Fair play to Japan… at least in theory
It is they that will kick on to the knockout stages of the World Cup, despite finishing their group with an identical points and goals tally to Senegal, who’ll be on a plane home in the next 48 hours.
Japan lost their final game of the tournament to already-eliminated Poland, although a late winner for Colombia over Senegal ensured the Asian nation progressed on the basis that they had picked up fewer yellow cards than Senegal over the course of the tournament.
Knowing that they were poised to progress, Japan, seemingly having secured some kind of agreement with the Polish team, spent the final minutes of the game passing amongst themselves under absolutely no pressure at all from their opponents. It was a risk, but one that paid off. Senegal couldn’t find an equaliser against Colombia, and so were dumped out of the competition.
The irony of the situation wasn’t lost on many of those watching. Although Japan didn’t technically break any rules, the way in which they quite deliberately made no attempt to change the result of the game didn’t seem very ‘fair’ for a team going through on the grounds of fair play…
Japan, going through on fair play, with the most unsportsmanlike play of the whole tournament in the final minutes
— Rik Sharma (@riksharma_) June 28, 2018
https://twitter.com/sportswithjohn/status/1012363343976390657
Not having that. Japan qualify on a technicality of "fair play" after taking the utter piss out of the tournament at the end by not even bothering. I mean sure it's in the rules but that's bollocks.
— Alex Shaw (@AlexShawTel) June 28, 2018
Ironic after the scenes in the japan/Poland game that Japan go through on fair play rules.
— Sean Robinson (@ShabbaSean) June 28, 2018
Japan went through on "fair play points" i.e. they had fewer yellow cards.
They spent the last 10 minutes of the game just kicking the ball around in their own half.
— Jerry Hinnen (@JerryHinnen) June 28, 2018
The ending of Poland vs Japan was a disgrace. Such bad sportsmanship by both teams! Japan go through on fair play that’s so ironic! #WorldCup
— Shahed Chowdhury (@ChowdhurySJ) June 28, 2018
