'Throw them out': Most 'shameful' moment of the WC
Japan’s World Cup team has been branded a “disgrace” over the manner in which they qualified for the knockout stages of the tournament in Russia.
The Japanese team became the first in history to advance to the knockout phase of a World Cup courtesy of the ‘fair play’ rule – by virtue of having fewer yellow cards than group rivals Senegal.
But the ‘fair play’ suggestion has been shot down by football fans after Japan clearly stopped trying to play in the final stages of their 1-0 loss to Poland.
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The Japanese knew that with Senegal losing by the same margin to Colombia they would go through to the round of 16 ahead of the Africans.
News of Colombia’s goal saw Japan coach Akira Nishino make an odd tactical call as his side sat on their one-goal deficit, despite the risk of Senegal scoring decisively in Samara.
Despite farcical scenes in which Japan moved the ball back and forth on halfway while a Polish player was down injured, it paid off as Senegal could not rescue a point, sending the fortunate Samurai Blue through.
Nishino admitted to the employing the questionable tactics after learning in the latter period of their match that they had done enough to qualify.
“My decision was to rely on the other match,” Nishino said after full-time.
“I’m not too happy about this but… I forced my players to do what I said. And we went through.
“It was an ultimate decision for me to make. We did not go through with victory, but we just relied on the other match and I feel that it was slightly regrettable but I suppose at that point I didn’t have any other plans.
“The players listened to me and were loyal and determined to keep the status quo.”
“I am not too happy about this, but I forced my players to do what I said. It’s the World Cup, and sometimes these things can’t be avoided.”
Furious fans hit out at the Japanese approach on social media, with some even going as far to suggest they should be thrown out of the tournament for apparent collusion.
Japan and Poland fixed a result today. Both should be thrown out of the tournament. Shameful, mutually agreed cheating. 40000 people paid good money for honest contest #FifaWorldCup2018
— Stephen Russell (@Strephen71) June 28, 2018
Shameful performance by Japan walking around the pitch for the last 10 minutes. BBC compared it to the infamous Disgrace of Gijon #WorldCup 1982 match. Lucky to scrape through
— Simon Duncan (@DuncaninTokyo) June 28, 2018
Utterly shameful of #Japan FIFA cannot accept such “ungentlemanly conduct” And to think they put #Senegal out thanks to the Fair Play Rule!!! #WorldCupRussia2018
— George Galloway (@georgegalloway) June 28, 2018
What Japan are doing is genuinely one of the most shameful things I've ever seen on a football pitch, this is pathetic
— ⊿Boke (@Boke46) June 28, 2018
Damn Poland versus Japan was just shameful. Worst game of football I've seen in my life…I know you wanna advance but doing that in front of the whole world?? Seriously??
— Isol (@chamisol_) June 29, 2018