FIFA World Cup: Colombia and Japan (due to fewer disciplinary points---Fewer Yellow Cards!) Advance; Senegal Eliminated (Same Reason Why Japan Advanced; No African Teams Left In Tournament); Red Devils Defeat Three Lions To Capture Group G

Four games were contested on Thursday in Russia as FIFA World Cup group-stage play concluded.

GROUP G (both games starting at 11:00 AM Pacific Time):

At Kaliningrad:

Adnan Januzaj scored the only goal of the match as Belgium won Group B by downing England 1-0 as both teams already locked up berths in the knockout stage.

Here's the Three Lions' Gary Cahill, left, challenging the Red Devils' Michy Batahuayi for the ball.

Associated Press photo by Hassan Ammar

At Saransk:

Wahbi Khazri scored the game winner in the 66th minute as Tunisia came from behind to overcome Panama 2-1 in the tournament finale for both squads.  It was the African country's first World Cup win since 1978.

Here's Panama's Jose Luis Rodriguez (right), challenging Tunisia's Hamdi Naguez for the ball.

Associated Press photo by Pavel Golovkin

Final Group G Standings:

1. Belgium (GP: 3; GD: +7; PTS: 9)
2. England (GP: 3; GD: +5; PTS: 6)
3. Tunisia (GP: 3; GD: -3; PTS: 3)
4. Panama (GP: 3; GD: -9; PTS: 0)

Belgium and England advanced to the knockout stage.



GROUP H:

At Volgograd:

Jan Bednarek scored the only goal of the match in the 59th minute (that's him celebrating after scoring) as already-eliminated Poland knocked off Japan 1-0.  The Blue Samurai still advanced to the knockout stage due to superior Fair Play points vis a viv Senegal.

Associated Press photo by Darko Vojinovic

At Samara:

Yerry Mina scored the only goal of the match in the 74th minute as Colombia defeated Senegal 1-0 to jump both the African country and Japan and win Group H, knocking the Lions of Teranga out of the tournament, which will have no African teams advancing beyond the opening group stage for the first time since 1982 (when Algeria was knocked out in the wake of the controversial group-stage finale between West Germany and Austria, who both advanced).

Here, we see Colombia's Radamel Falcao (in the yellow jersey) jumping for the ball against Senegal's Kalidou Koulibaly (right) and Youssouf Sabaly (left).

Associated Press photo by Martin Meissner

Final Group H Standings:

1. Colombia (GP: 3; GD: +3; PTS: 6)
2. Japan (GP: 3; GD: 0; PTS: 4)
3. Senegal (GP: 3; PTS; 0; PTS: 4)
4. Poland (GP: 3; GD: -3; PTS; 3)

NOTE:  With Japan and Senegal level on points (3), total goal differential (0), and total goals scored (4), having drawn 2-2 (gaining one point each and ending up with a goal differential of zero) in their June 24 contest at Yekaterinburg, Japan advanced due to superior Fair Play points (-4, compared to Senegal's -6). 



Here are the match-ups for the Round of 16 (all starting times are Pacific):

Saturday:

At Sochi:

Uruguay vs. Portugal,7:00 AM

At Kazan:

France vs. Argentina, 11:00 AM



Sunday:

At Moscow (Luzhniki Stadium)

Spain vs. Russia, 7:00 AM

At Nizhny Novgorod:

Croatia vs. Denmark, 11:00 AM



Monday:

At Samara:

Brazil vs. Mexico, 7:00 AM

At Rostov-on-Don:

Belgium vs. Japan



Tuesday:

At Saint Petersburg:

Sweden vs. Switzerland, 7:00 AM

At Moscow (Spartak Stadium)

Colombia vs. England, 11:00 AM