One of the World Cup most balanced groups might also prove to be the most exciting, with each team having a serious shot to top the group while fielding an array of attacking talent.
Colombia,the darling of 2014 World Cup, returns to the world stage in perhaps better shape than four years ago. The 2014 Golden Boot winner James Rodriguez is coming off a Bundesliga-winningseason with Bayern Munich. And although he’s nursing a calf injury going into the opener against Japan, Radamel “El Tigre” Falcao, who missed Brazil 2014 with a kneeinjury, is ready to go. Juventus’ Juan Cuadrado is a polished winger, now having played at the top level in Europe for years.
Senegal would be wise to not over-rely onLiverpool’s Sadio Mane, and his goalscoring potency may come down to the quality of his supporting cast. Winger M’Baye Niang offers pace and quality infront of goal, while the midfield of Cheikhou Kouyate, Idrissa Gueye and Badou N’Diaye offer some muscle to complement the front three’sspeed. Kalidou Koulibaly of Napoli is the best defender in Group H; equally intelligent and powerful, he was a major reason Napoli finished runner-up in Serie A.
Poland’sRobert Lewandowski has been scoring boatloads of goals for some time in Germany, first at Dortmund and then at Bayern Munich. To complement the established marksman, Napoli’sPiotr Zielinski will provide legs and support in the midfield, and ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and Borussia Dortmund’s longtime right backLukasz Piszczek will anchor the defense.
Japan coach Akira Nishino, who replaced Vahid Halilhodzic two months ahead of the World Cup, hasrevitalized the national team careers of playmaker and free-kickspecialist Keisuke Honda and Borussia Dortmund midfielder Shinji Kagawa.
Prediction
TheColombians’ experience from the last World Cup — plus a healthy El Tigre — give them the edge to finish atop Group H.
Our Picks: 1.Colombia 2. Poland 3. Senegal 4. Japan
Group H Schedule
June 19 Colombia vs. Japan, Saransk (8 am ET, FS1,Telemundo)
June 19 Poland vs. Senegal, Spartak Stadium, Moscow (11 am ET, Fox, Telemundo)
June 24 Japan vs. Senegal, Ekaterinburg (11 am ET, Fox,Telemundo)
June 24 Poland vs. Colombia, Kazan (2 pm ET, Fox, Telemundo)
June 28 Japan vs. Poland, Volgograd (10 am ET, *FS1, Universo)
June28 Senegal vs. Colombia, Samara (10 am ET, *Fox, Telemundo)
* Network assignment subject to change.
World Cup:
The Entertainers
Robert Lewandowski, James Rodriguez and SadioMane can by themselves take their opponents by storm. Rodriguez had a hand in 48% of Los Cafeteros’ goals on the road to Russia (six goals and four assists), while Lewandowski led allscorers in this World Cup UEFA qualifying campaign with 16. Mane surpassed Demba Ba to become the highest scoring Senegalese player in EPL history; he also scored 10 goals in the Champions League.
Breakout player
The 23-year-old Keita Balde, who was born in Spain, arrived at AS Monaco from AS Monaco last season on areported $35 million and is poised dazzle on the wing for the Senegal.
Trivia
In its only previous World Cup appearance, Senegalopened with a 1-0 over defending champion France, its former colonial master, and reached the quarterfinals, where it fell on a golden goal to Turkey. Senegal at this World Cup is one of only twoteams, along with Sweden, without a single player from its domestic league on its roster.