We’ve waited a long time for Group H to come around. Nearly a week! But we’ve waited even longer to see Radamel Falcao at a World Cup. The Monaco man was injured when Colombia made it to the quarter-finals last time round, forced to sit and watch James Rodriguez steal the show in Brazil. But now he’s back! Can he dovetail with Rodriguez and set his country off on another World Cup adventure? We’re about to find out … if Rodriguez passes a late fitness test, that is.

The Colombians are favourites for this one. Their form hasn’t been particularly special – a win in France, but then two goalless draws against Australia and Egypt – though it’s been better than Japan’s. The Samurai Blue recently beat Paraguay, it’s true, but that result merely put an end to a run of three defeats on the spin, against Ukraine, Ghana and Switzerland. Colombia also have the sign over their opponents: they’re unbeaten in their previous three matches against Japan, the most recent being a 4-1 whipping at the last World Cup.

Here’s to a good game, anyway. Colombia usually entertain at World Cups, Japan are better when they go forward, and none of Colombia’s 18 matches at the World Cup have ended 0-0. Fingers crossed that run continues. It’s on!

Pre-match playtime. It’s the pub argument we’re all having: who would you select in your all-time Japan team? Our snazzy tool can help you decide, once and for all! I’m afraid there isn’t a similar gizmo for Colombia, but I don’t make the rules, and in any case we all dream of a team of 11 René Higuitas, so we’d be wasting our time anyway.

The unique thing about Group H is that it has four teams representing four different continents, South America, Europe, Asia and Africa.  [Read more…] about Live streaming Columbia vs Japan world cup group H, 19 june 2018