2018 World Cup Betting Review Day 15

Thursday saw the last day of round robin action at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. At the start of the day, Japan and Senegal led Group H with four points apiece, with Colombia just one point back with three, and Poland was at the bottom with zero. By the end of their matches, Poland had beaten Japan and Colombia had beaten Senegal, so Colombia won the group, and Japan edged out Senegal because (with goal differential, head to head and total goals even) the tiebreaker came down to fair play points, and as Senegal had more yellow cards than Japan, Japan finished as the group runner-up. In Group G, England and Belgium were playing for first and second, and Belgium ended up winning — but ended up on the harder side of the bracket, along with Portugal, Argentina, France and Brazil all awaiting before a potential spot in the final. As you consider your World Cup betting for the knockout rounds, look at this review of the day’s matches.

2018 World Cup Betting Review Day 15

So…#URUPOR #ESPRUS #FRAARG #CRODEN #BRAMEX #SWESUI #BELJPN #COLENG

Excited? #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/Kll9X54wbO — FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 28, 2018

Group H: Poland 1, Japan 0

Japan looked like they were going from a tie atop the group to elimination when Jan Bednarek scored for Poland in the 60th minute. However, Colombia’s goal changed all of that, as Japan advanced as the group runner-up thanks to the fair play tiebreaker, in use for the first time at this World Cup. Japan’s manager took an immense risk in this match, resting all four players who have found the back fo the net in this tournament, including Takashi Inui, the team’s best player. Once news came through of Colombia’s score, then the pace in this match slowed way down, with the Japanese tapping the ball back and forth in their own end. Japan is the only Asian team to advance to the knockout round, and they will face Belgium in the round of 16.

Group H: Colombia 1, Senegal 0

A draw would have left Senegal ahead of Colombia in the group standings, but Yerry Mina brought those ideas to a halt with a header in the 74th minute, and Colombia made the lead stand, taking six points and winning the group. Senegal dominated the first half and looked to have a penalty in the 17th minute when Davinson Sanchez took down Sadio Mane in the penalty area, but the video assistant referee consultation led to a conclusion that Sanchez had contacted the ball, and the penalty was waved off. James Rodriguez had to leave the game in the first half for Colombia, having issues in the same calf that kept him on the sidelines for the first group play game. Now Colombia will face England in the round of 16, and Senegal’s elimination marks the first time in 36 years that no African teams have made the knockout rounds.

Group G: Tunisia 2, Panama 1

Tunisia picked up their first win at a World Cup finals since 1978, as Wahbi Khazri and Fakhreddine Ben Yousseff scored for the North African side. Their goals came in the second half, as Panama went into the intermission with a 1-0 lead after Jose Luis Rodriguez bounced a shot off Tunisian defender Yassine Meriah in the 33rd minute. Tunisia had had several solid chances in the first half but did not score until Ben Yousseff’s tally in the 51st minute. Khazri gave Tunisia the lead in the 66th minute, converting a cross from OUssama Haddadi. This was a spirited game, given the fact that both teams had been eliminated, but both had pride to play for, as Panama was making their debut, and Tunisia wanted to add to their goal total.

Group G: Belgium 1, England 0

Belgium may not have done itself any favors with their win, because while they open with Japan, they have a likely date with Brazil in the quarterfinals, and they could see France or Argentina in the semifinals. England’s lineup reflected the fact that winning might actually be a bad thing, as Harry Kane took a seat on the bench — but the Belgians also rested Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku. Belgium took more yellow cards than England did in the match (and the standings would have gone to fair play had the game gone to a draw. Both sides were content to sit back after some early chances, but then in the second half Adnan Januzaj broke through a slot in the English defense and buried a shot. England applied some late pressure but could not crack the Belgian goal — but they face the winner of Sweden and Switzerland should they knock off Colombia, so they might not be all that irritated about the situation.