The
1-0 win for Roberto Martinez’s much-changed team in Kaliningrad earns a
second-round tie against Japan while England have a trickier-looking match
against Colombia.
But
the result also means Gareth Southgate’s young side avoid the top half of the
draw in Russia, which contains heavyweights France, Argentina, Portugal and
Brazil.
The
two managers made a combined 17 changes to their starting line-ups, with World
Cup top-scorer Harry Kane missing from England’s line-up and Romelu Lukaku,
Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne all absent from Belgium’s team.
Former
Manchester United forward Adnan Januzaj made the difference, curling a superb
shot past the outstretched hands of Jordan Pickford in the 51st minute.
“This
was a game we wanted to win but the knockout game is the biggest game for a
decade so we needed to make sure our key players were reserved,” said
Southgate.
“The
players tonight gave everything. We have seen the level everyone has been
playing at. We need to keep improving.
“We
kept pressing until the end. I think the supporters understand what the most
important thing is.”
The
result capped a strange last day of the group stages after Colombia earlier
qualified top of Group H, with Japan joining them in the knockout phase despite
a 1-0 defeat to Poland in Volgograd.
As
the minutes ticked away the players slowed to a walking pace in a farcical end
to the match, with both sides settling for the status quo.
Four
hundred miles (640 kilometres) to the northeast in Samara, Senegal, level on
points, goal difference and goals scored with Japan, knew they needed a goal to
nudge Japan out of the qualification spots.
But
Aliou Cisse’s side could not find the inspiration they needed to respond to
Yerry Mina’s second-half headed goal and their exit ended a miserable
tournament for African sides, not one of whom progressed.
–
Clean Japan –
Japan
coach Akira Nishino said he was “forced” to tell his players to slow down at
the end and not take any risks, despite boos ringing out from spectators.
“It
was a very tough decision,” he explained, adding: “I chose to keep the status
quo in our game, and rely instead on the other result.
“My
players were very loyal in listening to me and following my decision. It was tough,
as my style is attack-minded. The situation forced me to make this decision.”
Colombia
coach Pekerman said he was relieved his team — who reached the quarter-finals
in Brazil in 2014 — were going through from a tough group.
“This
was a very even group and you see that with Senegal, who had a very good
tournament, going home,” he said.
“There
was a lot of tension in the air today and, in that regard, I think my team did
very well.”
The
remaining teams at the World Cup are still taking stock after the dramatic exit
of Joachim Loew’s 2014 winners, who finished rock bottom of their group after a
2-0 defeat to South Korea.
Germany
apologised to the country on their official Twitter account before the team
landed in Frankfurt.
“Dear
fans, we’re just as disappointed as you,” the tweet read. “We’re sorry we
didn’t play like world champions. That’s why we deserved to be eliminated, as
bitter as it is.”
Defender
Mats Hummels had earlier tweeted out his regrets with a succinct “sorry…” and a
crying-face emoji.
German
media have given a damning verdict of the campaign, which will be remembered as
the first time since 1938 that the country has failed to make it past the first
round.
“No
words!” chided the best-selling Bild daily, over a picture of a
despondent-looking Toni Kroos.
Despite
a huge scare for Lionel Messi’s Argentina, who needed a late goal from Marcos
Rojo to edge through to the knockout phase, all of the tournament’s other big guns
are through to the last 16 in Russia.
Friday
is a rest day. The last-16 ties start Saturday, with France taking on Argentina
in Kazan and Uruguay facing Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in Sochi.
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