The stakes couldn’t be higher for the first-ever competitive match between Colombia and Poland. The teams entered as Group H favorites, but after both surprisingly fell in their openers, they now find themselves on the brink of elimination.
If this game produces a winner, or if the teams draw and Japan or Senegal wins in Sunday’s other Group H match, it should set up a wild finish on Thursday.
One of Colombia’s main objectives will be to keep all 11 players on the field after midfielder Carlos Sanchez received a red card in the third minute against Japan last week, the second-fastest in World Cup history, leaving his teammates down a man for 87 minutes. The Tricolors also hopes James Rodriguez’s left calf is healed after he hurt it in training before the Japan game. The star striker entered as a sub in that 2-1 loss.
For Poland, which traveled well to Spartak Stadium for its opener, it needs to incorporate star striker Robert Lewandowski into the attack better. The Eagles also made perhaps the most egregious gaffe of the World Cup this year when Grzegorz Krychowiak played a ball back to goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, but the nonchalant pass was stolen by Senegal’s M’Baye Niang and converted for the eventual game-winning goal. With the margins for error slimming, both teams anticipate a tightly contested match.
“It will be like a final,” Colombia striker Radamel Falcao said, via the BBC.
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When: Sunday, 2 p.m. Eastern.
How to watch on TV: Fox.
How to stream online: Fox Sports and the Fox Soccer Match Pass apps and FoxSportsGo.com.
How to watch in Spanish: Telemundo.
How to watch in Canada: Bell Media’s TSN and CTV networks, the TSN GO app and TSN.ca/live.
[All the World Cup tiebreaker rules and knockout round scenarios, explained]
Team profiles
Colombia (0-0-1, 0 points)
Previous result: Lost to Japan, 2-1, on Tuesday.
What’s at stake: As much as there can be. Win and stay alive in the group, lose and potentially be eliminated.
Notable: Colombia became the first South American side ever to lose to an Asian side at the World Cup.
FIFA world ranking: 16. ELO world ranking: 15.
Poland (0-0-1, 0 points)
Previous result: Lost to Senegal, 2-1, on Tuesday
What’s at stake: As much as there can be. Win and stay alive in the group, lose and potentially be eliminated.
Notable: Poland has played nine World Cup games against South American sides and none have finished in a draw. (The Eagles are 4-5.)
FIFA world ranking: 8. ELO world ranking: 21.</div>
