Draw Keeps Japan and Senegal Close Together

Who knew the upside down has swallowed up Group H?

There it was after the drawing, with FIFA No 8 Poland and No 16 Colombia safely ensconced there and mapping out their advance scouting plans to determine who in Group G they'd face in the brackets and determine a strategy.

Of course, neither team was taking No 27 Senegal and No 61 Japan for granted.

Lightly, maybe, but not for granted. No siree.

 

Gotta wonder if FIFA believes its own rankings. Why wouldn't it set the schedule so that the Poles and Colombians would meet in the group's dramatic third round?

Clearly, Japan and Senegal saw things differently, too, so this round wound up being the battle of group leaders.

 

This game could've been seminal for one of the combatants, but it never reached that point.

It was sufficiently entertaining, though.

Take the 11th minute. That's when Senegal drew first blood. Japanese 'keeper Eiji Kawashima palmed the ball right on Sadio Mané’s knee, which produced unintended results that the Lions of Teranga didn't mind one bit:

 

Energy blazed from both sides, knowing that undisputed leadership of the group was within their grasp. However, separation was rare.

The Samurai Blue finally found an opening in the 34th minute. Takashi Inui found the lane he'd been seeking and fired away:

 

The second half began with a Japan's organization turning it up, creating more and defending better.

Their tactics appeared to stymie Senegal, but they crafted a surprise in the 71st when Moussa Wagué put the Lions ahead again, 1-2:

 

Time for another Japanese adjustment. Off went Shinji Kagawa in favor of Keisuke Honda.

Gotta say, new manager Akira Nishino pushes the right buttons. Six minutes after the move, Honda scored the equalizer.

2-2, and that's the way it ended.

With the draw, Japan and Senegal have the inside track to advance, but nothing's assured yet.

The superscript-a denotes Fair Play points. Japan's at -3; Senegal's -5.

Poland's done like dinner, so they'll be the group's third-round spoiler when they meet Japan on the final day of group play, which is Thu 28 Jun. Colombia must defeat Senegal or -- as tiebreakers stand right now -- hope for the Poles beat or tie Japan to advance.

 

Right. Math's always better when done later.