FIFA World Cup 2018 Group H

world cup 2018 poster Poland (ranked 8th in the world) and Colombia (ranked 16th) were on paper the strongest teams in this group but events quickly showed that nothing could be taken for granted. Senegal were appearing for the first time since 2002 while Japan were in the finals for the sixth time in a row.

For the first time teams' disciplinary records came into consideration if two or more sides finished level on points and goal difference and with the same number of goals scored. This new rule was used to decide the runners-up position in Group H.

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Colombia

Japan

Colombia 1 Japan 2

Mordovia Arena, Saransk
19 June

Getting sent off in the first three minutes of a World Cup match is not the ideal way to help your team but this exactly what happened to Carlos Sanchez, penalised for using his hand to stop Kagawa's shot at goal. Japan scored from the resulting penalty but were pegged back when Quintero cleverly fired a free-kick underneath the defensive wall six minutes before half-time. Japan took advantage of their extra man after the break and Osaka headed home from a corner in the 73rd minute.

Poland

Senegal

Poland 1 Senegal 2

Otkrytiye Arena, Moscow
19 June

In a game of few chances, Poland came off worst and deservedly so. Senegal scored just before the break when Idrissa Gueye's shot took a huge deflection that left the Polish 'keeper stranded. Their second was the result of a terrible defensive error. Krychowiak, facing his own goal but safely in Senegal's half, poked the ball towards his own defenders, having failed to see M'Baye Niang re-enter play from the half way line where he had been treated for injury. Niang beat the goalkeeper Szczesny and a defender to the ball and slotted home into an empty net. Although Krychowiak scored with five minutes left, Poland looked unconvincing throughout.

(Jouko Saarinen)

Japan

Senegal

Japan 2 Senegal 2

Central Stadium, Yekatarinburg
24 June June

An entertaining draw left both teams well-placed to progress. Senegal opened the scoring after a dreadful mistake by Japan's goalkeeper who punched a low cross onto the legs of Sadio Mané and the ball bounced into goal (11').
Takashi Inui equalised and Osaka hit the crossbar to leave the score level at half-time. Moussa Wagué put Senegal ahead in the 71st minute but Keisuke Honda salvaged a point for Japan seven minutes later having just come off the bench.

(Jouko Saarinen)

Poland

Colombia

Poland 0 Colombia 3

Kazan Arena, Kazan
24 June

After their poor display against Senegal, Poland needed to up their game but in the event, they had nothing further to offer. Their lacklustre performance was duly punished by a lively Colombian team who thoroughly deserved their victory.

Japan

Poland

Japan 0 Poland 1

Volgograd Arena, Volgograd
28 June

Poland were determined to put on a decent show before going home and they took the lead almost on the hour. When news came through that Colombia were winning against Senegal the game in Volgograd descended into farce. Poland were happy to take the win while Japan knew that their better disciplinary record would take them through as long as they got no more bookings. The final 15 minutes were played out with the ball being passed aimlessly around and neither team making any challenges or effort to score. It was a risky strategy for Japan since a goal from Poland or Senegal could have put them out.

Senegal

Colombia

Senegal 0 Colombia 1

Cosmos Arena, Samara
28 June

Yerry Mina's headed goal in the 74th minute earned Colombia a place in the next phase. Senegal were given a penalty after Sanchez tackled Sadio Mané in the area but the referee correctly changed the decision after a VAR review. Senegal were the better side in the second half but they could not find a way through Colombia's defence and finished regretting the two late bookings they received against Japan, which left them with six yellow cards against Japan's four. They became the first team to be eliminated under the Fair Play rule.

(Jouko Saarinen)