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Reuters
Reuters
Sport
Ian Ransom

Rodriguez returns to Colombia starting team vs. Poland

Soccer Football - World Cup - Colombia Press Conference - Kazan Arena, Kazan, Russia - June 23, 2018 Colombia coach Jose Pekerman during the press conference REUTERS/John Sibley

KAZAN, Russia (Reuters) - Colombia coach Jose Pekerman has named James Rodriguez in a reshuffled starting side for their World Cup Group H match against Poland on Sunday.

The Golden Boot winner at the finals in Brazil four years ago, Rodriguez came off the bench in Colombia's 2-1 opening loss to Japan last week.

Soccer Football - World Cup - Colombia Training - Kazan Arena, Kazan, Russia - June 23, 2018 Colombia's James Rodriguez and Radamel Falcao during training REUTERS/John Sibley

Midfielder Abel Aguilar comes into the starting team, with Carlos Sanchez suspended following his third minute red card against Japan. Midfielder Wilmar Barrios has also been included with Jose Izquierdo dropping out.

Poland coach Adam Nawalka has left stalwart centre back Kamil Glik out of his starting side, with the inexperienced Jan Bednarek and Bartosz Bereszynski included in a backline that was often at sea in their opening 2-1 defeat by Senegal.

Central defender Thiago Cionek, who scored an own goal in that loss, drops out of the starting team.

(Editing by Ken Ferris)

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