World Cup 2018 Group H: Colombia top, Japan through and Senegal eliminated

17:22 · THU June 28, 2018

Colombia beat Senegal to go through to the knockout stages of the World Cup as Group H winners, as Japan scraped through, despite defeat to Poland.

Senegal 0-1 Colombia

Colombia qualified for the World Cup knockout stage as Group H winners after a 1-0 win over a Senegal side who crashed out of the competition in dramatic fashion on fair play points.

Aliou Cisse's side, denied a first-half penalty when VAR judged that Tottenham's Davinson Sanchez had made a legal lunge on Liverpool's Sadio Mane, had looked set to finish behind Japan, with their opponents facing an early exit.

In a thrilling group climax, a Poland goal in Volgograd was sending both teams in Samara to the last 16, but Yerry Mina's 74th-minute header provided a decisive twist, ensuring Jose Pekerman's men triumphed and Senegal, by virtue of their yellow-card tally, were ousted.

Colombia, who overcame the premature exit of injured James Rodriguez, will now play Group G's second-placed side - either England or Belgium - in Moscow on Tuesday, with Japan facing the winners of that group in Rostov-on-Don a day earlier.

Opta match statistics

Colombia have progressed past the World Cup group stages for only the third time, also doing so in 1990 and 2014.
Senegal have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last seven World Cup games, since beating France 1-0 in their first ever match in the tournament.
Colombia’s goal came from the first shot on target in the second half, and their only shot on target in the entire second period.
Senegal became the third team to be eliminated from the 2018 World Cup despite winning their opening game of the tournament (also Iran and Serbia). The last time as many as three teams failed to get through the group stages despite winning their opener was in 2002 (Argentina, Costa Rica and Russia).
Colombia are the only team to reach the knockout stages of the 2018 World Cup despite losing their opening match of the tournament.

Japan 0-1 Poland

Japan made it through to the World Cup knockout stages despite defeat to Poland

Japan squeezed into the last 16 at the World Cup despite suffering a 1-0 defeat to Poland in their final Group H game.

They progressed at the expense of Senegal, who lost 1-0 to Colombia in their final group match, after sneaking into second place in the group ahead of the African side, having picked up fewer bookings during the group stage with the two level on four points, goals scored and goal difference.

Japan needed just a point to ensure qualification for the knockout rounds, but were undone by a Jan Bednarek header in the 59th minute at the Volgograd Stadium.

Japan will now play the Group G winners - either England or Belgium - next week, while Poland bow out of the competition on a high following the win.

Opta match statistics

Poland have won their first encounter against Japan after losing 5-0 in February 1996 and 2-0 in March 2002.
Japan have failed to score in five of their last six World Cup games against European opponents (W1 D2 L3), with their only goals coming in a 3-1 victory over Denmark in 2010.
Poland have won each of their 14 games in which they have scored first in World Cup finals.
Japan have qualified out of the World Cup group stage for the third time in their history, also doing so in 2002 and 2010.
Poland striker Robert Lewandowski failed to score with each of his nine shots in World Cup 2018.

What does this mean for England?

1⃣ If England win Group G, they face Japan and go to the left side of the draw

2⃣ If England finish second, they will face Colombia and go to the 'easier' right side

🤔 Where do you want the #ThreeLions to finish now?!

🗳️ VOTE! 👇#ENG #ENGBEL
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) June 28, 2018