Fifa World Cup: Colombia through as Senegal suffer yellow peril to become first team to go out on fair play rule
Senegal needed only a point in their final group game to reach the next round, but defeat saw them miss out to Japan
Senegal had only needed a point in their final group H game to reach the next round, but defeat saw them miss out to Japan, who edged them out of the runners-up spot by virtue of having a better disciplinary record.
It was the first time in World Cup history that two teams had been separated by the amount of yellow cards they had accrued in the tournament.
Both Senegal and Japan, who were beaten 1-0 by Poland on Thursday, finished the group with four points and an identical record in all other respects. Yet the Asian side ended in second position having picked up four yellow cards to Senegal’s six.
Colombia, who finished as group winners with six points will face a last-16 match against the runners-up in group G where England and Belgium battle for supremacy later on Thursday.
Defeat for Senegal eliminated them at the group stage in their first World Cup appearance since 2002, and left Africa without a representative in the knockout stages.
