Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter
Japan were beaten 1-0 by Poland but progress to the knockout stages of the World Cup thanks to Colombia’s 1-0 win over Senegal.
The Japanese were the superior side up until the hour mark at which point Jan Bednarek’s composed volley swung momentum in Poland’s favour.
Japan looked destined to be knocked out of the competition but, thanks to Yerry Mina’s 74th-minute goal against Senegal, Akira Nishino’s men were spared an early exit.
So how did the two teams fare? See the gallery below for our player ratings:
Show all 22 1 /22World Cup: Japan vs Poland player ratings World Cup: Japan vs Poland player ratings Eiji Kawashima - 7/10 Pulled off one of the saves of the tournament to deny Grosicki’s header with a one-handed scooping block. Absolutely sensational stuff. Up until then he’d hardly been tested.
AP
World Cup: Japan vs Poland player ratings Hiroki Sakai - 7/10 Fantastic last-ditch diving header to knock a dangerous delivery out of the path of Lewandowski. Impressed when on the front foot with his surging runs.
EPA
World Cup: Japan vs Poland player ratings Maya Yoshida - 6/10 Went shoulder to shoulder with one of the game’s best forwards and came out on top (most of the time).
AP
World Cup: Japan vs Poland player ratings Tomoaki Makino - 6/10 Dealt with the threat of Poland’s forward men. Used his pace to deal with those dangerous balls in behind Japan’s defence.
AP
World Cup: Japan vs Poland player ratings Yuto Nagatomo - 6/10 Physical on and off the ball. Touch was missing on occasion. Worked hard up and down the line.
REUTERS
World Cup: Japan vs Poland player ratings Hotaru Yamaguchi - 6/10 A lively display. Did the basics well and kept Japan's midfield ticking over.
AFP/Getty Images
World Cup: Japan vs Poland player ratings Gaku Shibasaki - 6/10 Made his presence felt with a series of firm challenges. Another hard worker in this industrious team.
AP
World Cup: Japan vs Poland player ratings Gotoku Sakai - 6/10 Should have done better with a low, placed effort on the edge of the Poland box. Worked hard in Japan’s press.
AP
World Cup: Japan vs Poland player ratings Yoshinori Muto - 6/10 Smart movement; always in search of space and the opportunities to feed Okazaki. Capable of a testing shot now and again, and kept Poland’s defence busy.
EPA
World Cup: Japan vs Poland player ratings Takashi Usami - 6/10 Tried his luck with a tight-angled shot from close range during the first half. Impressed with his covering play.
AFP/Getty Images
World Cup: Japan vs Poland player ratings Shinji Okazaki - 6/10 Put himself about; came close with a brave, diving header that fizzed wide of Fabianski’s goal post. Dropped back as far as defence when his teammates needed him. A fox in the box, but just couldn’t find that end product. Game cut short by injury.
AFP/Getty Images
World Cup: Japan vs Poland player ratings Lukasz Fabianski - 7/10 Got down well early on to deal with a stinging attempt from Muto. Comfortable coming off his line to claim those high balls.
AFP/Getty Images
World Cup: Japan vs Poland player ratings Bartosz Bereszynski - 6/10 Uncomfortable going forward. Misplaced what should have been very simple passes.
REUTERS
World Cup: Japan vs Poland player ratings Kamil Glik - 6/10 Somewhat cumbersome. Not overly inspiring with his forward passing, which perhaps goes some way to explaining Poland’s general lack of urgency.
AFP/Getty Images
World Cup: Japan vs Poland player ratings Jan Bednarek - 7/10 Asserted himself well when dealing with set-pieces. Had his hands full with the terrier-like movement of Japan’s frontline. Took his goal very well with a calm and composed volley.
EPA
World Cup: Japan vs Poland player ratings Artur Jedrzejczyk - 5/10 Largely inconspicuous on that left flank. Enjoyed little success going forward.
AFP/Getty Images
World Cup: Japan vs Poland player ratings Grzegorz Krychowiak - 6/10 Kept the ball moving for Poland when in possession. Made a series of forward passes that looked to have sparked his side into life – but it was often in vain.
REUTERS
World Cup: Japan vs Poland player ratings Jacek Goralski - 5/10 Another Poland player who flew under the radar. Struggled to inject any purpose or energy into the side’s midfield unit.
AP
World Cup: Japan vs Poland player ratings Kamil Grosicki - 6/10 Guilty of a sloppy pass here and there, especially when under pressure. Settled into the game as it wore on, putting in a number of testing deliveries into the Japan box. Came agonisingly close with a low, stooping header.
REUTERS
World Cup: Japan vs Poland player ratings Piotr Zielinski - 6/10 Should have done better when on the break. Wasn’t quite on the same wave length as Lewandowski.
AP
World Cup: Japan vs Poland player ratings Rafal Kurzaw - 6/10 Dropped back at times to help re-win possession. Provided a nice bridge between Lewandowski and the midfield, but some of his decision-making was questionable. Mind, put in a well-delivered free-kick for Bednarek's goal.
AP
World Cup: Japan vs Poland player ratings Robert Lewandowski - 6/10 Not the tournament the Bayern Munich forward will have wanted. Failed to threaten with or without the ball. Didn’t necessarily have the service he deserved but hard to shake the fact there was something missing from his overall game.
REUTERS
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies