Belgium beat England 1-0 to advance to the knockout staged of the 2018 FIFA World Cup as Group G winners on Thursday, while Tunisia ended their tournament in Russia with a 2-1 comeback win over Panama.

Adnan Januzaj scored the only goal at the Kaliningrad Stadium to set Belgium up with a clash against Group G runners-up Japan in the next phase of the competition, while the Three Lions will meet Colombia.

Colombia and Japan advanced from Group H in first and second, respectively. Los Cafeteros triumphed 1-0 over Senegal to top the pool, while Japan took second in front of the African representatives based on fair-play record.

Poland finally got points on the board in Russia as Jan Bednarek headed in the only goal at the Volgograd Arena, but the Blue Samurai progressed ahead of Senegal, who had two more yellow cards than the Asian nation.

Read on for a roundup of the last group-stage results at the 2018 World Cup and a look towards the round-of-16 bracket in Russia.

France vs. Argentina, 5 p.m. local time/3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET

Spain vs. Russia, 5 p.m. local time/3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET

Brazil vs. Mexico, 6 p.m. local time/3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET

Sweden vs. Switzerland, 5 p.m. local time/3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET

England didn't exactly have the glamorous end to the group stage that some might have hoped for following wins over Tunisia and Panama, but their place in the last 16 opposite Colombia is cemented all the same.

Adnan Januzaj scored the only goal of the game after sending Danny Rose with a dip of the shoulder before unleashing a mighty, curled effort past Jordan Pickford, via Fox Soccer (U.S. only):

The likes of Colombia, Sweden, Croatia and Spain look like more appealing knockout-stage opponents than Brazil, Portugal, Uruguay, France and Argentina, but England have now lost momentum after successive wins.

Despite their first defeat in Russia, England have cause to be hopeful against Colombia, said ESPN FC's Liam Twomey:

Tunisia got the job done at the Mordovia Arena in Saransk, meanwhile, and clinched the second World Cup win in their history after Wahbi Khazri scored the winner in their 2-1 triumph over Panama.

Hernan Dario Gomez's Panama side went ahead after Jose Luis Rodriguez's shot deflected in off Yassine Meriah, but goals from Fakhreddine Ben Youssef and Khazri meant Tunisia broke a duck dating back to 1978, per Squawka:

Colombia's return to form continued with a 1-0 win over Senegal, a result that not only confirmed them as Group H winners but saw Senegal depart the competition as the last remaining African representative.

ESPN presenter Taylor Twellman showed how lacklustre defensive instincts from Senegal were partly to blame for conceding a headed winner to Yerry Mina on 74 minutes, while broadcaster Juan Arango praised the better team:

Senegal started their tournament so brightly after beating supposed Group H favourites Poland, but their performances appeared to decline after that shock result, with Thursday being the only game they failed to score in.

DW Sports showed just how fine the margins were as Group H came to a close, with Japan the beneficiaries of the fair-play rule despite ending their pool campaign with defeat to Poland:

Much talk centred around Japan coach Akira Nishino's decision to change six of his starting XI for the meeting with Poland, where Bednarek's goal led to their only loss of the first round and almost.

With murmurs suggesting their tournament hopes may be better-served finishing second rather than first—similar to England in Group G—writer Tim Vickery used a previous example to limit the outcry:

Japan's reward for finishing second is a round-of-16 clash with Group G winners Belgium, after which they would take on the winner of Brazil's duel against Group F runners-up Mexico.



Colombia have bounced back well after losing 2-1 to Japan in their World Cup curtain-raiser, and their next outing is a knockout duel against England, with an easier-looking route to the final in Russia.</s>Belgium beat England 1-0 to advance to the knockout staged of the 2018 FIFA World Cup as Group G winners on Thursday, while Tunisia ended their tournament in Russia with a 2-1 comeback win over Panama.

Adnan Januzaj scored the only goal at the Kaliningrad Stadium to set Belgium up with a clash against Group G runners-up Japan in the next phase of the competition, while the Three Lions will meet Colombia.

Colombia and Japan advanced from Group H in first and second, respectively. Los Cafeteros triumphed 1-0 over Senegal to top the pool, while Japan took second in front of the African representatives based on fair-play record.

Poland finally got points on the board in Russia as Jan Bednarek headed in the only goal at the Volgograd Arena, but the Blue Samurai progressed ahead of Senegal, who had two more yellow cards than the Asian nation.

Read on for a roundup of the last group-stage results at the 2018 World Cup and a look towards the round-of-16 bracket in Russia.

France vs. Argentina, 5 p.m. local time/3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET

Spain vs. Russia, 5 p.m. local time/3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET

Brazil vs. Mexico, 6 p.m. local time/3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET

Sweden vs. Switzerland, 5 p.m. local time/3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET

England didn't exactly have the glamorous end to the group stage that some might have hoped for following wins over Tunisia and Panama, but their place in the last 16 opposite Colombia is cemented all the same.

Adnan Januzaj scored the only goal of the game after sending Danny Rose with a dip of the shoulder before unleashing a mighty, curled effort past Jordan Pickford, via Fox Soccer (U.S. only):

The likes of Colombia, Sweden, Croatia and Spain look like more appealing knockout-stage opponents than Brazil, Portugal, Uruguay, France and Argentina, but England have now lost momentum after successive wins.

Despite their first defeat in Russia, England have cause to be hopeful against Colombia, said ESPN FC's Liam Twomey:

Tunisia got the job done at the Mordovia Arena in Saransk, meanwhile, and clinched the second World Cup win in their history after Wahbi Khazri scored the winner in their 2-1 triumph over Panama.

Hernan Dario Gomez's Panama side went ahead after Jose Luis Rodriguez's shot deflected in off Yassine Meriah, but goals from Fakhreddine Ben Youssef and Khazri meant Tunisia broke a duck dating back to 1978, per Squawka:

Colombia's return to form continued with a 1-0 win over Senegal, a result that not only confirmed them as Group H winners but saw Senegal depart the competition as the last remaining African representative.

ESPN presenter Taylor Twellman showed how lacklustre defensive instincts from Senegal were partly to blame for conceding a headed winner to Yerry Mina on 74 minutes, while broadcaster Juan Arango praised the better team:

Senegal started their tournament so brightly after beating supposed Group H favourites Poland, but their performances appeared to decline after that shock result, with Thursday being the only game they failed to score in.

DW Sports showed just how fine the margins were as Group H came to a close, with Japan the beneficiaries of the fair-play rule despite ending their pool campaign with defeat to Poland:

Much talk centred around Japan coach Akira Nishino's decision to change six of his starting XI for the meeting with Poland, where Bednarek's goal led to their only loss of the first round and almost.

With murmurs suggesting their tournament hopes may be better-served finishing second rather than first—similar to England in Group G—writer Tim Vickery used a previous example to limit the outcry:

Japan's reward for finishing second is a round-of-16 clash with Group G winners Belgium, after which they would take on the winner of Brazil's duel against Group F runners-up Mexico.



Colombia have bounced back well after losing 2-1 to Japan in their World Cup curtain-raiser, and their next outing is a knockout duel against England, with an easier-looking route to the final in Russia.</s>Germany manager Joachim Low: "The disappointment of being eliminated is just huge.

"I think first of all we need to congratulate our two opponents who have made it out of the group.

"At this tournament we didn’t deserve to win again or move to the round of 16. We were eliminated not because we didn’t want to win but we never had the chance to take a lead at any point – we were always lagging behind, trying to keep up.

"We saw Sweden had taken the lead so we needed to keep the pressure up but our team was missing the ease of play and the classiness we usually have. So, we deserve to be eliminated yes."</s>FIFA World Cup 2018: The defending champions Germany were knocked out of the World Cup 2018 after they lost against South Korea 2-0 – Kim Young–gwon and Son Hung Ming. Die Mannschaft were knocked out as they finished third after Sweden thrashed Mexico 3-0 – courtesy goals from Augustinsson (50′minutes), Granqvist (62′minutes pen), and Álvarez (74′minutes og). Germany had to win the match in order to qualify for the next round. This is the first time Germany have been knocked out in the group stage.</s>Here are the reactions as Germany are out of the , afer they lost 2-0 to South Korea in their group F match on Wednesday, June 27.

Second half goals by Young-Gwon Kim and Heung-Min Son gave South Korea a memorable victory over 2014 FIFA World Cup winners Germany.

Germany lost their first game of the World Cup to Mexico but bounced back with victory against Sweden.

Germany out of the World Cup

Just like France did at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Italy did at South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup, and also Spain at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, Germany were eliminated from the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia as the defending champions in the group stages.

Their second group stage defeat meant Germany had a total of three points from three matches and finished behind Sweden and Mexico who had six points each.

Reactions as Germany crash out of the World Cup

After the exit of one of the tournament favourites, Twitter users expressed opposing views on the development.

Some were of the opinion that Germany were doomed to fail as recent history suggest that the defending champions do not fare well at the next edition while some were of the opinion that the Germans were not just strong enough

Here are the reactions on social media, "I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised at Germany’s exit. Recent World Cup history would suggest so. But still... wow! "

"Never seen a team so happy to go out of the World Cup. Nice one South Korea. Respect to u ."

Leroy Sane missing as Germany crash out of 2018 FIFA World Cup

Leroy Sane became a trending topic on Twitter as Germany crashed out of the World Cup.

was omitted from Joachim Low's 23-man squad for the tournament and Twitter users were quick to point out his absence cost the German team.

Here are the reactions on Twitter, "Leroy Sane sat on a sunbed somewhere. What a waste of young talent."

"Can some one tell me why Leroy Sane wasn’t in the German squad he has scored more goals this season than any other German player? "

"Germany going home because of favouritism. They left Leroy Sane for an off form Mesut Ozil and an off form Manuel Neuer."

The result means that Germany and South Korea both crash out of the World Cup while Sweden and Mexico progress from group F.</s>Germany is out of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the fourth defending champion in the last five tournaments to be eliminated in the group stage.

The four-time champions lost to South Korea 2-0 Wednesday, allowing a pair of injury-time goals while knowing a 1-0 victory would have been enough to advance because of the result in the other group match.

Germany ended up last in Group F while Sweden and Mexico advanced to the round of 16. South Korea was also eliminated despite the victory.

It was the first time Germany has been eliminated in the first round since 1938.

Kim Young-gwon scored the first goal in the third minute of injury time. Originally called out for offside, the goal was then given after video review.

Son Heung-min made it 2-0 in the sixth minute of injury time after Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer came up the field to help his teammates outside the South Korea box. Son tapped the ball into an empty net after a long pass from Ju Se-jong.

Besides Germany this year, France in 2002, Italy in 2010 and Spain in 2014 were the previous defending champions to get eliminated in the group stage.

All four teams in the group had a chance to advance in games that were being played simultaneously, but Sweden's 3-0 lead over Mexico put Germany in prime position to move on as well — if the Germans could score against the South Koreans.

That was the problem for Germany as they made a nervous start in Kazan, playing slower than it usually does to avoid being vulnerable on the break. But the strategy did not bring much success in the first half.

The Germans kept peppering the South Korea box with harmless crosses and it was their opponents that came close to scoring from a set piece in the 19th minute after Neuer failed to control a 25-meter free kick from Jung Woo-young.

The Germany keeper bobbled the ball and needed to swipe the rebound away from the attackers after a spectacular dive.

The Germans continued at the same pedestrian pace after halftime and Mesut Ozil had another poor display, with many of his passes uncompleted.

Germany coach Joachim Loew brought on substitutes Mario Gomez and Thomas Mueller on either side of the 60-minute mark but his players kept giving the ball away, with most of their attacking combinations lacking precision and speed.

Gomez had a decent header stopped by Jo in the 68th minute and could not properly connect with a low cross from Joshua Kimmich in the 72nd as Germany's hopes vanished.</s>Germany have been crashed from the World Cup at the group stage for the first time in history.

Aside 1938 FIFA World Cup, Germany always progress to the second stage of the Mundial.

The 1938 FIFA World Cup was the era of knockouts from start to finish-The Germans drew one all against Switzerland, before they lost 4-2 in a replay.

Germany ‘s worst performance in the most popular sports competition in the World has been second group stage elimination in 1978, having always gone through to the next stage since 1938.

However, as the defending champions the Germans have suffered the biggest shock of their lives with exit from the competition in the first round in the ongoing Mundial.

They lost 0-1 against Mexico, but they managed to stage a dramatic comeback victory against Sweden, before their hopes were crashed by South Korea- The Koreans on their were out of the World Cup drove Germany along with them by handing them a 2-0 defeat.</s>Germany’s title defence came to a grinding halt with their final group stage match. On a night in which Sweden thrashed Mexico 3-0 and replaced them as Group F table-toppers, Germany imploded in stoppage time and lost 2-0 to South Korea. They thus finish bottom of the table in Group F and become the second consecutive defending champion to be knocked out in the group stage after Spain in 2014.

After Mexico conceded against Sweden, Germany only needed a 1-0 win to confirm their passage to the knockouts. But, despite the likes of Mesut Ozil and Marco Reus in midfield, they could not provide enough crosses into the box for Mario Gomez, Timo Werner and later centre-halfs Mats Hummels and Niklas Sule to convert. Even the chance that did make it into the box were shot wide off target.

It was the first time Germany have been eliminated in the first round since 1938. Kim Young-gwon scored the first goal in the third minute of injury time. Originally called out for offside, the goal was then given after video review.

Son Heung-min made it 2-0 in the sixth minute of injury time after Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer came up the field to help his teammates outside the South Korea box. Son tapped the ball into an empty net after a long pass from Ju Se-jong.

Besides Germany this year, France in 2002, Italy in 2010 and Spain in 2014 were the previous defending champions to get eliminated in the group stage.

For all the latest Fifa News, download Indian Express App</s>Germany’s 2-0 loss to South Korea that resulted in their elimination from the FIFA World Cup 2018 broke quite a few records. (Germany vs South Korea report)

For one, their loss means that this is the third consecutive FIFA World Cup wherein the defending champions have crashed out of the first round itself, and the fourth time overall in the last 18 years. (Germany vs South Korea highlights)

Amazingly, it was also the first time since 1938 that Germany were eliminated from the tournament before the knockout stages of the competition.

But the records broken by the Germany national football team pale in comparison to the number of fans they left heartbroken, many of whom were confident of their side becoming the first team since Brazil in 1962 to retain the trophy.

The shock and sadness of the loss was reflected on social media, where fans struggled to come to grips with their exit from the tournament.

Rival fans, however, had a field day poking fun at Die Mannschaft.</s>Mexico survived a nail-biting scare to advance to the World Cup’s round of 16 as defender champion Germany was stunningly dumped out of the tournament on Wednesday.

With Mexico falling 3-0 behind to Sweden in Ekaterinburg it was left with no choice but to hope that the Germans failed to win their game against South Korea, being played simultaneously in Kazan.

Despite a late onslaught, Germany could not find a breakthrough. Instead, it ended up flipping to a remarkable 2-0 defeat thanks to an injury-time goal from Kim Young-Gwon that was reviewed by VAR, followed by a goal on an open net from Son Heung-Min.

The loss capped off Germany's most disappointing campaign of recent times and continuing the mythical “curse of the World Cup champion.” Four of the last five winners of the previous tournament have now crashed out in the group stage the next time around.

Mexico was the only team to have won both of its opening games yet still be faced with a realistic chance of being knocked out, and the pressure showed.

Germany players react after a missed chance during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group F match between Korea Republic and Germany at Kazan Arena on June 27, 2018 in Kazan, Russia.

Goals for Ludwig Augustinsson and Andreas Granqvist put Sweden no course for the result it needed to guarantee itself a place in the round of 16 and put Mexico in peril, and an Edson Alvarez own goal after 74 minutes took Mexico’s fate out of its own hands.

With Sweden having topped the group, Mexico will now face Brazil in a mouthwatering second round match-up. Mexico has lost in the round of 16 for the past six World Cups in a row. Sweden will meet the second placed team from Group E, to be decided later on Wednesday.
FIFA World Cup title-holders Germany's football team are knocked out of the 2018 competition in the group stage for the first time since 1938 after losing to South Korea. This is the fourth time that the reigning champions have been knocked out in the group stage in the last five tournaments.