Japanese players thank the crowd at the end of the game. ReutersVolgograd: Japan became the only Asian side to progress to the World Cup's last 16 on Thursday, slipping through despite losing 1-0 against already-eliminated Poland thanks to their lower tally of yellow cards, which meant Senegal went out.
The 'Samurai Blue' needed a draw to advance to the knockout rounds after they beat Colombia and drew with Senegal in the previous two games, reversing low expectations at the start of the tournament.
Yet they still progressed in second place on account of having fewer yellow cards than Senegal, who were level on points, goal difference and goals scored with Japan, after the Africans lost 1-0 to Colombia.
Japan will face Belgium in the last-16.
Action from the Japan-Poland game. ReutersThe game petered out in the dying minutes in farcical circumstances with both Japan and Poland so happy with the result that they were content to let the Japanese play keep-ball in their own half.
The match was often lethargic anyway in the 36 degree Celsius (96.8 Fahrenheit) heat, but the stupor was broken at the 59th minute when Poland's Rafal Kurzawa floated a free-kick to the far post and an unmarked Jan Bednarek scored from close range.
Jan Bednarek, second left, celebrates with teammates after scoring the winner. AFPThat suggested Japan's coach Akira Nishino had perhaps been overly confident when he made six changes to the line-up, excluding midfielder Takashi Inui, whom he then brought on in the 65th minute.
Poland were seeking to restore some pride by eking out a win against Japan and fielded striker Robert Lewandowski in the hope he could break his Russia goal drought.
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FIFA World Cup: England vs Belgium
Belgium players celebrate after the match. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: England vs Belgium
Belgium's Nacer Chadli and England's Danny Rose after the match. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: England vs Belgium
England manager Gareth Southgate and Trent Alexander-Arnold after the match. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: England vs Belgium
Belgium's Marouane Fellaini in action with England's Jordan Pickford. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: England vs Belgium
England's Jordan Pickford and John Stones applaud the fans after the match. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: England vs Belgium
England's Jamie Vardy (left) vies with Belgium's Moussa Dembele during the World Cup Group G match at the Kaliningrad Stadium on June 28, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: England vs Belgium
England's Gary Cahill clears the ball off the goal line during the World Cup Group G match between England and Belgium at the Kaliningrad Stadium on June 28, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: England vs Belgium
Russian billionaire Leonid Fedun (right) attends the World Cup Group G match between England and Belgium at the Kaliningrad Stadium on June 28, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: England vs Belgium
Belgian soccer fans cheer while waiting to cross the Polish-Russian border on their way to the World Cup Group G soccer match between Belgium and England at Grzechotki-Mamonovo crossing point, Poland June 28, 2018. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: England vs Belgium
Belgian soccer fans gather before crossing the Polish-Russian border on their way to the World Cup Group G soccer match between Belgium and England. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: England vs Belgium
Belgian soccer fans gather before crossing the Polish-Russian border on their way to the World Cup Group G soccer match between Belgium and England. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: England vs Belgium
English soccer fans gather while waiting to cross the Polish-Russian border on their way to the World Cup Group G soccer match between Belgium and England at Grzechotki-Mamonovo crossing point. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Tunisia vs Panama
Panama's players celebrate after scoring against Tunisia at the Mordovia Arena in Saransk on June 28, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: Tunisia vs Panama
Panama's Jose Luis Rodriguez (left) celebrates next to Ricardo Avila his team's opening goal against Tunisia at the Mordovia Arena in Saransk on June 28, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: Tunisia vs Panama
Panama's Roman Torres vies with Tunisia's Wahbi Khazri (right) during the World Cup Group G match at the Mordovia Arena in Saransk on June 28, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: Senegal vs Colombia
Colombia players celebrate in front of fans after Yerry Mina scores their first goal. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Senegal vs Colombia
Colombia's Yerry Mina (left) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against Senegal Colombia at the Samara Arena on June 28, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: Senegal vs Colombia
Colombia's Yerry Mina (rear centre) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against Senegal at the Samara Arena on June 28, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: Senegal vs Colombia
Colombia's Falcao (left) vies for the ball with Senegal's Idrissa Gana Gueye and Senegal's Cheikhou Kouyate during the World Cup Group H match between Senegal and Colombia at the Samara Arena on June 28, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: Senegal vs Colombia
Colombia's Johan Mojica in action with Senegal's Ismaila Sarr. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Senegal vs Colombia
Colombia's Yerry Mina and Davinson Sanchez in action with Senegal's M'Baye Niang. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Senegal vs Colombia
Colombia's Mateus Uribe in action. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Senegal vs Colombia
Colombia's Johan Mojica goes down after sustaining an injury. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Senegal vs Colombia
Colombia's fans cheer as they arrive to attend the World Cup Group H match between Senegal and Colombia at the Samara Arena on June 28, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: Senegal vs Colombia
Senegal's Sadio Mane reacts during the match. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Senegal vs Colombia
Colombia's Mateus Uribe in action with Senegal's Ismaila Sarr and Cheikhou Kouyate. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Japan vs Poland
Japan players applaud their fans as they qualified for the second round. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Japan vs Poland
Japan players applaud fans after the match. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Japan vs Poland
Japan players after the match. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Japan vs Poland
Japan's Shinji Kagawa applauds fans after the match. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Japan vs Poland
Japan's goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima greets his son Kensei after the final whistle during the World Cup Group H match between Japan and Poland at the Volgograd Arena on June 28, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: Japan vs Poland
Poland players celebrate victory after the match. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Japan vs Poland
Japan players after the match. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Japan vs Poland
Poland's Jan Bednarek (2nd left) celebrates with Kamil Glik (right) and teammates after scoring the opener against Japan at the Volgograd Arena on June 28, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: Japan vs Poland
Poland's Michal Pazdan reacts after a challenge. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Japan vs Poland
Japan's Gotoku Sakai in action with Poland's Artur Jedrzejczyk. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Japan vs Poland
Poland's Jan Bednarek in action with Japan's Yoshinori Muto. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Japan vs Poland
Japan fans watching the action during the World Cup match between Japan and Poland. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Japan vs Poland
Japan's Yoshinori Muto (left) pressures Poland's goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski during the World Cup Group H match between Japan and Poland at the Volgograd Arena on June 28, 2018. AFP
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The Eastern Europeans did indeed prove more combative than the Japanese, but Japan's goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima made a spectacular save that denied Kamil Grosicki's header right before it crossed the line in the first half.
The game took the edge off a disappointing run for Poland, who reached the quarterfinals of Euro 2016 where they went out on penalties to eventual champions Portugal.
