World Cup 2018: Japan reach last 16 despite 1-0 defeat by Poland
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World Cup 2018: Japan 0-1 Poland highlights
Japan reached the last 16 of the World Cup by having a better disciplinary record than Senegal - after losing to Poland in their final Group H game.
The match finished in farcical fashion, with both sides happy to play the ball around at the back for much of the final quarter.
Akira Nishino's side finished with the same number of points, goals scored and goals conceded as Senegal, but were shown only four yellow cards to the African side's six.
Colombia's 1-0 win over Senegal meant the South American team topped the group ahead of Japan, with those sides facing England or Belgium next.
Southampton defender Jan Bednarek's well-taken volley from Rafal Kurzawa's free-kick won the match for Poland, who were already eliminated.
Indeed Japan substitute Makoto Hasebe, who came on with eight minutes remaining, made a 'card' gesture to his team-mates to make it clear they were through as it stood.
- Player rater: Japan v Poland
Japan happy to play out time
Japan topped the group going into the final round of games, needing just a point to be assured of a place in the knockout stage for only the second time since 2002, when they were co-hosts.
They were heading out when Bednarek scored, and Southampton's Maya Yoshida headed just wide on 72 minutes as they pushed for an equaliser.
But two minutes later they were given a reprieve by Colombia defender Yerry Mina's thumping header in the group's other game.
As news of the goal filtered through to the Volgograd Arena, both teams were content to sit back.
It was a risky strategy - a second goal for Poland or a Senegal equaliser would have eliminated them - but it ultimately paid off.
'Farcical and embarrassing'
With their game finishing a couple of minutes before Colombia's victory was confirmed, the Japan players initially waited anxiously around the pitch, before celebrating wildly in front of their supporters.
But there was widespread criticism for the manner in which they had reached the last 16.
"It was a farce, an absolute farce," said BBC co-commentator Mark Lawrenson. "There has to be a better way of settling the table in the World Cup than bookings."
Former Everton midfielder Leon Osman said on BBC Two: "That is embarrassing - the way the two teams went about the final 10 minutes is everything we do not want to see in a World Cup. It turned into a farce."
Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill added: "It takes you back to World Cups in 1982 and 1986, when we saw games like that. It is mind-boggling for me as a coach to leave your whole destiny in the hands of another game, and do it for so long.
"I had developed a bit of a soft spot for Japan, but I hope they get battered in the next round."
More to follow.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Japan
1Kawashima
19H Sakai
22Yoshida
20MakinoBooked at 66mins
5Nagatomo
21G Sakai
7Shibasaki
16Yamaguchi
11UsamiSubstituted forInuiat 65'minutes
13MutoSubstituted forHasebeat 82'minutes
9OkazakiSubstituted forOsakoat 47'minutes
Substitutes
2Ueda
3Shoji
4Honda
6Endo
8Haraguchi
10Kagawa
12Higashiguchi
14Inui
15Osako
17Hasebe
18Oshima
23Nakamura
Poland
22Fabianski
18Bereszynski
15Glik
5Bednarek
3Jedrzejczyk
10Krychowiak
6Goralski
11Grosicki
19ZielinskiSubstituted forTeodorczykat 79'minutes
21KurzawaSubstituted forPeszkoat 80'minutes
9Lewandowski
Substitutes
1Szczesny
2Pazdan
4Cionek
7Milik
8Linetty
12Bialkowski
13Rybus
14Teodorczyk
16Blaszczykowski
17Peszko
20Piszczek
23Kownacki
Referee:
Janny Sikazwe
Attendance:
42,189
Match Stats
Home TeamJapanAway TeamPoland
Possession
Home54%
Away46%
Shots
Home10
Away11
Shots on Target
Home3
Away2
Corners
Home5
Away7
Fouls
Home11
Away8
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Japan 0, Poland 1.
Full TimePosted at 90'+4'
Second Half ends, Japan 0, Poland 1.
Posted at 82'
Corner, Poland. Conceded by Yuya Osako.
Posted at 82'
Attempt blocked. Artur Jedrzejczyk (Poland) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kamil Grosicki with a cross.
SubstitutionPosted at 82'
Substitution, Japan. Makoto Hasebe replaces Yoshinori Muto.
Posted at 81'
Corner, Poland. Conceded by Eiji Kawashima.
SubstitutionPosted at 80'
Substitution, Poland. Slawomir Peszko replaces Rafal Kurzawa.
SubstitutionPosted at 79'
Substitution, Poland. Lukasz Teodorczyk replaces Piotr Zielinski.
Posted at 78'
Attempt missed. Kamil Glik (Poland) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Kamil Grosicki with a cross following a corner.
Posted at 78'
Corner, Poland. Conceded by Tomoaki Makino.
Posted at 77'
Foul by Hotaru Yamaguchi (Japan).
Posted at 77'
Jacek Goralski (Poland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 74'
Attempt missed. Robert Lewandowski (Poland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Kamil Grosicki following a fast break.
Posted at 72'
Attempt missed. Maya Yoshida (Japan) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Gaku Shibasaki with a cross following a corner.
Posted at 71'
Corner, Japan. Conceded by Bartosz Bereszynski.
Posted at 68'
Foul by Gaku Shibasaki (Japan).
Posted at 68'
Bartosz Bereszynski (Poland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 68'
Attempt missed. Kamil Grosicki (Poland) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Artur Jedrzejczyk.
Posted at 67'
Yuya Osako (Japan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 67'
Foul by Artur Jedrzejczyk (Poland).
BookingPosted at 66'
Tomoaki Makino (Japan) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 66'
Foul by Tomoaki Makino (Japan).
Posted at 66'
Robert Lewandowski (Poland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
SubstitutionPosted at 65'
Substitution, Japan. Takashi Inui replaces Takashi Usami.
Posted at 65'
Offside, Japan. Yuya Osako tries a through ball, but Hiroki Sakai is caught offside.
Posted at 64'
Attempt blocked. Piotr Zielinski (Poland) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Robert Lewandowski.
Posted at 63'
Foul by Yuya Osako (Japan).
Posted at 63'
Kamil Glik (Poland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 62'
Attempt blocked. Takashi Usami (Japan) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Goal!Posted at 59'
Goal! Japan 0, Poland 1. Jan Bednarek (Poland) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Rafal Kurzawa following a set piece situation.
Posted at 59'
Rafal Kurzawa (Poland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 59'
Foul by Hotaru Yamaguchi (Japan).
Posted at 58'
Attempt missed. Tomoaki Makino (Japan) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left following a corner.
Posted at 58'
Attempt missed. Yoshinori Muto (Japan) with an attempt from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Gaku Shibasaki with a cross following a corner.
Posted at 57'
Corner, Japan. Conceded by Kamil Glik.
Posted at 53'
Attempt blocked. Takashi Usami (Japan) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Yuya Osako.
Posted at 51'
Foul by Bartosz Bereszynski (Poland).
Posted at 51'
Yuya Osako (Japan) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 50'
Foul by Bartosz Bereszynski (Poland).
Posted at 50'
Takashi Usami (Japan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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goal
Source: bbc.com
Source: bbc.com
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