Prize for fair play? The unworthy end between Japan and Poland in Russia 2018

At the official level it will be in the history that Japan became the first team to define its pbadage to the knockout stages of a World Cup through fair play . Two fewer yellow cards than Senegal tipped the scales in favor of the Japanese team so that they could take second place in Group H of Russia 2018 and enter the next round.

But in practice, the team commanded by Akira Nishino was far from sealing his qualification to the best phase 16 for fair play . On the third day of Group H, Japan was counting on Poland's complicity in indignantly condemning its advance.

While in Samara they faced Senegal and Colombia, in Volgograd, Japan and Poland did the same. From the way they came, a draw on both courts favored Africans and Asians, but beyond that, in both stadiums, football started with a lot of intensity. Until the 60th minute, with the 0-0 in both courts, Senegal and Japan made the step to the eighths, but the goal of Jan Bednarek for Poles ] changed the landscape : Africans remained in the clbadification zone and Colombia moved Japan.

The fund allowed to generate a pact in Samara, but neither Aliou Cissé's led nor the students of José Néstor Pékerman on loan for business against sports ethics. The two continued to take risks and that is how [74] [1945minutesisvenulebutbyYerryMina

Fair play appears …

In Japan learned the movement on the scoreboard between Senegalese and Colombians. they quickly applied a sedative to their game . Manage the ball, small touches and no irrigation, always for the side, became the tone of the game. Nothing to pbad the half-court and nothing to lose the ball. A lack could mean a decisive card.

As if that were not enough, the bet of the Asians was based on the obvious complicity of Poland who did not do much to leave his zone of play and to press the game small touches that the Japanese made. Neither the great superstar Robert Lewandowski showed an attitude of going in search of his goal in a World Cup.

The last 15 minutes in Volgograd were a shame, while in Samara, Senegal loaded all his artillery on David Opsina's bow, but it was not enough for them to draw. Colombia beat Senegal 1-0 and in the same way Poland overtook Japan.

Colombia pbaded the top of the group and the second came out between Japan and Senegal points, difference in goals, so marked, in addition to the result between them (2-2). The resource for the tiebreaker was fair play and the 4 Asian yellows against the African 6 tipped the scales.