Group H of the 2018 FIFA World Cup is different
from other groups. Teams- Poland, Colombia, Senegal and Japan- are evenly
matched. Therefore, matches, scheduled to be held between 19 and 28 June, are
likely to be hard fought. No doubt, Poland and Colombia have the highest
possibility to qualify for the second round, but Senegal and Japan can make
upset. So, it is hard to predict who between these four teams will make their
place to the round of 16.
Poland:
Poland is considered one of the few
teams to have capable of making surprise in the 21st edition of the FIFA
World Cup. They finished first in Group E with 25 points. Out of 10 matches,
they won 8 while drew and lost one each. They are expected to move into the
second round as winners.
Poland, currently ranked 8th
in the FIFA world rankings, will make their eighth World Cup appearance this
summer. However, it is their first World Cup presence in 12 years since 2006. Their
best performance in the tournament was in 1974 and 1982 when they claimed third
place.
Robert Lewandowski, Bayern Munich
striker and captain of the Poland national team, is likely to play the vital
role for his team.
Colombia:
The 16th seeded team in the
latest FIFA World rankings, Colombia, has made it to the World Cup finals for
the sixth time. In the last edition of the tournament, they performed well and could
reach to the Quarter-finals. This year, they are also expected to do well. However,
in the CONMEBOL qualification, they finished fourth behind Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina.
The South American team has the highest
possibility to advance to the round of 16. However, it will not be an easy task
as they will have to face tough challenge against Poland, Senegal and Japan. To
make it to the second round, they will have to beat Japan and at least draw
against Senegal.
Some of their players are playing in
top European football clubs like in James Rodriguez (Bayern Munich), Radamel
Falcao (Monaco) and Carlos Bacca (Villarreal). They will have to give their
best effort to take their team as far as possible.
Senegal:
Senegal national football team has
secured their place in the 2018 World Cup for the second time since 2002.
However, it was their first appearance in 12 years. They qualified for the
tournament with an ease, finishing first in Group D of the third round of African
World Cup qualifying. They won 4 of their 6 matches while drew the remaining
two matches.
In their first World Cup appearance, The
Lions of Teranga (official nickname of the Senegal national football team) shocked
the world by beating the then World Champions France in the inaugural match of
the tournament and eventually reached the quarter-finals. The 27th
seeded team will be expected to perform well this year also.
Senegal team is the combination of
young and experienced players. Sadio Mane, who plays as a winger for Premier
League club Liverpool, is their star player. Apart from him, M’Baye Niang (Milan) and Mame Biram
Diouf Stoke will most probably play the crucial role.
Japan:
Japan
has made it to the World Cup finals sixth consecutive times since 1998. They
finished first in Group B of the third round of the AFC World Cup
qualification. The ratio of their win, draw and loss is 6:2:2. They were one
point above the second placed Saudi Arabia and the third placed Australia.
However,
the 61st ranked team is not likely to make any strong competition in
this group, but will be expected to make an upset against any of the teams.
|
Date
|
Teams
|
Time
|
Venue
|
|
19
June 2018
|
Colombia
vs Japan
|
15:00
MSK
|
Mordovia
Arena, Saransk
|
|
19 June
2018
|
Poland
vs Senegal
|
18:00
MSK
|
Otkritie
Arena, Moscow
|
|
24
June 2018
|
Japan
vs Senegal
|
20:00
YEKT
|
Central
Stadium, Yekaterinburg
|
|
24
June 2018
|
Poland
vs Colombia
|
21:00
MSK
|
Kazan
Arena, Kazan
|
|
28
June 2018
|
Japan
vs Poland
|
17:00
MSK
|
Volgograd
Arena, Volgograd
|
|
28
June 2018
|
Senegal
vs Colombia
|
18:00
SAMT
|
Cosmos
Arena, Samara
|
Source-
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