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Senegal play Colombia as Japan eye Last of 16 berth against Poland

England, Belgium battle for Group G top spot in WC today

Panama, Tunisia fight for third place


June 28, 2018 00:00:00


Senegal's players attending a training session with Samara Arena as backgroud on the eve of the Russia 2018 World Cup Group H football match between Colombia and Senegal today (Thursday) in Samara — AFP

ST PETERSBURG, June 27 (Agencies): England and Belgium, already qualified from FIFA World Cup Group G, meet on Thursday in what Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini says could be a "strange match".

Depending on the outcome of other games, it may not be an advantage to finish top of the group, but both sides insist they won't take such calculations into account.

What is likely, however, is that Belgium coach Roberto Martinez and his English counterpart Gareth Southgate will rest some of their regular starters and give match time to back-up squad players.

Both teams have beaten Tunisia and Panama to reach six points and secure passage to the last 16, so the anticipated battle between the two strongest sides in the group has lost its edge.

Martinez has suggested he could make wholesale changes to his side but at the very least is expected to rest defender Jan Vertonghen, winger Thomas Meunier and midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who have all picked up a yellow card. A second yellow would mean they would be suspended for the round of 16 game.

Southgate acknowledges there is a balance to be struck between keeping his side fresh and injury-free and maintaining the momentum they have gained, particularly from the 6-1 crushing of Panama.

Meanwhile, allowing a lead to twice slip from their grasp in their last FIFA World Cup game could come back to haunt Senegal when they face Colombia in a decisive Group H clash in Samara on Thursday.

The west Africans could have ensured qualification to the next phase in Russia in Sunday's second group match against Japan but are now on shaky ground after playing out a 2-2 draw, even if the permutations are still weighted in their favour.

On Thursday, as the group phase draws to a close, Senegal only need a draw to advance but victory for Colombia will put them into the next round instead, leaving Senegal eliminated if Japan avoid defeat against Poland in Volgograd at the same time.

Colombia could also advance with a draw, but only if Japan lose.

Japan and Senegal head the group on four points each with Colombia one behind after rebounding with a 3-0 thumping of the now-eliminated Poland in Kazan on Sunday.

It was an emphatic reaffirmation of their potential after 10-man Colombia, quarter-finalists in Brazil four years ago, had suffered an upset defeat in their opening game to Japan.

In another game, a revived Japan go into Thursday's decisive Group H match against an already-eliminated Poland knowing a draw would be sufficient to advance to the FIFA World Cup knockout rounds after they beat Colombia and drew with Senegal in their opening fixtures.

Given little hope coming into the tournament, a combination of luck, Colombia had a man sent off and gave away a penalty after just three minutes, organisation and clinical finishing has put Japan in prime position to progress.

Meanwhile, Panama and Tunisia have been the fall-guys in the two top-scoring matches of FIFA World Cup 2018, but both teams will hope to show they have learnt some lessons from their efforts in Russia before they head home after their Group G match on Thursday.

Tunisia, ranked 21st in the world and representing the Arab world as well as Africa, are probably more anxious to salvage some pride from the campaign. Panama, making their debut in the tournament, at times have seemed happy enough just to be here.


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