Soccer, WC 2018: Poland vs. Colombia official in-game thread.
Poland and Colombia will meet this Sunday in what should be a thrilling Group H contest in the 2018 FIFA World Cup (WC). Considering both teams lost in their tournament openers, this is a must-win game in the race to avoid an elimination unexpected by the bookmakers.
Poland lost 2-1 to Senegal in their opening match. A freak own-goal by Thiago Cionek and a strike from M’Baye Niang - following a huge mistake from Grzegorz Krychowiak - stunned them, although Krychowiak did score late in the second-half to at least gain some redemption.
Colombia lost by the same scoreline against Japan, but were mitigated by the loss of Carlos Sanchez, with the former Aston Villa man sent-off in the third minute for deliberate handball in the area. Japan scored the subsequent penalty, and a blunder by ‘keeper David Ospina after a Colombian equaliser proved decisive.
These two sides have met just once before, although it was only a friendly match back in 2006. On that occasion, Los Cafeteros (COL) secured a 2-1 win thanks to goals by Elkin Murillo and surprisingly, their goalkeeper Luis Martinez!
Players to watch: This will be a strikers’ duel between Radamel Falcao (COL) and Robert Lewandowski (POL). Both failed to score in the opener.
Stat attack: The last four games involving Poland have seen over 2.5 goals scored in total.
Colombian squads have qualified for the knockout stages in just two of their five WC appearances. The nation’s best performance was four years ago in Brazil, when they reached the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, Polish squads have not been able to move past the group stage in their last two appearances. They have finished third twice, in 1974 and 1982.
Poland lost 2-1 to Senegal in their opening match. A freak own-goal by Thiago Cionek and a strike from M’Baye Niang - following a huge mistake from Grzegorz Krychowiak - stunned them, although Krychowiak did score late in the second-half to at least gain some redemption.
Colombia lost by the same scoreline against Japan, but were mitigated by the loss of Carlos Sanchez, with the former Aston Villa man sent-off in the third minute for deliberate handball in the area. Japan scored the subsequent penalty, and a blunder by ‘keeper David Ospina after a Colombian equaliser proved decisive.
These two sides have met just once before, although it was only a friendly match back in 2006. On that occasion, Los Cafeteros (COL) secured a 2-1 win thanks to goals by Elkin Murillo and surprisingly, their goalkeeper Luis Martinez!
Players to watch: This will be a strikers’ duel between Radamel Falcao (COL) and Robert Lewandowski (POL). Both failed to score in the opener.
Stat attack: The last four games involving Poland have seen over 2.5 goals scored in total.
Colombian squads have qualified for the knockout stages in just two of their five WC appearances. The nation’s best performance was four years ago in Brazil, when they reached the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, Polish squads have not been able to move past the group stage in their last two appearances. They have finished third twice, in 1974 and 1982.
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