Senegal have been knocked out of the World Cup by the smallest of margins after a 1-0 defeat to Colombia yesterday saw them finish third in Group H.
But the result might have been enough to see them into the knockout stages, were it not for their disciplinary record, as Japan also lost 1-0, to Poland.
Senegal finished on four points after beating Poland 2-1 and drawing 2-2 with Japan, while also finishing on the same goal difference.
Senegal scored four goals and conceded four in their three group games, the exact same as Japan, but exit the competition after racking up two more bookings than their Group H counterparts.
Progression to the knockout stages is determined firstly by points total, then goal difference, then head-to-head -- with the final determining factor being disciplinary record.
It is the first time in World Cup history a team has been knocked out of the tournament on account of Fifa's Fair Play points.
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