Group H of the World Cup is undoubtedly one of the most exciting Group, with four teams from different continents clashing against one another. Colombia will now start their World Cup bid with a match against Japan on Tuesday, with Poland and Senegal clashing in the other game of the group. Colombia did a great job in the previous edition, but the Japanese have also been quite solid in recent years.
Bet your World Cup Pick at a sportsbook where your credit card will work for depositing and where you will receive a $50 free World Cup Bet –> Intertops.
Colombia was sensational in the previous World Cup when they managed to reach the quarter-finals. They easily topped their respective group and had no problems against Uruguay in the round of 16. However, they were eventually eliminated at the quarter-finals against Brazil in a close game. This time around they are in what is called “The Group of Death,” and Colombia will try to repeat the success of 2014. Led by Monaco’s forward Radamel Falcao who had a fantastic season, Colombia also has James Rodriguez who has revived his career in Bayern Munich this season. Colombia didn’t have an easy job in the qualifiers, as they failed to win each of their last four matches. They barely finished 4th ahead of Peru and Chile.
On the other hand, Japan is not new in the competition, and they have been participating in every World Cup since 1998. Moreover, they have reached the round of 16 twice in the past five times. Most of their talent plays in European clubs, and they do have some players that stand out. Leicester’s scoring forward Shinji Okazaki and Dortmund’s midfielder Shinji Kagawa are by far the two best players in the squad. They also have Southampton’s Maya Yoshida in the defense and the experienced winger Keisuke Honda which make a pretty solid group overall. They have the talent and the speed to cause problems to any side that underestimates them. They will be especially effective against slower defenses.
Columbia World Cup Roster
Goalkeepers: David Ospina (Arsenal), Camilo Vargas (AC Deportivo Cali), Jose Fernando Cuadrado (CD Once Caldas). Defenders: Cristian Zapata (AC Milan), Oscar Murillo (CF Pachuca), Santiago Arias (PSV Eindhoven), Yerry Mina (Barcelona), Johan Mojica (Girona FC), Frank Fabra (CA Boca Juniors), Davinson Sanchez (Tottenham Hotspur). Midfielders: Wilmar Barrios (CA Boca Juniors), Carlos Sanchez (RCD Espanyol), Abel Aguilar (AC Deportivo Cali), James Rodriguez (Bayern Munich), Juan Guillermo Cuadrado (Juventus), Mateus Uribe (Club America), Jefferson Lerma (Levante), Juan Fernando Quintero (CA River Plate). Forwards: Carlos Bacca (Villarreal), Radamel Falcao Garcia (Monaco), Luis Muriel (Sevilla), Miguel Borja (SE Palmeiras), Jose Izquierdo (Brighton & Hove Albion).
Japan World Cup Roster
Goalkeepers: Eiji Kawashima (Metz), Masaaki Higashiguchi (Gamba Osaka), Kosuke Nakamura (Kashiwa Reysol). Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo (Galatasaray), Tomoaki Makino (Urawa Reds), Wataru Endo (Urawa Reds), Maya Yoshida (Southampton), Hiroki Sakai (Marseille), Gotoku Sakai (Hamburg), Gen Shoji (Kashima Antlers), Naomichi Ueda (Kashima Antlers). Midfielders: Makoto Hasebe (Eintracht Frankfurt), Keisuke Honda (Pachuca), Takashi Inui (Eibar), Shinji Kagawa (Dortmund), Hotaru Yamaguchi (Cerezo Osaka), Genki Haraguchi (Fortuna Dusseldorf), Takashi Usami (Fortuna Dusseldorf), Gaku Shibasaki (Getafe), Ryota Oshima (Kawasaki Frontale). Forwards: Shinji Okazaki (Leicester), Yuya Osako (Werder Bremen), Yoshinori Muto (Mainz).
Get more details: Columbia vs Japan 2018 World Cup Match-Up