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World Cup tips and predictions: Day 11

Sadio Mane in Senegal colours. (Photo: VI Images via Getty Images)
Expert
23rd June, 2018
9

Groups G and H feature on Day 11 as England make their second appearance for the tournament when they tackle Panama.

Japan are within reach of the round of sixteen and Senegal stand in their way, while Poland and Colombia looms as a desperate clash between two teams facing potential elimination.

The tipping challenge continues as more surprises and shocks play out each day and the roar of the crowd look solidly placed in the equal lead with Daniel Jeffrey.

Remember to put your tips into the attached sheet and continue the astute selections of the crowd, as it seeks tipping glory in the 2018 World Cup.

Here is the way the battling experts see things unfolding on Day 11.

Stuart Thomas
England, Senegal, Poland

I still like this English team and feel they have a quarter-final in them under the management of Gareth Southgate. He has built a new, young and exciting squad with a unity and spirit that has been lacking in other recent English teams. A comfortable win against Panama will see them through to the round of sixteen.

England's Harry Kane celebrates after scoring the opening goal of his team during the World Cup Group F qualifying soccer match between England and Slovenia at Wembley stadium in London, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. England won 1-0.

Can Harry Kane lead England to victory again? (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

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Japan and Senegal is one of those games that the World Cup is all about. Two teams who would have little or no reason to meet each other outside this tournament will be hard to line up. Gut instinct tells me that Senegal might take all three points here.

This is the second of two matches on Day 11 that is incredibly close to call. A send-off hampered the Colombians in their first match and Poland fell to Senegal in what was a considerable upset. Without one iota of confidence, I predict a Polish victory, celebrated with kielbasa and vodka at my place on Monday night.

Mike Tuckerman
England, Japan, draw

It’s impossible to see anything but a comfortable England win from this clash, particularly with Harry Kane already off and running in the goal-scoring charts. Still, they did once lose to Iceland…

Japan showed real fight to grind out a win against 10-man Colombia, but can they do it again over fellow surprise package Senegal? I’m tipping they can, but not with any huge degree of confidence.

Both Poland and Colombia expected to win their opening group stage game. Having crashed to defeats, the question is whether they can lift themselves off the canvas. I reckon this one will finish all square.

Poland's Robert Lewandowski runs with the ball.

Poland’s Robert Lewandowski runs with the ball. (Photo by Andrew Surma/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

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Daniel Jeffrey
England, Senegal, Colombia

England did just enough to start their campaign with a win, but the signs are there that they should have no problems in sealing their passage to the round of 16 with a win tonight (writing this before last night’s games, I’m assuming Belgium have, at the very least, not lost to Tunisia).

They created a fair few chances against Tunisia, and while Gareth Southgate needs to make a change or two (Ashley Young for Danny Rose, for one), his squad has far too much talent for Panama.

The most open group of the tournament only got harder to predict with wins to Japan and Senegal in Matchday 1. The performance from the Samurai Blue against Colombia was better than what I was expecting, what with their recent change of coach and poor form. But, considering it was against a ten-man, (mostly) James Rodriguez-less Colombia, it’s not enough to convince me they can back it up with a second win on the trot. A draw could be the result, but I’ll side with Senegal’s pace up front.

One game in and it’s already must-win territory for both Colombia and Poland. Much like the previous match, this one could go any which way. It’s hard to imagine Poland being marred with a defensive error as calamitous as the one which led to Senegal’s second goal in their opener, yet their opponents will be hopeful of playing all 90 minutes with a full complement and James Rodriguez. That’s enough for me to give the nod to Colombia.

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Tim Palmer
England, Senegal, Poland

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England were actually my favourite side to watch (the first half, at least) in the first round – a dynamic, vibrant attack, lots of speed and an aggressive, front-foot approach. They should have run away with it against Tunisia but I expect the same result against Panama.

Although Japan got a win against Colombia, I thought the game was far more even than it should have been with eleven versus ten. Senegal, meanwhile, were impressively organised against Poland, and should account for Japan here.

Sadio Mane of Senegal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group H match between Poland and Senegal at the Otkrytiye Arena on June 19, 2018 in Moscow, Russia

Sadio Mane in Senegal colours. (Photo: VI Images via Getty Images)

Likewise, Colombia competed very well despite being a man down, and should get a positive result against Poland assuming no one gets a silly red card early on. Falcao to back up another good showing with a decisive goal.

Paul Nicholls
England, Senegal, Poland

It’s all about Harry Kane in England’s Group G game against Panama in Nizhny Novgorod. The Tottenham star did what he does best – score goals – against Tunisia in the first game and expect him to put in a good showing again. The English press were in raptures and rightly so; Kane could be to England what Ronaldo is to Portugal but with a better supporting cast.

Panama tried valiantly against Belgium but were never really in the contest. Expect them to attempt to nullify England’s attacking prowess but the poms should prove too strong.

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Japan provided an interesting case study in sports psychology in their opening round 2-1 win over Colombia. After going ahead and having an extra man from early in the game, they seemed to get stage-fright and were outplayed for the rest of the first half. The Blue Samurai must have been given a dressing down at half time because they came out swinging in the second half and completely dominated.

Senegal was a real surprise packet and by winning against Poland without requiring a goal from Liverpool star Sadio Mane, showed they are not just a one-man team. With both teams on a high it is hard to pick a winner but I think the Africans can do it.

Poland and Colombia meet in the late match in a battle between first up Group H losers. It will be a tight game as both teams need a win.

While Poland might have been slightly unlucky against Senegal, Colombia displayed some decent skill early on before fading away badly against Japan. There is not the same spark about this edition of the Colombian team and James Rodriguez looked far from his best.

Colombia, looking to an improved showing from Rodriguez, might push the Poles but I think the Europeans will hang on for a 1-0 win.

Day 10 Stuart Mike Daniel Tim Paul The Crowd
ENG vs PAN ENG ENG ENG ENG ENG ENG
JPN vs SEN SEN JPN SEN SEN SEN SEN
POL vs COL POL DRAW COL POL POL COL
Previous Total 10 10 13 12 12 13
Day 10 2 3 3 3 3 3
New Total 12 13 16 15 15 16

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