Senegal became the first team in World Cup history to be eliminated via the fair-play rule following their 1-0 defeat to Colombia at the Samara Arena this afternoon.
The Africans finished with an identical Group H record to second-place Japan but are knocked out by virtue of accumulating two more yellow cards across the tournament.
Yerry Mina's towering 74th-minute header from a corner snatched Colombia victory against the run of play after Senegal had spent much of the match on the front foot.
Colombia are now one of two potential last-16 opponents for England, along with Japan, with the draw dependant on how the Three Lions fare against Belgium this evening.
Relive how the action unfolded with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.
What a strange feeling this is: preparing for England's final World Cup group game without pessimism or trepidation. And before the Three Lions take on Belgium tonight, the England fans who have booked the day off to scour the internet for "It's Coming Home" banter have the opportunity to see two of our potential last-16 opponents in action as Senegal take on Colombia in Samara.
AS IT STANDS: There is still all to play for in Group H, with Japan, Senegal and Colombia all fighting for qualification and only Poland consigned to an early exit. A win for either Senegal or Colombia would see them through, and a draw would also be enough for the African nation.
A draw would also be enough for Colombia, if Japan lose to Poland in today's other 3pm kickoff.
SENEGAL: K N'Diaye; Gassama, Sane, Koulibaly, Sabaly; Gueye, Kouyate; Mane, Sarr, Keita; Niang
Subs: Diallo, Diouf, Gomis, Kara, Konate, Mbengue, Ndiaye, A N'Diaye, N'Doye, Sakho, Sow, Wague
Subs: Diallo, Diouf, Gomis, Kara, Konate, Mbengue, Ndiaye, A N'Diaye, N'Doye, Sakho, Sow, Wague
COLOMBIA: Ospina; Arias, Mina, D. Sanchez, J. Mojica; Cuadrado, Uribe, C.Sanchez, Quintero; James, Falcao
Subs: Bacca, Barrios, Borja, J Cuadrado (G), Diaz, Izqueirdo, Lerma, Muriel, Murillo, Vargas, Zapata
Subs: Bacca, Barrios, Borja, J Cuadrado (G), Diaz, Izqueirdo, Lerma, Muriel, Murillo, Vargas, Zapata
The South Americans make two changes from the side which were impressive in beating Poland 3-0, one of which sees Aston Villa midfielder Carlos Sanchez returns after suspension. The 32-year-old, now at Fiorentina, was sent death threats after his red card in the defeat to Japan.
Alongside him in the centre of the park is Mateus Uribe, who replaced Abel Aguilar half an hour into the Poland win and did enough to earn a start, with Aguilar still suffering from injury. Boca Juniors star Wilmar Barrios, who is on a yellow card, is demoted to the bench, to accommodate Sanchez.
Tottenham Hotspur fans may be disappointed that they may not get to see Barrios this afternoon, with the 24-year-old having been tipped to move to North London. I was impressed with his N'golo Kante-esque industry against Poland, and Spurs are poised for wholseale changes in midfield this summer.
However, Spurs will get to see one of their current stars in Colombian yellow with Davinson Sanchez taking his place in the heart of their defence. The 22-year-old is one of two Premier League players in head coach Jose Pekerman's lineup, alongside Arsenal goalkeeper - for now - David Ospina.
Ospina has been risked despite picking up a knock against the Poles, and so has James Rodriguez who will miss the last 16 match should he get a yellow card today. Pekerman has no choice though with the Bayern Munich playmaker having been Colombia's talisman at this and the last World Cup.
Rodriguez has earned himself a tag of World Cup specialist following his performances in Brazil, where he was one of the star performers to lead Colombia to the quarter-finals, and so far here in Russia. In total, the on-loan Real Madrid midfielder has six goals and four assists in seven World Cup matches.
Colombia will not be able to go deep in this tournament riding on James's coattails alone. Other senior players must step up so Pekerman will be pleased that Juan Cuadrado and Radamel Falcao - his other two marquee players - came to the party with a goal apiece against Poland last time out.
Senegal do not need to win to go through but manager Aliou Cisse has chanced his arm with an attacking team selection, bringing in AS Monaco's Keita Balde to play just in behind M'Baye Niang up front. Stoke City midfielder Badou N'Diaye is sacrificed after being recalled for the 2-2 draw with Japan.
Cisse has made changes further back as well, with West Ham United powerhouse Cheikhou Kouyate preferred to Alfred N'Diaye, the Villarreal player who spent last season on loan at Wolves. Kouyate's recall completes an all-Premeir League central midfield alongside Everton's Idrissa Gueye.
Despite becoming the first African teenager ever to score at a World Cup, 19-year-old Moussa Wague drops out of Senegal's starting lineup to make way for the more experienced Lamine Gassama. The back four is anchored by Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly, who will have plenty of scouts watching him.
Koulibaly is second only to Liverpool winger Sadio Mane when it comes to footballing heroes among the current Senegal team. Mane ended a run of five internationals without a goal in the 2-2 draw with Japan, but there is talk that the 26-year-old is suffering from a long season with the Reds.
Speaking about his star man earlier this week, Cissie told BBC Sport:: "A player like Sadio Mane is a player with a lot of expectations and he is one of the players under the spotlight. He can do better, but [against Japan] he was better than against Poland and he needs to do better against Colombia."
If it wasn't crystal clear already, Mane, coming off the back of a 20-goal campaign at Anfield, is absolutely pivotal to Senegal's fortunes. The Lions of Teranga have never lost a match in which the former Southampton speedster has scored, winning nine and drawing six of 15.
The defensive end is more of a concern for Senegal. They have conceded three shots from seven faced at the tournament, and have not kept a clean sheet in six World Cup matches since famously beating France on their debut appearance on football's grandest stage back in 2002.
Senegal have faced South American opponents just once before in the World Cup, drawing 3-3 in their final group game in 2002 against Uruguay. While a repeat of that result would see them through today, they did lead that game 3-0 in 38 minutes before a second-half Uruguay comeback.
Extra pressure has been thrust upon Cisse's men as they are now fighting for the pride and hopes of an entire continent. Senegal are Africa's last chance of having a representative in the knockout stages in Russia, with Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Nigeria having already been eliminated.
The furthest that an African team has ever gone in the World Cup is the quarter-finals, with Senegal themselves reaching that stage in 2002, as well as Cameroon in 1990 and Ghana in 2010. Nevertheless it would be a big blow to African football not to have a single team in the last-16 lineup.
Colombia reached the last eight as recently as four years ago, of course. Their 3-0 win over Poland was their joint-biggest ever World Cup win, matching two of their wins from Brazil when they beat Greece 3-0 and Japan 4-1. It was the type of performance that made them feared back in 2014.
I was surprised when they lost to Japan in their opening Group H game because this Colombia team looks pretty good from back to front. What really impressed me about them in their win over Poland was how clinical they were - finding the net three times from just four shots on target.
Colombia have won their last two World Cup matches against African opposition, beating Tunisia in 1998 and Ivory Coast in 2014. Their only World Cup defeat to an African side came back in 1990 when they were knocked out by Cameroon in extra time of the first knockout stage.
Just over 10 minutes to go until kickoff at the Samara Arena, which is one of the purpose built stadiums for this World Cup and holds around 44,000 spectators. It has been jam packed for its previous three matches at the tournament so let's hope for another cracking atmosphere today.
I will also keep you updated with the latest score from Volgograd where Japan are playing Poland. If you'd like to follow that game in detail, you can join my colleague Darren Plant for minute-by-minute updates here.
HEAD TO HEAD: These two countries have only played each other once before - in a friendly prior to the 2014 World Cup. Colombia led 2-0 at half-time through goals from Teofilo Gutierrez and Carlos Bacca but Moussa Kounate and Cheikh Ndoye hit back to earn 10-man Senegal a draw.
Which of these two players is going to be the toast of a nation in about two hours' time?
These two players could be crucial today...
Who's going to win #SENCOL? #WorldCup — FIFA World Cup 🏆 (@FIFAWorldCup) June 28, 2018
The two sides are out for the national anthems. The South American fans have brought an incredible spirit and enthusiasm to this World Cup but Senegal's supporters matched them chord for chord there!
PREDICTION: Senegal went unbeaten throughout qualification and are yet to taste defeat at this World Cup either. That would suggest they'll have enough to secure the draw they need to progress, but I was really impressed by Colombia against Japan and I think they will pinch it 2-1.
KICKOFF: The action is underway in Samara, where Champions League final referee Milorad Mazic from Serbia is in charge. Senegal are straight on the front foot as Niang flashes a wild shot high and wide.
Interestingly, Mane has started in a central role for Senegal, in behind Niang with Keita Balde out wide. The Africans have plenty of pace and goals in their side with Ismaila Sarr worth a mention too. He is an out-and-out winger with blistering speed and will operate from the right flank.
Colombia have enjoyed much of the ball inside the opening five minutes without much penetration. Uribe has lost the ball once or twice already though - Kouyate and Gueye are not going to give him any time to settle on his first start of the tournament.
Davinson Sanchez and Yerry Mina is a defensive partnership which could help Colombia become a real force over the next decade. It has been a shaky start for the Spurs man though with him overhitting a cross-field pass straight out of play on the edge of his own area.
Keita Balde's free-kick delivery from deep has too much heat behind it and Ospina comes off his line to make a simple catch. You know it really is simple if the Gunners goalkeeper isn't flapping at it.
Niang makes a good run into the right channel but is well marshalled by Davinson Sanchez who has the pace to keep up with the striker and usher him away from goal. Against a less mobile defender, Niang may have been able to get away for a shot on goal.
SAVE! Falcao is flattened 25 yards from goal to give Colombia a free kick in the perfect position for Rodriguez's left foot. James leaves it for Juan Quintero though, who tries to roll it into the bottom corner similarly to how Luis Suarez did in this stadium for Uruguay on Monday. Khadim N'Diaye pushes the ball around the post.
Cuadrado has made a really good start to this match and left-back Youssouf Sabaly is taking action to slow the Juventus wide-man down with a thumping tackle which may leave Cuadrado with a dead leg.
PENALTY! Senegal are awarded for a penalty after Davinson Sanchez slides in on Mane who was through one-on-one. It looked like a great tackle on first glance, a last ditch lunge to stop a fluid Senegal move, and the VAR officials have asked Serbian referee Mazic to take a look at it again.
NO PENALTY! That is the right decision. A big tick in the VAR box there. It was an excellent recovery challenge from Sanchez - you could tell that by the direction that the ball went after the tackle - and the technology has done its job of correcting a blatant mistake from the officials.
Senegal waste another decent set-piece opportunity with Niang knocking his delivery straight down the throat of Ospina. The 6ft 1in striker on dead-ball duty is the equivalent of Harry Kane on corners for England, and we all know how that turned out.
Tell you what, these two teams look decent to me. Senegal have bags of pace but also a solid spine and Colombia have lots of dangerous technicians and an athletic back four. Both of them would be tough tests for England. I'd be hoping for Japan...
Gueye is given a warning by the referee after standing on the toes of Quintero. There was no malice to the challenge but the Colombian's four rolls afterwards nearly got him in trouble.
Colombia are showing far more quality from set pieces and a cross from Quintero into a dangerous area is headed over from 10 yards by Falcao, who is relived to see the offside flag.
CHANCE! Mane spins away from Mina on the half turn and only another vital tackle from Sanchez prevents him from getting a shot away. Balde picks up the second ball but his tame curler is easy pickings for Ospina.
Although I've been complimentary of Colombia they are back against the ropes here a little bit, with Senegal stretching them with their speed. Sarr has a bag full of it but not the end product to match as his weak left-footed shot rolls into Ospina's gloves.
SUBSTITUTION: And now a massive blow for the South Americans, with James having been forced off injured. The 2014 Golden Boot winner has been managing a calf injury and it seems it has got the better of him. Striker Luis Muriel is on which will mean a change of shape too.
Although Rodriguez is obviously a huge loss to Colombia, his departure might bring them a better balance. Previously James and Quintero were occupying a lot of the same spaces, and now Quintero will have the No.10 role to himself, with Muriel also offering greater support to Falcao up top.
A nervy moment in the Senegal box as N'Diaye initially drops a free kick before gathering at the second attempt.
There is nothing sadder than a defender who fancies himself as a free-kick specialist and Sane, having taken charge of Senegal's latest set piece, has just blazed his shot 30 yards over the crossbar.
Another injury concern for Colombia here, with Johan Mojica having pulled up while chasing Mane down the right. Sanchez again took care of the danger but there still may be damage done for the South Americans - it is always a worry when a player injures himself off the ball.
Gueye turns on the ball in midfield and quickly tries to release Balde down the left channel. Colombia right-back Santiago Arias is alert to the danger though and intercepts the pass.
Senegal move the ball quickly and incisively when they go forward and their latest passing sequence just fails to find Niang with Sanchez intervening. He has been a rock this first half.
YELLOW! After seeing his own cross turned away to start a Senegal attack, Mojica retreats quickly and takes down Sarr to stop a break which was 4 on 3 in favour of the Africans.
Colombia will be relieved if they can get through these three minutes of first-half stoppage time unscathed because they have been second best since the opening 15 minutes.
HALF TIME: SENEGAL 0-0 COLOMBIA
UPDATE: Group H is still very finely poised 45 minutes into the final round of fixtures. Senegal and Colombia are goalless in this winner-take-all match while Japan and Poland are also deadlocked. As it stands, Japan and Senegal would go through but that could change in a heartbeat!
The two sides are the Samara Arena initially seemed really well matched but Senegal have emerged as much the better side so far. Colombia have been unsettled by the injury to James Rodriguez but even before then they weren't offering much in attack and they must improve after the break.
STATS: Colombia have had more possession with 57% but none of that has been particularly progressive, especially after the opening 15 minutes. Senegal have had the better chances with four shots, two on target, but David Ospina has not been seriously tested yet.
These two have renewed what is a brewing rivalry at club level. Sanchez has been outstanding so far. Colombia could be two down without him, with his last-ditch tackle on Mane, originally given as a penalty but overturned correctly by VAR, is probably the tackle of the tournament so far.
🇨🇴 @daosanchez26 makes a crucial tackle in the early stages. 💪#SENCOL #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/EMIb6u2OjM — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) June 28, 2018
BENCH WATCH: Having already been forced into one substitution, Pekerman may be reluctant to turn to his bench again until the final 25 minutes but something has to change from Colombia. Wilmar Barrios may bring some more energy in midfield and help them compete with the legs of Senegal.
KICKOFF: The action resumes in Samara where both sides are unchanged for the time-being...
As they did in the first period, Colombia have started the half in possession but mostly just across the back line. As soon as it comes through into midfield, Senegal are on them like a rash.
Muriel has the opportunity to dribble down the left wing but runs straight into Sane.
YELLOW! Niang catches Mina with a high foot and becomes the first Senegalese player into the book this afternoon. Should his country progress, he will be suspended for the round of 16.
Sarr requires some medical attention after being caught by Sanchez while running at pace. His manager was furious that the Fiorentina midfielder wasn't flagged up for the tackle initially.
For the first time today Senegal get the better of Sanchez, with Sarr bursting past him on the right edge of the area. The cross toward Mane is a hopeful well and Mina makes the clearance.
Muriel gets the Colombia crowd going by charging down a clearance from the Senegal goalkeeper, who offered some encouragement a minute or two earlier by spilling a cross from Mojica.
UPDATE: Poland lead against Japan, which means a draw here would now be enough for both teams to go through at the expense of the Japanese. Southampton defender Jan Bednarek with the goal.
News of Poland's goal has given the Colombian fans a real lift and that needs to be transferred onto the players because their destiny is still not in their own hands. A Senegal goal and they would be going out again.
A well-positioned free kick for Senegal comes to nothing as Mane slips on contact, hitting the ball off his standing leg and over the crossbar. He must be the fifth different set-piece taker for Senegal today.
CHANCE! That is a decent chance by Falcao's standards, with the Monaco striker, who is lethal in the air, getting across his marker at the near post but heading the corner way wide.
Colombia want a penalty after Muriel is clattered to the floor by Khadim N'Diaye, but the Senegal goalkeeper took all of the ball first and simply caught the Sevilla striker on his follow-through.
This group is going down to the wire. A Colombia goal could send Senegal home as their disciplinary record is worse than that of Japan, for whom a goal would mean Colombia are out.
SUBSTITUTION: Youssouf Sabaly's match is over with the stretcher being called for. It looks like he's pulled a muscle. The full-back is able to leave on his own two feet but I'd be surprised if he played again at this World Cup. Moussa Wague, who has started the last two matches, is on.
GOAL! SENEGAL 0-1 COLOMBIA (YERRY MINA)
There is another twist in the Group H climax as Colombia find a goal which could send Senegal home! Yerry Mina attacks a corner with real venom and his header goes down and through the Senegalese goalkeeper. Now Senegal need a goal themselves, or another from Poland, to save them!
SAVE! Sarr is being closely checked by Mina but he creates enough space to get away a shot that Ospina pushes back into the area, with Arias clearing the second ball behind for a corner.
Ospina is in the thick of the action again, jumping on the ball just in front of his own goalline after Mina's header from a Senegal corner had deflected off Mane and right into the danger zone.
CHANCE! Mane picks out Sarr at the back post with a great cross but the volley was lacking conviction and goes wide. Sarr has been really lively but lacks an end product.
SUBSTITUTION: Now desperate for a goal, Cisse makes his second substitution with Moussa Konate replacing Keita Balde, who has been decent but not looked like a goal threat.
For the umpteenth time this afternoon, a crucial intervention from Sanchez saves Colombia. Mane's through ball was destined for the path of Konate but Sanchez's toe diverted is safely to Ospina.
SUBSTITUTION: A change now for Colombia as Jefferson Lerma of Levante replaces Uribe in midfield.
SUBSTITUTION: Last throw of the dice from Cisse as former West Ham striker Diafra Sakho replaces Niang.
It isn't happening for Senegal at the moment. Colombia are buying some cheap fouls which are taking up vital time.
SUBSTITUTION: Final change for Colombia with Falcao, who takes an age in passing the captain's armband over to Carlos Sanchez, making way for Palmeiras forward Miguel Borja.
There will be FOUR minutes of added time. At this stage, Colombia are definitely going through, even a Senegal goal wouldn't change that. But a Senegal goal would save their own tournament.
Sane has been thrown up front but the defender loses the ball on the edge of the Colombia box when someone with a quicker touch may have been able to release the unmarked Sakho to his left.
FULL TIME: SENEGAL 0-1 COLOMBIA
What drama in the final round of Group H fixtures, with Colombia striking late to go through to the last 16 at the expense of Senegal, who become the first country to be eliminated by the fair-play rule. Japan have an identical record after losing to Poland but have collected two fewer yellow cards.
For the first time in 36 years, there is no African country in the knockout stages of the World Cup.
That's it from our coverage from the Samara Arena. England could play Colombia in the last 16 of the World Cup, if they lose to Belgium tonight. Follow that game live with Sports Mole from 6pm. Until then, thanks for joining me for this one!
Written by
Joe Fish
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