Japan reached the last 16 of the World Cup by having a better disciplinary record than Senegal – after losing one nil to Poland in their final Group H match.

With both games ending 1-0, Colombia would win the group. But Senegal and Japan would be deeply tied for the second spot.

Both teams had 4 points. Both had 4 goals scored and 4 conceded. The teams had tied when they played head-to-head.

The sixth tiebreaker in the rule book is the so-called “fair play” rule: whichever team had the fewest yellow and red cards in the tournament would advance. Japan had four yellows. Senegal six.

Japan plays Belgium at 6am on Tuesday.