SENEGAL HAVE BEEN knocked out of the World Cup by the smallest of margins.
A 1-0 defeat to Colombia on Thursday afternoon saw them finish third in Group H.
But the result might have been enough to see them into the knockout stages, were it not for their disciplinary record.
Senegal finished on four points after beating Poland 2-1 and drawing 2-2 with Japan, while also finishing on the same goal difference as Akira Nishino’s side.
Senegal scored four goals and conceded four in their three group games (the exact same as Japan) but exit the competition after racking up two more bookings than their Group H counterparts.
Jan Bednarek’s strike at the Vogograd Arena saw Japan fall 1-0 to Poland on Thursday, but despite the defeat they progress to the last sixteen — where they will face either England or Belgium.
Progression to the knockout stages is determined firstly by points total, then goal difference, then head-to-head — with the final determining factor being the disciplinary record of both teams.
Senegal’s group stage exit is the first time in World Cup history a team has been knocked out of the tournament on account of Fifa’s Fair Play points.
Group H came down to the finest of margins. #JPN go through ahead of #SEN, with the Lions of Teranga eliminated on Fair Play points. pic.twitter.com/YCDk0hSWmL
— FIFA World Cup 🏆 (@FIFAWorldCup) June 28, 2018
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
