On Thursday Senegal made history, and not the good kind. The last African nation eligible in the World Cup was knocked out by Fair Play points by picking up more cards than Japan during group stage, making them the first team to ever lose a tiebreaker due to the rule. Senegal lost to Colombia 1-0 while Japan lost 1-0 to Poland, so Japan made it to the Round of 16 with four points and a tie with Senegal. Senegal, as you can imagine, was gracious as ever in defeat and has no hard feelings towards FIFA for the rule. A good portion of Twitter, as you can also imagine, shares no such sentiment. Some were amused. Some were bemused. Many were annoyed. However, there were those that took issue with the way Japan and Poland played, deeming "fair play" a bit of a misnomer given how their match ended. The frustration was apparent everywhere, with Japan being more than content to kill time at the end of the match. However, as unfair as it appears, Japan now finds itself in the Round of 16. It may be a bear of a bracket, but Japan earned its place by FIFA rules. What people think of the rules is up to them.<doc-sep>Japan’s elimination was seeming likely until news came from the other game that Colombia had scored to take a 1-0 lead over Senegal. That set fans racing to the rulebook. With both games ending 1-0, Colombia would win the group. But Senegal and Japan would be deeply, deeply tied for the second spot. Both teams had 4 points. Both had 4 goals scored and 4 conceded. The teams had tied when they played head-to-head. [Up Next: Follow our live coverage of England vs. Belgium] The sixth tiebreaker in the rule book is the so called “fair play” rule: whichever team had the fewest yellow and red cards in the tournament would advance. Japan had four yellows. Senegal six. Knowing the situation, Japan spent the last few minutes calmly passing the ball around. With the game won, Poland was happy to do the same. It was a strange ending to a World Cup game. It was also a bit risky for Japan: Had Senegal scored in the dying moments, Japan would have been out. For Poland, which had already been eliminated, it was a win for pride. For Japan, it was a loss to remember.<doc-sep>José Pekerman considered the prospect of a last‑16 collision with England and described it as a “full-on to the death match”. The manager and his Colombia team will play it in Moscow on Tuesday after emerging from a shoot-out against Senegal and in a group that twisted dramatically at the last. Colombia had needed to defeat Africa’s last remaining representative to make sure of their qualification – even though a draw would have sufficed because of Poland’s surprise 1-0 win over Japan – and they did so thanks to Yerry Mina’s towering 74th‑minute header from Juan Quintero’s corner. It was the moment for which Colombia had prayed and when it came the release of emotion was overwhelming. The result, coupled with that in the other Group H tie, meant Colombia advanced as the winners of the section and the delight was evident with all of Pekerman’s players, who performed a team dance routine after the goal. Up in the stands, the country’s legendary former midfielder Carlos Valderrama led the celebrations. It was a tempestuous occasion, framed by noise and colour, but the on-field spectacle failed to keep up. There was minimal goalmouth action, with Colombia mustering only two efforts on target. Senegal had three. But the outcome was all that mattered to Los Cafeteros, who had to contend with the loss of their marquee player, James Rodríguez, to injury after 31 minutes. Pekerman was unclear whether Rodríguez, who had carried a calf problem to this tournament, would be able to play against England and he declared himself to be “extremely concerned”. He added: “It’s a topic that could overshadow everything. It’s a tough situation for my team.” Poor Senegal. They controlled the first half and their performance was framed by sound tactics, organisation and aggressive pressing – together with speed on the counterattack. On the other hand they laboured to create clear-cut chances, messing up a clutch of promising situations. The roof fell in on them after Mina’s goal and in the end they were squeezed into third place and out of the competition on yellow cards accumulated, having finished level with Japan on points, goal difference and goals scored. Two bookings was the difference. Senegal had been determined to emulate their only previous showing at a World Cup – the quarter-final finish from 2002. Instead, they would make an unwanted piece of history. They are the first team to be eliminated from the World Cup on fair play criteria. 00:55 Senegal fans devastated as Colombians celebrate World Cup progress – video The stadium was swathed in bright yellow throughout – it was a Colombian takeover – and the din was deafening from first to last, although there was a gasp and silence on 17 minutes, when Senegal thought they had a penalty. The referee, Milorad Mazic, pointed to the spot after Davinson Sánchez jumped into a challenge on Sadio Mané, even if the decision looked harsh in real time. Enter VAR and it became apparent that although the Colombia defender might have brushed Mané’s shin first, he clearly took the ball. To the relief of the South Americans, the referee reversed the ruling. Aliou Cissé had started with Mané up front alongside the powerful and direct Mbaye Niang in a 4-4-2 and the movement of both strikers caused problems. Mané looked to have the beating of his markers, especially Mina, and it was an uncomfortable first-half for Colombia, although Senegal failed to work the goalkeeper, David Ospina. Colombia could point to a 12th‑minute free-kick from Quintero that bounced awkwardly in front of Khadim Ndiaye, forcing the goalkeeper to push it around a post, but they were disjointed for long periods. Poland have been one of the disappointments of the World Cup and yet there was a crescendo of noise from the Colombia support around the hour mark, when news of the Polish goal against Japan filtered through. Suddenly Colombia were in a position to qualify, although to rely on the Poles was not a sound idea. At that stage, Senegal were primed to finish on top of the group. Pekerman’s players were more assertive in the second half and began to gain a foothold higher up the pitch. Rodríguez’s replacement, Luis Muriel, saw a shot blocked by Kalidou Koulibaly and he was beaten to a through ball by the advancing Ndiaye before Mina got away from Cheikhou Kouyaté to score. Senegal stared at disaster and they rallied. Niang rolled Mina and shot only for Ospina to save strongly – it was a big moment – and the goalkeeper also got down to stop a corner that deflected off Mina. Ismaila Sarr also fluffed a volley when well-placed. The pain would belong to Senegal. For Colombia, England await. “They can have a good day or a better day,” Pekerman added. “England is a young team with harmony, confidence and excellent individual players. They have what it takes but we are also very confident.”<doc-sep>
47’: Trying, Trying An early turnover for Colombia. Santiago Arias was trying to make something happen, but his pass was too far afield. 46’: Colombia Needs a Goal Second half is underway, with Colombia needing a goal to advance, as things currently stand. Group H Struggling to Find a Goal It seems all of Group H has forgotten how to score today. Japan and Poland are tied at 0-0, as well. If those results hold, Japan and Senegal advance. If Poland manages to get a lead in the second half, Senegal and Colombia might as well dig in — a draw for them and a Poland win would send both Senegal and Colombia through. Halftime: Colombia 0, Senegal 0 Few would be tempted to call that first half “pretty,” but Senegal, at least, will be pleased with their standing. They’ve given up few opportunities to Colombia, and just one real shot. And the sight of James Rodriguez — so instrumental in Colombia’s offense against Poland — limping off was as welcome for Senegal as it was devastating for Colombia. Falcao and Juan Cuadrado will have to find ways to link up in the second half to spark the Cafeteros’ attack. 45’: Colombia Comes Up Short One final Colombian push before halftime comes up empty, and the teams will go into the locker room scoreless after 45 minutes. 45’: Yellow for Johan Mohica A Senegalese counterattack led by Mane is broken up by a body check from Johan Mohica, who earns a yellow card for his effective foul. The free kick floats dangerously toward the back post but bounces out untouched. 43’: Colombia Stalls Falcao receives decent service outside the Senegal area, but he loses control trying to make something happen in the middle of three defenders and is called for a foul. Nothing much from Colombia’s offense as of late. 41’: Another Colombian Hurt Johan Mojica is down, apparently injured near Colombia’s end line. Juan Quintero sprinted over to the sideline to have a conversation with Colombia Manager Jose Pekerman, apparently about Mojica’s status. Mojica stays in for now, though, after a moment of treatment.