Japan moved into the World Cup knockout stages after they finished second in Group H on the same goal difference as Senegal but with a better disciplinary record
On a sweltering evening full of twists and turns Japan scrambled into the knockout stage of the Football world cup in rather undignified fashion, courtesy of a aim scored 400 kilometers away in Samara by Colombia's Yerry Mina and by virtue of the fact they accrued two yellow cards fewer than Senegal.
That is how tight the margins were in Group H, where Japan and Senegal finished with identical records: level on points, objective change and objectives scored. Japan accumulated four bookings compared with Senegal's six and that- Fifa's fair-play rule- objective up being the deciding factor that also contributed to a bizarre finish to the match.
Aware of the scoreline in Samara and under instructions from their administrator, Japan played a game of keep-ball inside their half, in effect running down the clock with no intent of trying to score, despite being behind. Japan knew that unless they had a couple of players booked, or Senegal could score an equaliser, or Poland could score again, they were through to the last 16 for only the third time in their history.
Poland, eliminated after losing two matches, also stood back- something Adam Nawalka explained by saying that his team had adopted a “low-press” for the entire match- rendering the final 10 minutes a non-event and raging many supporters. It all felt a little unsavoury and not exactly in keeping with the spirit of the game, inspiring loud whistling, with Japan clearly the guiltier party by far, given the scoreline.
Akira Nishino acknowledged he had decided to pin everything on the match in Samara and had sent on Makoto Hasebe, who started on the bench but is normally the captain, with instructions to tell the rest of the team to ” stay put” and avoid any further yellow cards. Hasebe, in return, asked Nishino to let him know if Senegal scored.
The Japan manager's plan worked, yet it was obvious he was wrestling with his conscience and wondering whether he had done the right thing. At periods in his post-match press conference Nishino seemed be to trying to justify his actions to himself as he devoted a jog answer to the first question that went on for several minutes and objective up with him saying on two occasions that what happened was ” regrettable “.
” It was a very tough decision, of course ,” said Nishino, whose team will face Belgium in Rostov-on-Don on Monday night.” There was' What if ?' on our pitching. There was another' What if ?' on the other pitch, and what I prefer was to stay put and keep the status quo. So I decided I was going to rely on the other match's result. I suppose the players were to some extent determined and content with the status quo. What if we confessed another goal and it was 0-2? I suppose the final message I sent to the players was to stay put and the players listened to me. They were booing in the stadium and I'm sure the players heard that. I feel that was very regrettable .”
As well as Japan played against Senegal, when they twice came from behind to deservedly draw 2-2, good fortune has been on their side. In Japan's opening game, Colombia had a player sent off and confessed criminal penalties within three minutes, and if Robert Lewandowski had buried a golden chance to extend Poland's result in the second half, Nishino and his players would be heading home.
Nishino adopted a curious approach in more routes than one. As well as leaving Hasebe on the bench, he started without Shinji Kagawa, their talisman, and Takashi Inui, who has arguably been their best player at these finals. When Inui was introduced, midway through the second half, Japan were a aim behind and Nishino appeared decidedly uneasy on the touchline.
It was an nasty aim to concede and highlighted a clear weakness in the Japan defence. Rafal Kurzawa delivered a free-kick from left to right that Hiroki Sakai, Gotoku Sakai and Yuya Osako all stand and watched. Jan Bednarek, arriving on the leading edge of the six-yard box, side-footed home a powerful right-footed volley that dedicated Eiji Kawashima, the Japan goalkeeper , no chance.
At that point Japan were going out. The injury would have been worse had Lewandowski, who played like a human who could not wait to get back to his room to pack his suitcase and head home, converted Kamil Grosicki's centre. That miss was a reprieve for Japan and then came another with the news Colombia had scored.
As for Poland, it will be small consolation to their fans that they signed off their last match at the World Cup with a victory. Ranked eighth in the world and viewed as dark horses before a ball had been kicked, Lewandowski and his teammates were a huge disappointment in Russia and will return to Poland wondering what might have been.
” A win can offer a little bit of joy to Poland fans and the team and coaches ,” Nawalka said.” But this is not to try to sweeten the bitternes loss of the first two matches .”
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