World Cup Preview: Group H

---

SteemSports Presenter:@thesportsguy

---

SteemSports Editor:@scottybuckets

---

Now that World Cup play is underway and saw Russia crush Saudi Arabia to start things out it is time for us to provide our last group preview before unveiling our picks to progress through the knockout stages and ultimately hoist the World Cup Trophy. Our journey through the group stages concludes with group H, one of the more balanced groups from top to bottom in the entire Cup. Columbia are the favorites, but it is no guarantee they go through, Poland has cracked the top 10 in the World Rankings, and Japan and Senegal are capable. It's a group that could produce a surprise or two even, but doesn't lack in star power as James Rodriguez of Columbia and Robert Lewandowski of Poland will be looked upon to carry their respective sides to World Cup glory. Without further ado, we conclude our group previews of the 2018 World Cup with Group H:

---

---

COLUMBIA

---

Appearances: 6th

---

World Cup History: 1962, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2014

---

Best Finish: Quarterfinals (2014)

---

World Cup Record: 7-2-9 (W-D-L)

---

Current World Ranking: (16)

---

Columbia will be attempting to build on their best finish ever when they bowed out to the hosts in the Quarter-finals at Brazil 4 years ago. James Rodriguez was dynamite and proved that he is capable of leading a talented Columbian side that has real aspirations of once again reaching the Quarter-finals and perhaps even the Semi-finals. Head man Jose Pekerman has to have liked what he has seen in the build up to the World Cup as Los Cafeteros have managed to go 5-6-2 in their previous 13 leading up to the Tournament. Draws with Spain and Brazil, and victories over France, Cameroon, and Ecuador are all included in that record as Columbia will try and live up to lofty expectations. The Group is there for the taking, but there are none of the usual "cupcakes" to be found in the final group - meaning that if La Tricolor are to advance to the knockout the stage in consecutive World Cups for the first time in their history, they will have earned it.

---

JAPAN

---

Appearances: 6th

---

World Cup History: 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014

---

Best Finish: Round of 16 (2002, 2010)

---

World Cup Record: 4-4-9 (W-D-L)

---

Current World Ranking: (61)

---

Make it six consecutive World Cup births for Samurai Blue as Japan have now become a mainstay and a dominant force in Asian qualification. Yet the usual breeze of a region for qualifying, provided a much stiffer test for the Japanese this time as they topped the group - but by just 1 point over Saudi Arabia and Australia. Don't sleep on Japan, but if they are to progress out of the group stage for the first time since 2010, and only third time ever, they have a group that is open enough to do it. Their most recent form has been suspect as they begin their World Cup campaign, as they've dropped 3 of 5 tuneups and were outscored 9-6 in those five Tournament warm-ups. Japan have the right opportunity, but the group will not be easy to get through. Poland will provide a stiff test, and Columbia's overall athleticism could pose problems as well.

---

---

POLAND

---

Appearances: 8th

---

World Cup History: 1938, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 2002, 2006

---

Best Finish: 3rd (1974, 1982)

---

World Cup Record: 15-5-11 (W-D-L)

---

Current World Ranking: (8)

---

Poland actually represent the veterans out of the group when it comes to World Cup history - despite this being their return to the Tournament for the first time since 2006. A two-time Semi-finalist, Biało-czerwoni are looking for a return to their glory days when they finished in 3rd place in both 1974 and 1982. Since then, it's been a Round of 16 appearance in 1986 and a pair of group stage exists in the 2000s. Poland are enjoying one of their highest ranks of all-time as they currently sit at # 8 in the World heading into Tournament group play. Robert Lewandowski leads a side who maneuvered through European qualification by breezing through atop their group, dropping only 1 of 10 matches. Poland will head into World Cup play with a 3-2 victory over South Korea in their back-pocket as well as a 2-2 draw with Chile and 4-0 thrashing of Lithuania. Poland are fully capable of living up to lofty expectations, but it won't be easy as the group consists of quality and potential surprises galore.

---

SENEGAL

---

Appearances: 2nd

---

World Cup History: 2002

---

Best Finish: Quarter-finals (2002)

---

World Cup Record: 2-2-1 (W-D-L)

---

Current World Ranking: (27)

---

Speaking of surprises, Senegal did exactly that in their only other trip to the World Cup - back in 2002 when they kicked off the Tournament by shocking the World Cup holders in France 1-0 as Les Bleus bowed out of the competition in the group stage, and Senegal progressed all the way through to the Quarter-finals. They have not appeared in the Cup since, but the qualifying campaign through Africa was impressive as they won 4 of 6 third round matches, drawing the other 2, to top a group featuring Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, and South Africa. 'The Lions of Teranga' have enough bite to surprise in a difficult final group, as they've went 5-4-1 in their last 11 international matches, including a 2-0 victory over South Korea in their final World Cup tune-up. Aliou Cissé side may be the best Senegal have ever sported, now will it be enough to get out of a very balanced group and join their 2002 brethren by shocking into the knockout stages?

---

PREDICTION: Columbia, Senegal advance

---

Thank you for following @steemsports and you can find me @thesportsguy

---

---

---