Coach Akira Nishino raised a few eyebrows after making six changes to the Samurai Blue line up that started both games against Colombia and Senegal and secured four points in the process.

Qualification to the next round was far from guaranteed, as a defeat to Colombia coupled with a Senegal win or draw against Poland in the other matchday three fixture would have seen Japan eliminated. Eventually, Nishino’s men went through thanks to a better disciplinary record despite the defeat as Colombia beat Senegal.

It was a thrilling final round of fixtures in which Korea Republic stunned Germany, the Islamic Republic of Iran came agonisingly close to beating Portugal and Saudi Arabia claimed three points against Egypt. The-AFC.com looks back at the standout facts and figures from a week that will live long in the memory.

Japan, who reached the second round for the third time in the nation’s history and will face Belgium on Monday in Rostov-on-Don, went through as Group H runners-up behind Colombia despite a 1-0 defeat at the hands of already-eliminated Poland in Volgograd.

Nishino’s men went into the Poland game as group leaders but scraped over the line, edging out Senegal by virtue of the fair play rule with fewer yellow cards than the African side. Colombia beat Senegal 1-0 in the other match to win the group.

With Colombia moving in front late in Samara, Nishino - who made six changes to his starting XI - ordered his team to run out the clock by holding on to possession as long as possible, knowing Japan were ahead of Senegal on the tiebreak.

They will meet Belgium in the Round of 16 on July 2 after reaching the knockout stage for the third time in their history.

When Jan Bednarek scored his first international goal in the 60th minute for already eliminated Poland, the score between Colombia and Senegal stood at 0-0 meaning Japan were going out.

But once news filtered through of Yessy Mina's 74th minute goal for Colombia the match noticeably slowed down.

The strike meant Colombia would win the group and Japan were ahead of Senegal despite identical points, goal difference and goals scored, because they had received fewer yellow cards.

The Samurai Blue advanced to the Knockout Stage on Thursday by the finest of margins, qualifying for the Round of 16 on the fair play criteria ahead of Senegal.

The reward for the four-time AFC Asian Cup winners, who lost 1-0 to Poland in their final Group H match, is a clash with Group G winners Belgium.

Opting to start with a largely changed lineup, Belgium defeated England - who also opted to give their fringe players a run out - 1-0 to take top spot in the group.

The players, Son assured the fans, would not allow the result - which eliminated 2014 FIFA World Cup winners Germany - to make them complacent.

"I am sorry to our fans that we didn't live up to our promise of reaching the knockout stage," Son said. "But I think we all saw some hope from the win over Germany.

"However, the win over Germany doesn't mean we are satisfied. We will continue to work hard," said the Tottenham Hotspur forward.

Having already lost to Sweden and Mexico in Group F, the Taeguk Warriors went into the game with only slight hope of advancing to the knockout rounds, but they delivered a performance full of vigour, discipline and passion to round off their tournament on a high.

With Sweden three up against Mexico, Shin Tae-yong’s team were all but out when Kim opened the scoring in stoppage time. Four minutes later, Son ran half the length of the pitch to roll into an empty net and spark joyous celebrations to cap a game that will live long in the memory.