World Cup: Japan reach last 16 despite 1-0 defeat by Poland

By Shamoon HafezBBC Sport

Last updated on 28 June 2018.From the section World Cup157

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 during the group stage to the African side's six.

"We did not go for victory but we just relied on the other match," said Nishino.

"That was slightly regrettable but I suppose at that point I didn't have any other plans.

"I am really not happy about how we played but we wanted to go through to the round of 16 and we have, and that is the only salvation that I get."

Colombia's 1-0 win over Senegal meant the South American team topped the group ahead of Japan, with those sides facing England and Belgium respectively in the last 16.

Southampton defender Jan Bednarek's well-taken volley following 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.

Nishino said he passed on instructions to the team to take no risks and collect no yellow cards when he sent Hasebe on.

"What if we conceded another goal and it was 2-0?" he said. "We went through. Therefore perhaps it was the right decision."

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 third time after 2002, when they were co-hosts, and 2010.

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 the news filtered through to the Volgograd Arena, both teams were content to sit back.

It was a risky strategy for Japan - 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."

What you said

Simon: That was one of the most surreal 10 minutes of football I've ever seen... Literally neither team interested in doing anything!

Wayne: Fair play is a really stupid way to decide qualification, must be a better way than this?

David: How about a penalty shootout on the day off? Free entry for fans.

Abdulateef: I see nothing wrong with Japan qualifying on fair play, the rules are there and they are through because of it.

Poland go out on high

By losing their opening two group games, Poland became the first European side to exit the tournament, and they have now exited at the first hurdle in three successive appearances.

They rarely threatened in their first two matches, with star striker Robert Lewandowski - who scored 16 goals in qualifying - largely isolated.

The Bayern Munich man did have his best chance to score against Japan - but scooped a shot over from 10 yards out.

Winger Kamil Grosicki forced Eiji Kawashima into a smart save with a header, and Tomoaki Mikono almost diverted a cross into his own net late on.

But Bednarek's goal was enough to give the Poles victory, though it was not enough to lift them off the bottom of the group.

Set-piece specialists - the stats

Poland beat Japan for the first time, after losing 5-0 in February 1996 and 2-0 in March 2002.
Japan have failed to score in five of their past six World Cup games against European opponents (W1 D2 L3) - 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 conceded in four successive World Cup games for the first time since their first four games across 1998 and 2002.
Poland have finished bottom of the group in a World Cup for the first time since 2002.
They have kept a clean sheet at the World Cup for the first time since winning 1-0 against Portugal in 1986.
The Poles won their first ever World Cup game against an Asian opponent after losing 2-0 in the group stages against South Korea in 2002.
Bednarek's goal for Poland was their fifth consecutive goal from a set-piece situation in the World Cup.

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Japan

Formation 4-4-2

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

Formation 4-2-3-1

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

Post update
Match ends, Japan 0, Poland 1.
90'+4'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Japan 0, Poland 1.

82'
Post update
Corner, Poland. Conceded by Yuya Osako.
82'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Artur Jedrzejczyk (Poland) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kamil Grosicki with a cross.
82'
Substitution
Substitution, Japan. Makoto Hasebe replaces Yoshinori Muto.
81'
Post update
Corner, Poland. Conceded by Eiji Kawashima.
80'
Substitution
Substitution, Poland. Slawomir Peszko replaces Rafal Kurzawa.
79'
Substitution
Substitution, Poland. Lukasz Teodorczyk replaces Piotr Zielinski.
78'
Post update
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.
78'
Post update
Corner, Poland. Conceded by Tomoaki Makino.
77'
Post update
Foul by Hotaru Yamaguchi (Japan).
77'
Post update
Jacek Goralski (Poland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
74'
Post update
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.
72'
Post update
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.
71'
Post update
Corner, Japan. Conceded by Bartosz Bereszynski.
68'
Post update
Foul by Gaku Shibasaki (Japan).
68'
Post update
Bartosz Bereszynski (Poland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
68'
Post update
Attempt missed. Kamil Grosicki (Poland) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Artur Jedrzejczyk.
67'
Post update
Yuya Osako (Japan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
67'
Post update
Foul by Artur Jedrzejczyk (Poland).

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157 comments

Comment posted by Gerrydidit, at 17:03 28 Jun 2018
Sheer incompetence by the commentators, they didn't realise for ten minutes that Japan were second in the group and not Senegal. Mark Lawrenson also did nothing except moan all game. New commentators please.
Comment posted by Aviatorr, at 17:03 28 Jun 2018
Poor game and poor commentating on the telly. It took Lawrenson and co. nearly ten minutes to realise that the Colombian goal meant Senegal were on the way out, not Japan. A lack of basic maths for so-called professionals - embarrassing.
Comment posted by Michael H, at 17:01 28 Jun 2018
You might say they’ve booked their place in the last 16

Sorry
Comment posted by tigersimon, at 17:15 28 Jun 2018
Can we please eliminate the whinging Mark Lawrenson from these games. What a bore.
Comment posted by john, at 17:02 28 Jun 2018
Didn't break any rules, they just did what they had to do. Any team would do the same.
Comment posted by PEZ, at 17:13 28 Jun 2018
Feel sorry for Japan,why is Lawrence being paid to just moan,what a boring git.
Comment posted by deperer, at 17:07 28 Jun 2018
Absolutely abysmal coverage from BBC 2. Presenter thought Japan have not been tested bwfore game, even though japan drew 2-2 v senegal. Thought Lewandowski played for Dortmund. When Columbia scored, commentators thought Japan were out for 10 mins til they realised their mistake. Lawrenson thought last 10 mins lack of play was because of yellow cards,but same would have happened on goal difference.
Comment posted by mustardcustard, at 17:53 28 Jun 2018
Not sure what all the fuss is about. In no way does this compare to West Germany vs Austria in 1982. The Japan team gambled on Senegal failing to score.

That aside, commentators seem to suggest shots on goal is a fairer way to decide who goes through, personally I think fair play is better.

Up arrow if you think fair play is best way
Down arrow if you think shots on target is better way
Comment posted by Torsus, at 17:09 28 Jun 2018
Appalling commentary from Steve Bower and Mark Lawrenson. Surely a knowledge of the rules regarding qualification is not too much to ask. It wouldn't have been so bad if one had corrected the other - surely one of the main reasons for co-commentary - but no, neither of them had any idea which country were going through until Hasebe came on.
Comment posted by Ziss, at 17:21 28 Jun 2018
What's the issue here? If it were England you just know Lawrenson and co would be encouraging them to keep it, not do anything silly. Yes Japan could have tried to equalise, but a second Poland goal knocks them out on goal difference. They chanced it on Senegal not scoring, and it worked.

There's been over 4,000 minutes of football this World Cup, god forbid we have to sit through a boring 10.
Comment posted by Hazardous Ed, at 17:23 28 Jun 2018
Michael o'Neil calling it a farce when he would 100% play the same way if northern Ireland were actually able to qualify and be in japans position. Awful to call it anything less than a smart end to a game that meant so much to those players.
Comment posted by Captain Sensible, at 17:31 28 Jun 2018
If my team were losing 0-1 on the last day of the PL season, and 0-2 would see them relegated, you could be damn sure I'd want to them to shut up shop. Any team would do it.
Comment posted by Ted, at 17:10 28 Jun 2018
First time ever I've seen a team not try to score whilst losing. Seen plenty when drawing. (West) Germany A v Germany B in 1982 springs to mind, knocking out Algeria in the process, in the most cynical fix ever. But not this.
Comment posted by The Gorg, at 16:59 28 Jun 2018
Surely Japan must have set a world record for the most consecutive passes at a World Cup .. those last 10 minutes were surreal
Comment posted by weasel80, at 17:32 28 Jun 2018
If Japan tried to attack to get the equaliser and Poland got a second on the break, they go out on goal difference and everyone would be oh why didn't they just keep hold of the ball? Absolutely no problem with what they did, if it's 0-0 tonight and England and belgium are happy with 1st and 2nd respectively will we moan if it happens again?
Comment posted by carer, at 17:22 28 Jun 2018
Fair play to Japan.
Comment posted by Hunnic, at 17:47 28 Jun 2018
Anyone who criticize the way Japan sees out of the game are just hypocrites. Put your hands on your heart and ask what would you want your team to do if they are in the same position?
Comment posted by Linalmeemow, at 17:13 28 Jun 2018
Well done Japan. Awful end to the game, but you do what you've got to do to qualify within the rules.
Comment posted by Eddie Mercury, at 18:07 28 Jun 2018
Mark Lawrenson was in my dream last night, I went to a launderette and his face was spinning round in one of the machines, and he was calling out to me “come here, come here”, his voice started to fade away and his face got smaller and smaller as it spun round and then he was gone
Comment posted by Clubber Lang, at 17:55 28 Jun 2018
Typical.
Moan when it's another team who has the advantage, but if it was England going through on the same ruling.....then the rules would be the best thing since sliced bread.