A look at the teams in Group H of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
COLOMBIA
FIFA world ranking: 16.
Last World Cup: 2014.
Best World Cup finish: Quarterfinals, 2014.
How qualified: Finished fourth in South American qualifying.
Key players: MF James Rodriguez, F Radamel Falcao, GK David Ospina.
It's a fact: Colombia won four games in the last World Cup, more than it had won in four previous tournaments combined.
The skinny: This Colombian team will play a lot like the one that followed Rodriguez to the quarterfinals four years ago. Coach Jose Pekerman allows his playmaker the freedom to drift wide, drop deep or push forward, depending on his mood. That allows Colombia to play in a number of formations. And with the return of Falcao, who sat out the last World Cup because of an injury, Colombia should have more options offensively. But to really click, the team will need more production from the rest of the midfield.
JAPAN
FIFA world ranking: 61.
Last World Cup: 2014.
Best World Cup finish: Round of 16, 2010, 2002.
How qualified: Won Asian qualifying group.
Key players: MF Keisuke Honda, MF Makoto Hasebe, D Yuto Nagatomo.
It's a fact: The sacking of Bosnian coach Vahid Halilhodzic and hiring of Akira Nishino in April made Japan one of seven World Cup teams to make a managerial change in the last year _ and one of four to do so after qualifying.
The skinny: Honda and midfielder Shinji Kagawa are arguably the most technical players in Japanese history. But their supporting cast? Not so much. After a pair of winless games against Mali and Ukraine in March, the Japanese federation fired Halilhodzic _ who countered with a lawsuit _ and that move left Nishino, the new coach, less than three months to figure things out. With the underwhelming roster he's taking to Russia, that won't be near enough time.
POLAND
FIFA world ranking: 8.
Last World Cup: 2006.
Best World Cup finish: Third place, 1982, 1974.
How qualified: Won European qualifying group.
Key players: F Robert Lewandowski, GK Wojciech Szczesny, MF Piotr Zielinski.
It's a fact: In the World Cup for the first time in 12 years, Poland hasn't gotten past the group stage since 1986.
The skinny: Center back Kamil Glik was a big part of Poland's plans for Russia but he is sidelined after suffering a shoulder injury in training. That's bad news for a defense that was leaky to begin with and puts additional pressure on Lewandowski, who will now have to carry even more of the load. The Bayern Munich striker was the leading scorer in the 10-game UEFA qualifying event, scoring 16 of Poland's 28 goals. Lewandowski will get ample support from a midfield of Zielinski, Karol Linetty and Grzegorz Krychowiak. That might be enough to advance out of a weak group.
SENEGAL
FIFA world ranking: 27.
Last World Cup: 2002.
Best World Cup finish: Quarterfinals, 2002.
How qualified: Won African qualifying group.
Key players: MF Sadio Mane, MF Cheikhou Kouyate, MF Idrissa Gueye.
It's a fact: Though Senegal reached the quarterfinals in its only World Cup appearance in 2002, upsetting defending champion France in its first match, wrestling is the country's national pastime.
The skinny: Senegal might be the most unpredictable team in the World Cup. Mane, who plays his club soccer for Liverpool, and Keita Balde, who was born in Spain and plays in France for Monaco, provide speed and athleticism to a deep attack while Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli) anchors a capable defense. But the team's performance on the field rarely matches the hype of its individual parts and coach Aliou Cisse might have made things worse by failing to settle on a set style of play. The result is a lot of uncertainly for a team that could make a deep run in the tournament _ or just as easily bow out in the first round.
SCHEDULE
June 19: Colombia vs. Japan in Saransk; Poland vs. Senegal in Moscow.
June 24: Japan vs. Senegal in Yekaterinburg; Poland vs. Colombia in Kazan.
June 28: Japan vs. Poland in Volgograd; Senegal vs. Colombia in Samara.
