Loss boosts England’s chances; Japan rides Fair Play rule to survive defeat
KALININGRAD, RUSSIA— England barely seemed troubled by losing. Belgium appeared to be a reluctant winner. And with Japan admitting it took advantage of the “fair play” rule in a way its own fans felt was unfair, it was easy to understand why there was a lot of talk about Thursday’s group stage matches—not all of them good.
Such was the curious conclusion to the first round the World Cup on Thursday. Neither England nor Belgium needed to win and there was good reason for both to lose.
Belgium did collect the three points—beating England, 10—and secured first place in the group on Adnan Januzaj’s curling shot. But that might not turn out to be the desirable out- come since the victory diverted Belgium onto the tougher potential path to the final.
Although Belgium gets what appears to be an easier match against Japan in the round of 16, it could get trickier with a victory in Rostov-on-Don on Monday. Brazil, Portugal, France and Argentina are possible future foes.
“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.”
In Volgograd, Japan was almost unapologetic with tactics that made it the only Asian team in the last 16.
Japan coach Akira Nishino said he was “forced” to tell his players to down tools toward the end of their World Cup match against Poland, to secure last 16 qualification.
With 10 minutes to go Japan trailed, 1-0—the final score, but with Colombia leading Senegal by the same scoreline in the other simultaneous Group H tie, it meant Japan would qualify on fair play with Colombia.
Despite boos ringing out, Japan and Poland players slowed to walking pace for the last 10 minutes. Before that, Jan Bednarek scored the game’s only goal.
“It was a very tough decision,” he explained. “My players were very loyal in listening to me and following my decision. It was tough, as my style is attack minded. The situation forced me to make this decision.”
Colombia, which beat Senegal, 1-0, via a header from Yerry Mina, will face England.
In Tokyo, fans of the Blue Samurai felt that the team should have done more than rely on the result of another match to go through.
“It’s completely embarrassing,” fumed 41-year-old account executive Kumiko Chida. “I’ve no doubt Japan will lose millions of fans around the world.”
One disgruntled fan noted the irony of Japan becoming the first team to advance under the “fair play” rule after collecting fewer bookings than Senegal, posting: “It’s funny how Japan went through playing anti-football but we live to fight another day.”
Fifa introduced the fair play rule as an additional tiebreaker in October 2016. Because Japan and Senegal were tied in points, goal difference, goals scored, and head-to-head at the World Cup, second place in Group H and advancement to the knockout stage was decided on fair play record. Japan had four yellow cards and Senegal six, and neither nation had a red card, so Japan plays in the round of 16.
England coach Gareth Southgate could barely contain his delight in finding himself on the less challenging side of the draw. His team will face Colombia on Tuesday in Moscow, followed by possible matchups against Spain, Russia, Croatia, Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland.
“We don’t suffer for [ the loss],” Southgate said. “When you are a leader and a manager you have to make decisions that are right for your group and your primary objectives.”