FIFA World Cup
World Cup 2018: Japan vs Poland Preview
Japan needs one point to secure its spot in the Round of 16 against either Belgium or England. However, Japan wants to secure a win and beat Poland instead of depending of other results from the Colombia vs Senegal match.
“I don’t think we can enter the match looking for a draw and to get the results we want,” captain Makoto Hasebe said. “Although we earned four points in two matches, we haven’t accomplished anything yet.”
Despite all this, Poland has nothing to lose as they have already been eliminated and could play spoiler. In addition, Adam Nawalka’s side wants to end their sour trip to Russia on a high note. They will seek at least get some points in their last match against the Samurai Blue. After all, they have the leading marksman in European qualification, Robert Lewandowski.
Japan have won the two previous encounters between the two nations. In Hong Kong in 1996 they beat the Poles 5-0 and then in Lodz of 2002 they beat them again 2-0.
Possible Line-Ups:
Japan: Eiji Kawashima; Hiroki Sakai, Maya Yoshida, Gen Shoji, Yuto Nagatomo; Makoto Hasebe, Gaku Shibasaki; Genki Haraguchi, Shinji Kagawa, Takashi Inui; Yuya Osako
Poland: Lukasz Fabianski; Lukas Piszczek, Kamil Glik, Jan Bednarek; Bartosz Bereszynski, Grzegorz Krychowiak, Jacek Goralski, Maciej Pybus; Piotr Zielinski, Robert Lewandowski, Kamil Grosicki
Prediction:
This group has been one of toughest groups so far. However, Japan has historically always not found a way to get over the hump. The Poles will win this one to honor their leader, Lewandowski.
Japan 1 – 2 Poland
