THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2018 18

PREVIEW Japan fear Poland’s ‘world- class’ Lewandowski Reuters | Volgograd, Russia with Senegal in their open- ing Group H games, defying ‘Strange match’ apan are quietly confi- low expectations at the start Jdent ahead today’s deci- of the tournament. Reuters | St Petersburg advantage to finishFIFA top ofWorld the players. Cup 2018 to his side but at the very least sive World Cup game, but In contrast, Poland’s Le- group, but both sides insist they Both teams have beaten Tu- is expected to rest defender Jan coach Akira Nishino warned wandowski, who scored 16 ngland and Belgium, won’t take such Englandcalculations v Belgiumnisia and Panama to reach six Vertonghen, winger Thomas that “world-class”FIFA striker World goals Cup in qualifying, 2018 has failed already qualified from into account. Group G, Junepoints 28 and secure passage to Meunier and midfielder Kevin Robert Lewandowski will be to find the net in the first two EWorld Cup Group G, What is likely, however,Kaliningrad is that Stadiumthe last 16, so the anticipated De Bruyne, who have all picked gunning for a goal toJapan salvage v games.Poland meet today in what Belgian Belgium coach Roberto Martin- battle between the two strong- up a yellow card. A second yel- eliminated Poland’s pride.Group H, June“There 28 is no such thing as midfielder Marouane Fellaini ez and his English counterpart est sides in the group has lost its low would mean they would The Samurai Blue Volgogradneed a Arenaconsolation match or that says could be a “strange match”. Gareth Southgate will rest some edge. be suspended for the round of just a draw to advance to the the match does not matter,” Depending on the outcome of their regular starters and give Martinez has suggested he 16 game. knockout rounds after they Nishino told reporters.

of other games, it may not be an match time to back-up squad could make wholesale changes beat Colombia and FIFAdrew World CupFIFA 2018 World Cup 2018 Japan v PolandJapan v Poland Group H, June 28 Group H, June 28 Volgograd Arena Volgograd Arena 13 FIFA rank 3 61 JAPAN POLAND 8 ENG 2-1 TUN Match 1 BEL 3-0 PAN 61 FIFA rank61 FIFA8 rank 8 Nickname | The Three Lions FIFA World Cup 2018 JPN 2-1 COL Match 1 POL 1-2 SEN 13 FIFA World Cup 2018 Nickname | The Red Devils 3 JPN 2-1 COL Match 1 POL 1-2 SEN Nickname | Samurai Blue JPN 2-2 SEN MatchJPN 2 POL2-2 SEN 0-3 COLMatch 2 POL 0-3 COLNickname |Polish Eagles ENGLAND England v Belgium 61 FIFA rank 8 ENG 6-1 PAN Match 2 BEL 5-2 TUN BELGIUM HEAD-TO-HEAD England v Belgium Group G, June 28 HEAD-TO-HEAD Group G, June 28 Kaliningrad Stadium Japan 2 Japan 2Poland 0 Poland 0 Kaliningrad Stadium JPN 2-1 COL Match 1 POL 1-2 SEN HEAD-TO-HEAD Recent Recent JPN 2-2 SEN Matchmeetings 2 DrawsPOL 0 0-3 COL meetings Draws 0 2002 Poland 0-2 Japan 2002 Poland 0-2 Japan England 15 Belgium 1 1996 Japan 5-0 Poland 13 FIFA rank 3 1996 Japan 5-0 Poland WORLD CUP RECORD 13 FIFA rank 3 WORLD CUP RECORD ENG 2-1 TUN Match 1 BEL 3-0 PAN 5 Wins 15 ENG 2-1 TUN Match 1 BEL 3-0 PAN 5 HEAD-TO-HEADWins 15 ENG 6-1 PAN Match 2 BEL 5-2 TUN 5 Draws 5 5 Draws 5 ENG 6-1 PAN Match 2 BEL 5-2 TUN Possible 9 13 Losses 9 Losses 13 HEAD-TO-HEAD 0.95 Goals for* 1.36 Possible 0.95 Goals for* 1.36 HEAD-TO-HEAD England 15 Belgium 1 1.32 Goals against* 1.36 Japan 2 1.32 Goals against* 1.36 Poland 0 England 15 Belgium 1 line-ups: *Per match © GRAPHIC NEWS line-ups: Courtois, *Per match © GRAPHIC NEWS Pickford, Recent Recent meetings Vertonghen,Draws 5 meetingsWalker, Draws 5 2012 England 1-0 Belgium 2012 England 1-0 Belgium 1999 EnglandAlderweireld,2-1 Belgium 1999 England 2-1 Belgium Recent Stones, WORLD CUP RECORD WORLD CUP RECORD meetings Draws 5 28 Boyata,Wins Meunier,16 28Cahill,Wins 16 20 Draws 9 20 Draws 9 16 Losses 18 16 Losses 18 Carrasco, Fellaini, 2012 England 1-0 Belgium 1.36 Goals for* 1.40 Recent Alexander-1.36 Goals for* 1.40 0.92 Goals against* 1.58 0.92 Goals against* 1.58 *Per match De© GRAPHICBruyne, NEWS *Per match © GRAPHIC NEWS 1999 England 2-1 Belgium Maya Yoshida meetings Draws 0 Arnold, T. Hazard, Robert Lewandowski Rose, Dier, 2002 Poland 0-2 Japan WORLD CUP RECORD Tielemans, Japan boss Poland could Alli, Lingard, Batshuayi Akira Nishino 1996 Japan 5-0 Poland revert back to Rashford, 28 Wins 16 a 4-2-3-1 after Eden Hazard may opt to WORLD CUP RECORD Kane 20 Draws 9 name the same a disappointing Harry Kane 16 Losses 18 Roberto Martinez is sweating on the fitness of Romelu Lukaku, starting XI for 5 Wins 15 performance against Colom- 1.36 Goals for* 1.40 Dries Mertens and Eden Hazard, though the trio are unlikely the third game 5 Draws 5 Kyle Walker and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are both one booking to have played anyway. Vincent Kompany and Thomas Ver- bia. 0.92 Goals against* 1.58 running with no 9 Losses 13 away from suspension, so are unlikely to feature here. maelen will hope to make their first World Cup appearances in pressing injury Arkadiusz Milik Dele Alli is still a doubt with a minor thigh complaint, though Fact*Per match box © GRAPHIC NEWS place of Dedryck Boyata and Jan Vertonghen, respectively. concerns ahead 0.95 Goals for* 1.36 could come back will hope to start. Gareth Southgate may ring the changes, Vertonghen, Kevin De Bruyne and Thomas Meunier are all one of the meeting 1.32 Goals against* 1.36 into the side with Eric Dier, Fabian Delph, Marcus Rashford and Trent » England secured their spot on the booking away from suspension, so are unlikely to feature. with Poland. *Per match © GRAPHIC NEWS should head Possible line-ups: coach Adam Alexander-Arnold among those who could start. last-16 with a comfortable 6-1 win over Szczesny, Piszczek, Panama on Sunday, but it could prove Possible line-ups: Nawalka, while to be that finishing second may be Kawashima, Sakai, Pazdan, Bednarek, Kamil Glik may more beneficial for their chances of Yoshida, Shoji, Rybus, Krychowiak, also start after success in Russia. It’s so good we are Nagatomo, Hasebe, Zielinski, his cameo ap- What I’ve discussed » Belgium sit level on points with Blaszczykowski, pearance off the already both qualified. Shibasaki, Haraguchi, bench against England and have scored the same Kagawa, Inui, Osako Kownacki, Milik, with the players is we number of goals, while both teams There will be less tension Lewandowski Colombia. must not waste any energy have the same goal difference. They and we can enjoy teasing each thinking whether it’s better to be lost 1-0 the last time these two met back in 2012, but like England, may other even more but we have to be first or second in the group, who want to finish second to improve their cautious. If we don’t perfrom well, we might play in future rounds... chances of returning from Russia with we will have a hard time next time We have to go out to play well in the World Cup. FIFA World Cupwe 2018 see them so I’ll control myself every game and to try and win » With a number of fringe players set Panama and Tunisia fight for to start, it could resultSenegal in an open en -v Colombia and not tease too much ENGLAND COACH GARETH SOUTHGATE counter with a draw the likely outcome Group H, June 28 BELGIUM’S JAN VERTONGHEN third place finish Samara Arena Reuters | Saransk, Russia their debut in the tourna- ment, at times have seemed anama and Tunisia have happy enough just to be Pbeen the fall-guys in the here. two top-scoring matches of This will be the first time Colombia wary of speedy, skilful Senegal World Cup 2018, but both the two nations have faced teams will hope to show they each other and a robust game 27 FIFA rank 16 Reuters | Kazan, Russia have learnt some lessons can be expected, with both 27 SENEGAL SEN 2-1 POL Match 1 COL 1-2 JPN COLOMBIA 16 from their efforts in Russia sides prone to indulge in olombia winger Juan SEN 2-2 JPN Match 2 COL 3-0 POL before they head home after wrestling bouts in defence. FIFA World Cup 2018 CCuadrado said on Tues- Nickname | The Lions of Teranga HEAD-TO-HEAD Nickname | The Coffee Growers their Group G match today. The North Africans played day that Senegal, whose Tunisia, ranked 21st in the well enough in their open- Senegal 0 Colombia 0 Carlos Sanchez returns from suspension, Panama v Tunisia players boast speed and Senegal boss Aliou Cissé though Jose Pekerman is unlikely to use world and representing the ing game against a stuttering could opt against sweeping Group G, June 28 technical skill, will be a him from the off here. Abel Aguilar was Arab world as well Mordoviaas Africa, Arena, England, Saransk going down 2-1 to changes for their meeting stretchered off in the 3-0 win over Poland, mighty adversary in their with Colombia. Indeed, he are probably more anxious to a late Harry Kane goal, but final Group H game. with Mateus Uribe set to deputise in the salvage some pride from the they then got thumped 5-2 may name the same XI that middle of the park. Pekerman has hinted The South Americans are started the 2-2 draw with campaign. Panama, making by a rampant Belgium. Recent at changes here, but should use a familiar FIFA World Cup 2018 FIFA World Cup 2018 third and need a win in Sa- Japan. Panama v Tunisia Panama v Tunisia Group G, June 28 Group G, June 28 meetings Draws 1 XI for the potential must-win meeting with Mordovia Arena, Saransk Mordovia Arena, Saransk mara to guarantee a place Senegal. in the last 16, while the Af- 2014 Colombia 2-2 Senegal 55 PANAMA TUNISIA 21

55 FIFA rank 21 55 FIFA rank 21 rican side are second and PAN 0-3 BEL Match 1 TUN 1-2 ENG PAN 0-3 BEL Match 1 TUN 1-2 ENG WORLD CUP RECORD PAN ENG TUN BEL NicknamePAN 1-6 ENG Match | The2 TUN 2-5 BEL55Red Tide FIFA rank Nickname 21| Eagles 1-6 Match of 2 Carthage 2-5 HEAD-TO-HEAD HEAD-TO-HEAD will progress with at least First meeting First meeting 3 Wins 8 WORLD CUP RECORD PAN 0-3 BEL Match 1 TUN 1-2 ENG WORLD CUP RECORD 0 Wins 1 0 Wins 1 a draw. 0 Draws 4 0 Draws 4 3 Draws 2 2 Losses 9 2 Losses 9 0.50 Goals for* 0.79PAN 1-6 ENG Match 2 TUN 2-5 BEL0.50 Goals for* 0.79 “We have to be careful 4.50 Goals against* 1.71 4.50 Goals against* 1.71 *Per match © GRAPHIC NEWS 1 Losses 10 *Per match © GRAPHIC NEWS because they are a great HEAD-TO-HEAD 1.57 Goals for* 1.50 team. Not only do they run First meeting - they’re also very good 1.29 Goals against* 1.45 technically,” Cuadrado said. *Per match © GRAPHIC NEWS WORLD CUP RECORD He was tight-lipped about Fact box 0 Wins 1 what team Argentine-born 0 Draws 4 coach Jose Pekerman would » Senegal were twice pegged back by 2 Losses 9 Japan on Sunday to set up a tense field against Senegal. finish in Group H. They sit joint-top of 0.50 Goals for* 0.79 “The last (few) days we the group with four points, but face Luis Tejada 4.50 Goals against* 1.71 have been working to see arguably their toughest opponent to *Per match © GRAPHIC NEWS what is the best plan to go round off the group. Michael Murillo and Armando and Dylan and find the best result,” » Colombia were hugely impressive Cooper are both suspended for Bronn join on the said Cuadrado, who scored against Poland on Sunday and a draw Panama ahead of their meeting sidelines after the duo were forced would be enough to progress to the with Tunisia. off in the first half of the 5-2 loss in the 3-0 win over Poland. last-16, if Poland beat Japan. However, Felipe Baloy and Ricardo Avila, to Belgium. and Colombia’s football asso- they’ll look to avoid tempting fate and who both linked up to score are expected ciation has said the players guarantee a spot in the next round. Panama’s first ever World Cup to come in at right-back and who faced Poland focused » This promises to be an entertaining goal, are expected to deputise. centre-back, respectively. on “regenerative” work. game, but one that Colombia should Naim Sliti could also come into the Keeper David Ospina Sadio Mane edge. James Rodriguez side on the left flank. did not show any “compli- Possible line-ups: Penedo, Possible line-ups: Mustapha, cations” from pain in his Possible line-ups: K. N’Diaye, Possible line-ups: Ospina, Arias, Escobar, Torres, Baloy, Davis, Wague, Sane, Koulibaly, Sabaly, A. Mina, D. Sanchez, Mojica, Aquilar, Nagguez, Benalouane, Meriah, right foot incurred in the Godoy, Gomez, Avila, Barcenas, Maaloul, Khaoui, Skhiri, Sassi, demolition of Poland, the N’Diaye, Sarr, P. N’Diaye, Gueye, C. Sanchez, Cuadrado, Rodriguez, Rodriguez, Perez Mane, Niang Youssef, Sliti, Khazri Colombian FA said. Quintero, Falcao