If you had asked any analyst their predictions for Group H prior to the World Cup, the vast majority of them would have told you that Poland and Colombia would be the two teams to make it out in some order. Few would have said that coming into the second set of matches, both of these teams find themselves in a precarious position. That’s exactly where we are though. Colombia and Poland both lost their openers, and now each team is desperate for a win in order to rise out of the cellar. A win for either team would put it in a decent position to advance, while a loss would virtually eliminate the other.
The most anticipated sporting event in the world comes around once every four years, so don’t miss any of the 2018 World Cup. This match will take place at Kazan Arena in Kazan at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 24, 2018. Catch every moment of the match live on FOX.
World Cup Group Stage Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Colombia +121
Poland +230
Draw +253
Over/Under 2.5
Last Match
Neither Poland nor Colombia got off to the start they wanted at the World Cup. Both sides were dealt a 2-1 loss by a team they were an odds-on favorite to beat, and now they are in a bad spot.
It’s hard for Colombia to feel aggrieved as they did it to themselves. Carlos Sanchez picked up a red card by reaching out to stop a Shinji Kagawa shot before the three-minute mark, and that left them in a huge hole. Kagawa converted on the penalty, leaving Colombia to erase a goal deficit while being a man down.
Surprisingly, they were able to make it a game. Juan Fernando Quintero equalized shortly before halftime by shooting under the wall on a free kick, catching Japan’s goalkeeper off guard. They had a couple other chances to score, but couldn’t completely flip the script and eventually gave way after a Yuya Osako header off of a corner kick in the second half.
Poland can feel like they were unjustly punished by some higher power. The two goals they allowed came off of an awkward deflection that ended up counting as an own goal and an awful lot of bad luck as a Senegal player was waived on right when they were on the move, and that led to a laughably easy second goal. Midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak pulled one back in the 86th minute, but the damage had already been done.
Key Injury
Superstar James Rodriguez was a surprise scratch from Jose Pekerman’s lineup in the opener. After the match, Pekerman stated that Rodriguez was not totally fit, but he was brought on as a substitute a third of the way through the second half to try to create some magic.
Getting Rodriguez fully healthy is a big priority for Colombia. Rodriguez was the darling of the last World Cup, tallying the most goals and winning the Golden Boot in Brazil. If Pekerman is able to use him in tandem with Quintero, look out.
Player to Watch
This tournament was supposed to be different for Robert Lewandowski. Lewandowski was phenomenal during qualifying, firing home a record 16 goals in 10 matches for Poland, but he was unable to find the mark against Senegal.
Lewandowski only managed to create a couple real chances in that match, as most of the time he was in a threatening spot, Senegal decided to bring him down. The Bayern Munich striker has to be frustrated that he is again being fouled continually, but he must push past it if Poland are going to pick up the win.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
As long as Rodriguez is healthy enough to play for most of the match, Colombia will pick up the win here. Los Cafeteros are one of the dark horses of the World Cup, and they will live up to that billing with a solid performance while their backs are against the wall.
World Cup Group Stage Odds: Colombia 3, Poland 1
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