World Cup 2018
Group H
Tuesday, June 19th
Colombia vs Japan
Kick-off at 13:00 (1pm) GMT
Poland vs Senegal
Kick-off at 16:00 (4pm) GMT
Last but not least at the
World Cup in Russia, Group H consisting of Colombia, Senegal, Japan and Poland will round up the final fixtures in the first round of group stage games in what has been a scintillating tournament already thus far.
Colombia vs Japan
MORDOVIA ARENA, SARANSK
La Tricolor wil be eager to improve on their quarter-final showing in Brazil in what was their first World Cup appearance in 16 years. They are spearheaded by the enigmatic 32-year-old forward Radamel Falcao who will be appearing at his first FIFA showpiece after missing out four years ago due to injury. Off the back of 24 goals in 36 appearances in all competitions for French club Monaco, El Tigre will be raring to uncage his inner beast in Russia.
Jose Pekerman’s preparations saw his side register a couple of draws against Australia and Egypt respectively following their 3-2 friendly win over France back in March.
Tuesday’s affair will be the fourth time that the duo will face off against each other with the Samurai Blue still seeking their first ever victory over their more fancied South American opponents. They first met at the Confederations Cup in 2003 but this is the second consecutive time drawn together at the group stage of the World Cup after the pair clashed in Group C in 2014. Colombia came away 4-1 winners that night in Cuiaba as they booked their place in the knockout rounds of the competition for the first time in 24 years.
Japan have won just one of their five international fixtures since the turn of the year, beating Paraguay 4-2 in their final friendly played in Austria before jetting off for the finals.
Colombia vs Japan head-to-head:
Played: 3
Colombia Wins: 2
Draws: 1
Japan Wins: 0
Colombia vs Japan results:
24/06/2014 – Japan 1-4 Colombia
05/06/2007 – Japan 1-1 Colombia
22/06/2003 – Japan 0-1 Colombia
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Poland vs Senegal
SPARTAK STADIUM, MOSCOW
The Lions of Taranga carry with them the hopes of an entire continent as the final African team to take to the field at this years World Cup, seeking Africa’s first victory after Tunisia’s last-gasp disappointment against England and will face before them all the might of Poland and the top goal-scorer across the entire qualifying process, Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski, who bagged 15 goals in just 10 matches as they eased ahead of Denmark to top Group E in the UEFA section.
Senegal came through a tough final qualifying group themselves that included 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa to book their place at the showpiece finals for just the second time in their history following their heroics in Korea and Japan in 2002 where they shocked the footballing world by beating defending champions France 1-0 in their opening encounter. Sadio Mane, fresh off the back of Champions League final heartache with Liverpool, will be hoping to replicate the success of his predecessors with his current crop of talented team-mates when they take on Poland for the very first-time on Tuesday.
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