Belgium tops England 1-0 to win Group
KALININGRAD, Russia – In a match neither team had to win, Belgium came out on top and took first place in its World Cup group with a 1-0 victory over England on Thursday.
Adnan Januzaj scored the only goal with a curling shot in the 51st minute on a night of little tension or attacking intent.
With the victory, Belgium gets what appears to be an easier match in the next round against Japan on Monday in Rostov-on-Don. England will face Colombia on Tuesday in Moscow.
“I don’t think you can plan the ideal scenario,” Belgium coach Roberto Martinez said. “You have seen big nations coming very close to elimination, or already eliminated.”
Both teams had advanced to the round of 16 before the match.
Although Belgium was the winner of the group, it might have the tougher road to the final with Brazil, Portugal, France and Argentina possible future opponents. If England gets past Colombia, it could face Spain, Russia, Croatia, Denmark, Sweden or Switzerland on its way to a possible final.
“We don’t suffer for (the loss),” England coach Gareth Southgate said. “What this means for the next round we don’t really know.”
Tunisia 2, Panama 1
SARANSK, Russia – Tunisia captain Wahbi Khazri set up a second-half goal and then scored one of his own to help his side secure its first victory in a World Cup in four decades.
The striker’s hard, rising shot in the 66th minute lifted Tunisia to a triumph over Panama. It came 15 minutes after Khazri’s pinpoint square pass produced Fakhreddine Ben Youssef’s equalizer.
Panama had taken the lead in the 33rd minute through an own-goal when Jose Luis Rodriguez’s hard shot deflected off of a Tunisia player that sent the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Poland 1, Japan 0
VOLGOGRAD, Russia – Japan advanced to the knockout round at the World Cup on a tiebreaker, fewer yellow cards than Senegal.
The Japanese lost to Poland in their final group match, but they still reached the round of 16 because Colombia beat Senegal.
Both Japan and Senegal finished the group phase with four points, had the same goal difference and the same amount of goals scored. Starting at this year’s tournament, disciplinary records – known as fair play – were added by FIFA as a tiebreaker. Japan had four yellow cards in its three group matches while Senegal had six.
Colombia 1, Senegal 0
SAMARA, Russia – Yerry Mina scored on a header in the 74th minute and Colombia defeated Senegal to advance to the World Cup knockout stage. Senegal became the first team ever eliminated by a new tiebreaker – number of yellow cards.