Dave predicts the teams to advance to the quarter finals

Japan advance on technicality

Japan lost 1-0 to Poland, but ended up winners.

For the first time in World Cup history, Japan emerged from Group H and into the last 16 by virtue of having conceded fewer yellow cards then Senegal, also losers on the night.

In times past, extra time or drawing lots would have determined which country advanced, but with Japan and Senegal on identical points and goal difference, the ‘fair play’ rule was the predetermined method of arbitration.

Surely using the number of shots or corners rather than a disciplinary record makes more sense?

Be that as it may, the goal by the Poles gave them a 1-0 victory over Japan, who had their destiny in their own hands and should not have been relying on results elsewhere.

Inexplicably, Japan’s run-on team showed six changes for this all-important clash!

But they did create enough chances, with Leicester’s Shinji Okazaki heading wide and Yoshinori Muto and Gotoku Sakai both foiled by saves from Swansea City’s Lukasz Fabianski.

They had the better of a slow-moving, goalless first half played in sweltering conditions.

The apparent lack of urgency continued on the resumption but in the 58^th minute the Japanese defence failed to deal with a wave of Polish attackers and Jan Bednarek of Southampton forced the ball home (1-0).

It seemed this could provide the spark the game needed, but as the game continued and word was out that Colombia were beating Senegal, the Japanese took their chances on the status quo remaining and ensured they did not leak another goal with ugly negative football.

A unique, extremely fortunate outcome for Japan, who might have reached their limit as far as their progress goes.

Senegal sunk by yellow ruling

Senegal needed just a draw from their Group H clash with Colombia to advance to the knockout stage.

Instead, they lost by a single goal – which not only took the last African contenders out of the World Cup but also advanced Japan, despite their loss to Poland by the same score line.

The African champs were brilliant up to a point – the point of converting their outstanding general play into goals.

They may feel they were badly done by in the 16^th minute when Sadio Mane, who plies his trade with Liverpool, was brought down in the box by Carlos Sanchez but VAR was on the ref’s side.

Senegal’s pace, strength and cool determination forced errors from the Colombians, but they could not unpick their defensive lock.

Colombia did not seem to have too much to worry the Senegalese, other than the dazzling Juan Cuadrado of Juventus, who never seems to have a poor game.

Chances came and went at both ends but there was ultimately only one that mattered as Yerry Mina leaped high to meet a corner to head downwards and bounce it past a despairing Khadim Ndiaye (1-0).

Senegal did all in their power to restore parity and time after time it was David Ospina in the Colombian goal who stood between them and success.

It wasn’t to be and Senegal – through a combination of their own poor finishing, defensive lapses and a ridiculously arbitrary FIFA rule of deciding progress – go home with heads held high.

It wasn’t the yellow jerseys of Colombia that ultimately mattered; it was the yellow cards.

Belgium go forward unbeaten

Belgium have gone through the group stage unbeaten with a basically boring 1-0 win over England .

This was a disappointing game in prospect from the time both side ran onto the pitch having made wholesale changes and fielding their reserves.

The fact that 15 of the 22 run-on players all perform in the English Premier League also meant they knew each other’s strengths and weaknesses well enough to nullify each other.

With an identical record going into the game, and both having already qualified, they were vying for 1^st and 2^nd spot on the Group G table.

First half play was wishy-washy, with Belgium’s Youri Tielemans coming closest with an almighty strike from distance.

Pickford had his hands full dealing with it at full stretch and soon after, his goalmouth was in a shambles and the ball was frantically cleared off the line.

England kept playing the long ball down the middle hoping to use Jamie Vardy’s speed but the Leicester City striker managed no clear chances.

Zero score at the break but England did come out looking more purposeful.

So too did Belgium, and Adnan Januzaj set the game alight in the 50^th minute by feinting right then moving left and smashing it past a flailing Pickford (1-0).

Even English supporters were happy the match was at last given some entertainment value, and the pace finally picked up.

From a free kick soon after, Alexander Arnold hit the red wall from 25 metres out.

England should have equalised when Marcus Rashford was put clear through but one-on-one with Thibaut Courtois he struck at a height comfortable enough for the Chelsea stopper to get a finger to and deflect it past the post.

What a pity it wasn’t Vardy or Harry Kane, but a bit more like it from England as Belgium dropped back and played from deeper.

England had two late chances: Rashford hit a free kick over the wall and over the bar while Man United’s Marouane Fellaini blocked an on-target shot from Arsenal’s Danny Welbeck.

The final action saw Pickford forced into a fine save from Dries Mertens and it remained 1-0.

England will now face the tough Colombians while Belgium have the easier route against Japan.

England may, however, have been looking further down the line at avoiding a clash with Brazil.

Panama vs Tunisia Group G

With nothing to lose as the Group G basement dwellers, Tunisia and Panana put on a grand show of attacking football, with Tunisia coming from behind to win 2-1.

Both sides showed a high level of commitment with play moving from end to end but few shots emerging.

That changed in the 35^th minute through a slice of luck after Aymen Mathlouthi in the Tunisia goals spilled a free-kick and Panama slid it to the edge of the penalty area where Rodriguez smashed a drive that deflected off Yassine Meriah for an unlucky own goal (1-0).

Panama’s equaliser, when it came, was a beauty: Sliti to Khazri and a square pass to Ben Youssef, who stayed onside and executed the finish for 1-1.

But with Tunisia having nearly 70 percent of the possession, their winner had to come and it duly did, courtesy of captain Wahbi Khazri in the 64^th minute.

A highly entertaining final show from two sides that would not have been expected to get beyond the group stage.

We may not see both countries back on the World Cup stage for many years.

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