerry Mina. This was Mina’s second goal in the tournament. He also scored his first goal with a header in its previous match against Poland, which it won 3-0.
Mina is the third defensive player to score two goals in this year’s World Cup. The two other defenders are England’s John Stones and Sweden’s Andreas Granqvist.
Colombia’s victory has raised the team to the top of Group H, and means it will face the Group G runner-up in the Round of 16.
(AFP/AP/Reuters/ECA)
REUTERS/DAVID GRAY
Colombia\'s Radamel Falcao and team mates celebrate their first goal scored by Yerry Mina at Samara Arena, Russia, on June 28, 2018.
