Live report: Colombia vs Japan
Group H kicks off on Tuesday and quarter-finalists in 2014, Colombia, will be looking to lay down a marker against Japan.
(COMBO) This combination of pictures created on June 17, 2018 shows Colombia’s midfielder James Rodriguez at the Atleti Azzurri d’Italia stadium in Bergamo on June 1, 2018 (L) and Japan’s defender Maya Yoshida at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama on May 30, 2018. Colmbia will play Japan in their Russia 2018 World Cup Group H football match at the Mordovia Arena in Saransk on June 19, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Marco BERTORELLO AND Kazuhiro NOGI
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The pair meet at the Mordovia Arena in Saransk and are two of the four sides to make up what looks set to be an intriguing pool, which also includes Poland and Senegal.
Jose Pekerman’s men finished fourth in the famously difficult South American qualifying and a number of the team that went so well in Brazil are again set to star in Russia.
Radamel Falcao missed out four years ago through injury but scored 19 in Ligue 1 for Monaco and will be keen to dovetail with James Rodriguez.
Qualifying draws with Brazil and Uruguay also show they can keep things tight, as proven by their being under 2.5 goals in five of their last six competitive games.
However, Japan have endured a tough build-up to the tournament, sacking Vahid Halilhodzic and replacing him with Akira Nishino.
That call was made in April following months of unrest within the camp but they have both talent and experience, with Shinji Kagawa, Keisuke Honda, who has not scored in his last 14 internationals, and Makoto Hasebe needing big tournaments.
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