World Cup 2018: Group H Preview

As the domestic season comes to a close attention is quickly turning to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

In order to get you ready for the month-long festival of football Marking The Spot will provide you with in-depth previews of each group highlighting the players to watch in Russia this summer.

Lets take a look at Group H.

POLAND

Poland are back in the World Cup finals for the first time in 12 years. Twice previously they have reached the semi-finals, and this experienced outfit are led once again by record marksman Robert Lewandowski.

Poland and the national team have existed for almost a century, independence in 1921 having been followed by a first international against Hungary. The Poles then made their debut at the World Cup finals in 1938, when Ernest Wilimowski scored a hat-trick in a dramatic first-round by Brazil.

That was their last appearance at the pinnacle of the game for more than three decades.

A revival of Polish football was signalled by the progress of Górnik Zabrze to the UEFA European Cup Winners’ Cup Final in 1969. Three years later, Poland won the football gold medal at the Olympics in Munich with a side starring striker Wlodzimierz Lubanski, playmaker Kazimierz Deyna and left-winger Robert Gadocha.

For the 1974 World Cup this trio were joined by striker Gregorz Lato and goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski. Lato was the competition’s leading scorer with seven goals as Poland finished third, defeating outgoing champions Brazil 1-0 for the honour. They reached the second round in 1978 and then, in 1982 placed third once more.  A team led by a new attacking star in Zbigniew Boniek defeated France 3-2 in the play-off.

The political upheaval of the late 1980s brought major changes and challenges for the domestic game. These were reflected in the national team unable to progress beyond the first round groups at the World Cups of 2002 and 2006 and even at EURO 20012, when they had the advantage of co-hosting with Ukraine.

Then, despite the outstanding marksmanship of Germany-based centre-forward Robert Lewandowski, Poland were also absent from the World Cup finals in South Africa in 2010 and Brazil in 2014.

They regained a place among the elite, under coach Adam Nawalka, at EURO 2016. Poland fell only in a quarter-final penalty shoot-out against eventual champions Portugal.

The backbone of that team has maintained their momentum to bring Poland to Russia – experienced players such as defenders Lukasz Pisczcek and Kamil Glik, midfielders Jakub Blazczykowski, Kamil Grosicki and Grzegorz Krychowiak, and forwards Arkadiusz Milik and captain Lewandowski.

The qualifying draw for Russia 2018 was kind to the Poles. None of their opponents in Group E had competed in either the recent European finals or at the 2014 World Cup.

They began with a 2-2 draw in Kazakhstan and followed up with a 3-2 victory over Denmark powered by a Lewandowski hat-trick. He struck again with a stoppage-time penalty in the next 2-1 win over Armenia, and further victories over Romania and Montenegro saw them already leading the table by a clear six points at the halfway point in the qualifying schedule.

Lewandowski struck a second hat-trick in a 3-1 win over Romania. Their only setback was a 4-0 defeat in Denmark before Lewandowski led the recovery with yet another treble in a 6-1 win over Armenia. Poland finished five points clear of Denmark. The outstanding Lewandowski ended up with a European qualifying record 16 goals to become Poland’s 51 goal all-time leading goalscorer.

Poland have a strong chance of making it out of this group. Their football at EURO 2016 was far from scintillating but they managed to grind out results when it mattered. Their over-dependence on Lewandowski could cost them if he’s off form this summer but are still strong contenders to reach the last 16.

 

The Coach – Adam Nawalka 

Adam Nawalka, 60, played 34 times in midfield for Poland between 1977 and 1980, including at the 1978 World Cup finals, before embarking on a coaching career. He was appointed national team coach in 2013 and was voted Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2015 on the way to steering Poland to the finals of EURO 2016. His club appointments have included spells at Wisla Krakow, Zaglebie Lubin, Sandecja Nowy Sacz, Jagiellonia Bialystok, GKS Katowice and Górnik Zabrze. He was also national team assistant to Leo Beenhakker in 2007.

Record at previous tournaments:

• 1930 Did not enter
• 1934 Did not enter
• 1938 1st round
• 1950 Did not enter
• 1954 Did not enter
• 1958 Did not qualify
• 1962 Did not qualify
• 1966 Did not qualify
• 1970 Did not qualify
• 1974 3rd place
• 1978 2nd round
• 1982 3rd place
• 1986 Last 16
• 1990 Did not qualify
• 1994 Did not qualify
• 1998 Did not qualify
• 2002 Group stages
• 2006 Group stages
• 2010 Did not qualify
• 2014 Did not qualify

SENEGAL 

Senegal hope to make as outstanding an impression on the World Cup as they did in 2002. Back then, a team led by Aliou Cissé marked their debut on the game’s greatest stage by reaching the quarter-finals.

The fact that the Lions of Teranga have appeared only once at the finals undervalues the talent and quality of their players down the years.

Senegal were one of the first newly independent countries from former French West Africa to qualify for the finals of the Africa Cup of Nations in 1965. They finished fourth, were fourth again in 1990, quarter-finalists as hosts in 1992 and runners up in 2002. In the final in Bamako, the capital of Mali, they lost 3-2 on penalties to Cameroon after a goalless draw.

That sane team then progressed to the World Cup finals for the first time. Stars such as winger El Hadji Diouf and goalkeeper Tony Sulva not only shared the honour of competing in the opening match but made it memorable by defeating champions France 1-0 in Seoul. Pape “Papa” Bouba Diop scored the most famous goal in Senegalese history.

They proved this was no fluke by drawing 1-1 and 3-3 with Denmark and Uruguay, respectively, to reach the last 16. There they beat Sweden 2-1 but lost 1-0 to an extra-time golden goal by Turkey in Osaka.

Momentum has been maintained at a continental level with mostly continuing participation in the finals of the Africa Cup of Nations. But a return to the World Cup has eluded them until now.

In the qualifying campaign, Senegal opened up in the second round with a 5-2 aggregate win over Madagascar. Captain Cheikhou Kouyaté, Pape Moussa Konaté and Mame Biram Diouf secured a decisive 3-0 victory in the second leg in front of their own fans in Dakar.

Senegal’s third-round group was confused by events in an early game against South Africa. The Lions of Teranga had opened with a 2-0 win over Cape Verde, but the result of their next outing, a 2-1 defeat in South Africa, was later annulled by FIFA following the suspension of Ghanaian match referee Joseph Lamptey.

Subsequently, Senegal secured draws at home and away with Burkina Faso, an away win over Cape Verde and a further 2-0 victory in the replayed match away to South Africa. Diafra Sakho and Cheikh N’Doye scored the late goals that assured coach Aliou Cissé’s men of qualification for the finals in Russia with one match to play.

Cissé’s players are anything but inexperienced. Defence is built around Lamine Gassama, Kalidou Koulibaly, Kara Mbodj and Salif Sané who play their club football in Turkey, Italy, Belgium and Germany with Alanyaspor, Napoli, Anderlecht and Hannover respectively. Similarly, captain Kouyaté and fellow midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye are established Premier League players with West Ham and Everton.

Liverpool’s Sadio Mané carries Senegal’s attacking hopes in partnership with Moussa Sow from Shabab Al-Ahli in the UAE. But, above all, they can draw on the World Cup experience of coach Cissé. As captain in 2002, he knows exactly what can be achieved.

The coach’s experience of national team pressures and the personal inspiration he can provide after his own leadership achievements in 2002 have been acknowledged openly by his players along the road to Russia.

Senegal are dark horses in this group. Poland and Colombia are favourites to top this group but Senegal pose a serious challenge. A solid defensive unit along with a strong midfield makes the Lions of Teranga a team to look out for. If they manage to spring a surprise and make it to the last 16 it’s hard to see them replicating the feat they achieved in 2002.

The Coach – Aliou Cissé

Aliou Cissé, 42, took over in 2015 and guided Senegal to the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations last year. He already possessed World Cup pedigree as a defensive midfielder who captained his team to the quarter-finals in 2002 on their debut in the tournament. Previously Cissé held an appointment as interim manager in 2012 and then coach of the Olympic team. Cissé’s playing career took him to French clubs Lille, Sedan, Paris Saint-Germain, Montpellier and Nimes plus English outfits Birmingham City and Portsmouth.

Record at previous tournaments:

• 1930 Did not exist
• 1934 Did not exist
• 1938 Did not exist
• 1950 Did not exist
• 1954 Did not exist
• 1958 Did not exist
• 1962 Did not enter
• 1966 Withdrew
• 1970 Did not qualify
• 1974 Did not qualify
• 1978 Did not qualify
• 1982 Did not qualify
• 1986 Did not qualify
• 1990 Did not qualify
• 1994 Did not qualify
• 1998 Did not qualify
• 2002 Quarter-finals
• 2006 Did not qualify
• 2010 Did not qualify
• 2014 Did not qualify 

COLOMBIA 

Coach José Pékerman and his Colombian Cafeteros had to wait until the last matchday of the South American qualifying competition before being free to celebrate their qualification for the World Cup finals.

A 1-1 draw in Peru, courtesy of a goal from star midfielder James Rodríguez, secured their ticket to the finals. Fourth place in the South American qualifying mini-league delighted not only their own fans but also supporters around the world who had been entertained by Colombia’s World Cup adventures down the years.

The Colombian FA was founded in 1924 and joined FIFA in 1936. Turbulence within Colombian society and the country’s football kept the national team on the international sidelines throughout the 1950s. Hence their first appearance at the World Cup finals was in Chile in 1962, when they marked their debut campaign with a dramatic 4-4 draw against the Soviet Union.

Colombia were then absent from the finals for a further 28 years before a fine team, coached by Francisco Maturana, returned to the game’s greatest stage in Italy in 1990. A side featuring goalkeeper René Orlando Higuita, defender Andrés Escobar and bouffant-haired playmaker Carlos Valderrama reached the last 16 before losing 2-1 in extra-time to Cameroon.

The 1994 World Cup qualifying competition saw Colombia record a dramatic 5-0 win over Argentina in Buenos Aires, but they failed to fulfil their potential in the United States. Tragically, after the team was eliminated in the group stages and returned home, Escobar was murdered – a barbaric punishment for his unfortunate own-goal against the USA.

Colombia were back in the finals in France in 1998 but were eliminated in the group stages after a concluding group defeat by England. They did not return to the finals until 2014, when they achieved their finest performance thus far by reaching the quarter-finals, where they lost 2-1 to their Brazilian hosts.

Russia 2018 will see Colombia’s sixth appearance in the finals. They will benefit not only from the previous Word Cup wisdom of coach Pékerman but from the international experience of a nucleus of players with more than 50 appearances each for their country.

These include goalkeeper David Ospina from Arsenal, defender Cristián Zapata from Italy’s AC Milan plus midfielders Carlos Sánchez and Juan Cuadrado from Italian outfits Fiorentina and Juventus respectively, as well as Rodríguez who has been on loan at Germany’s Bayern Munich from Spain’s Real Madrid. The attack is led by national team captain and record marksman Radamel Falcao of 2017 French league champions AS Monaco.

Colombia made an ideal start to the South American qualifying campaign by defeating Peru 2-0 at home in Barranquilla with goals from Teófilo Gutiérrez and Edwin Cardona but they suffered an immediate setback with a 3-0 defeat in Uruguay.

In March 2016, they regained winning momentum when a stoppage-time goal from Cardona brought a 3-2 win in Bolivia. Successive victories over Ecuador and Venezuela saw Pékerman’s men back on track. Finally, a 1-1 draw away to Peru in Lima saw them qualify for the finals. That one point proved crucial – it was their margin of advantage in the table ahead of the fifth-placed Peruvians.

James Rodríguez was Colombia’s leading goalscorer in qualifying with six goals, followed by three-goal Cardona and Falcao with two.

Colombia are a well-equipped side who are more than capable of topping this group. They have the necessary experience required to make the quarter-finals but will rely heavily on James Rodríguez once again. They will target a big performance against Poland in the hopes of securing top spot in this group. It’s hard to see Los Cafeteros progressing beyond the quarter-finals.

The Coach – José Pékerman

José Pékerman, 68, is one of Argentina’s outstanding coaching experts. He played for Argentinos Juniors and Colombia’s Independiente Medellín before injury ended his career at 28. He worked in youth football in Chile and Colombia before being appointed as senior youth coach by Argentina, with whom he won three FIFA U-20 World Cups. In 2004, he became senior national coach and led Argentina to the quarter-finals of the 2006 World Cup. In 2012, after a spell in Mexico, he was appointed coach of Colombia, whom he also led to the World Cup quarter-finals in 2014

Record at previous tournaments:

• 1930 Did not enter
• 1934 Did not enter
• 1938 Withdrew
• 1950 Did not enter
• 1954 Suspended
• 1958 Did not qualify
• 1962 1st round 
• 1966 Did not qualify
• 1970 Did not qualify
• 1974 Did not qualify
• 1978 Did not qualify 
• 1982 Did not qualify
• 1986 Did not qualify
• 1990 Last 16
• 1994 Group stages
• 1998 Group stages
• 2002 Did not qualify
• 2006 Did not qualify
• 2010 Did not qualify
• 2014 Quarter-finals

JAPAN

Japan have been ever-present at the finals of the past five World Cup tournaments but have yet to progress beyond the last 16. Taking that next step forward will be the focus of coach Akira Nishino.

The Blue Samurai had signalled their arrival among their arrival among the powers of the Asian game with the manner of their co-hosting, alongside South Korea, of the 2002 World Cup, the first staging in Asia. The organisation was excellent while the national team, finalists for the first time four years earlier in France, reached the second round before losing to Turkey.

With a sound professional foundation in the high-level J.League, the national team went on from strength to strength. Stars such as Hidetoshi Nakata and Junichi Inamoto shone, although Japan fell in the first round of the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

A further demonstration of the country’s increasing power was that, with a recast team in 2010 in South Africa, they reached the second round on foreign soil for the first time. A team with outstanding new players such as Keisuke Honda and goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima fell only in a penalty shoot-out after a goalless extra-time draw with Paraguay.

Kawashima remains one of the stars of the current squad along with senior defenders Yuto Nagatomo and Maya Yoshida, midfielders Shinji Kagawa, Keisuke Honda and captain Nakoto Hasebe, plus Leicester City’s Shinji Okazaki and Germany-based Genki Haraguchi and Takashi Inui in attack.

Football had always taken a back seat in Japan’s sporting hierarchy until the Japanese FA decided, in the early 1990s, to launch its ambitious bid to be the first Asian hosts of the World Cup. That campaign included the 1993 launch of the J.League, with new clubs backed by private sponsors and local authorities.

Foreign stars such as Zico of Brazil, Gary Lineker of England, Italy’s Toto Schillaci and Pierre Littbarski of Germany were signed to help promote the league at home and abroad, and the success of that long-term strategy continues to be evident. Japan have won the AFC Asian Cup four times and the youth teams have impressed consistently in both men’s and women’s competitions.

Japan were seeded to the second round of the Asian selection for their latest World Cup qualifying challenge. They won seven and drew one of their matches, scoring a 27 goals and conceding none. The only points they dropped were in a goalless home draw against Singapore, and their most decisive victory was a 6-0 win over Afghanistan in Tehran. Kagawa and Okazaki scored two goals apiece.

Then coach Vahid Halilhodzic and his men faced a challenging task in the third round, in a Group B that included former World Cup finalists in Australia, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. In the end, they secured their place in the finals in Russia on the penultimate matchday when goals from Takuma Asano and Yosuke Ideguchi provided a 2-0 victory over Australia in front of a 59,000 crowd in the Saitama Stadium.

The Japanese were thus uncatchable at the top of the table despite a 1-0 defeat in Saudi Arabia by the group runners-up in the last game. Honda and Kagawa were Japan’s leading scorers in the overall qualifying campaign with seven and six goals apiece.

Manager Vahid Halilhodzic was sacked in April following poor friendly results against Mali and Ukraine.  Halilhodzic’s spiky personality frequently ruffled feathers after arriving in Japan to take over from Javier Aguirre in March 2015, and rumors of his impending dismissal swirled throughout his three-year reign. On 24 May 2018, Halilhodzic launched a law suit against the JFA and its president Kozo Tashima

The Japanese FA’s decision to axe the Bosnian could yet have a negative impact on their World Cup campaign.

Japan send an experienced side to Russia but face an uphill struggle to make it out of this group. They run the risk of a repeat of the 2014 World Cup where they were the whipping boys in Group C, with their best result being a 0-0 draw with Greece. If the Blue Samurai manage to produce a seismic shock by making it out of the group it’s hard to see them progressing beyond the last 16.

The Coach –  Akira Nishino

Akira Nishino, 63, previously the Japanese FA’s technical director, took charge in April following the shock sacking of Vahid Halilhodzic after a string of poor friendly results. Halilhodzic oversaw Japan’s successful qualifying campaign but was an abrasive character. Nishino is seen as a safe pair of hands. He has managed the Japanese U-20 and U23 sides as well as J.League sides Kashiwa Reysol, Gamba Osaka, Vissel Kobe and Nagoya Grampus. He played 12 times for the national team scoring one goal.

Record at previous tournaments:

• 1930 Did not enter
• 1934 Did not enter
• 1938 Withdrew
• 1950 Withdrew
• 1954 Did not qualify
• 1958 Did not enter
• 1962 Did not qulify
• 1966 Did not enter
• 1970 Did not qualify
• 1974 Did not qualify
• 1978 Did not qualify
• 1982 Did not qualify
• 1986 Did not qualify
• 1990 Did not qualify
• 1994 Did not qualify
• 1998 Group stages
• 2002 Last 16
• 2006 Group stages
• 2010 Last 16
• 2014 Group stages