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Colombia vs Japan |
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|---|---|---|
2018 FIFA World Cup, Group H |
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| Mordovia Arena, Saransk | ||
| Colombia | Japan | |
| 1 | SCORE | 2 |
| 8 | Shots | 14 |
| 3 | Corners | 6 |
| 2 | Yellow Cards | 1 |
| 1 | Red Cards | 0 |
Group H has opened with a match that was replete with everything you could hope for from a football match: cards, goals, controversy, and history, all culminating with the final result of Japan winning 2-1, signifying the first Asian win in a World Cup against South American opponents.
Colombia were down to ten men within 5 minutes, as an early Japanese raid saw a shot blocked by a hand ball in the penalty area. Carlos Sanchez given his marching orders as the first recipient of a red card at this world cup, in the second earliest red card in world cup history.
Colombia struck back late in the first half through a Juan Fernando Quintero free kick, his goal being the fourth goal scored in this tournament directly from free kicks. In Brazil, three goals from free kicks were scored for the whole tournament.
Japan would eventually take the lead through Yuyu Osaka, putting a header home from a well weighted corner kick, and that lead would prove unassailable.
A thrilling encounter, if somewhat slower in the second half, but Japan finish with a win that their performance entirely deserved. Colombia will have to pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and play to their maximum in the next two games, with little further room for error.
Final score
Colombia 1
Japan 2
And so we come to the last group of the World Cup, Group H, and the first matchup is between South American nation Colombia, and the Blue Samurai Japan.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 10pm (AEST).
If every World Cup likes to dish up the occasional group of death, 2018’s Group H is the group of life, with every team not only eyeing off the knock out stages but setting their sights on top spot, providing all the more reason to start the tournament right.
Long gone are the days of the South American flair of Rene Higuita and Carlos Valderrama for the great footballing nation of Colombia, but that is not to say they are hard up for star power. Filling that void is midfielder James Rodriguez and striker Radamal Falcao.
Colombia managed direct qualification for Russia, but only just. Playing 18 games during qualification, they only managed the 21 goals, but the difference for them was the third best defence in the continent, with only 19 goals conceded.
Colombia are in good form at the moment as well and will be looking to stamp their mark on this world cup early on.
Japan will have other things on their mind.
The Blue Samurai have always punched above their relative weight when it comes to football, and they have never shied away from a challenge.
Much like Colombia, Japan have moved on from a generation of players that relied upon the likes of Shinji Ono, and for this tournament, a lot will rest on the shoulders of Borussia Dortmund’s Shinji Kagawa.
Japan had little trouble qualifying for Russia, qualifying top of their group, a group they shared with Saudi Arabia and Australia. Built on a tenacious defence, Japan will hope that their structure and energy will carry them over the line.
Prediction
I think Colombia will get the job done here. They have never lost to Japan in their three previous clashes, and off the back of a strong 2014 World Cup, Colombia will be looking at this tournament to right some of those wrongs when they were knocked out by Brazil.
Expect Colombia’s goal scorers to fire, and fire often.
Colombia 3-1 Japan
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 10pm (AEST).
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