The second weekend of the 2018 FIFA World Cup concludes with a huge game in Group H as Poland and Colombia meet. Both sides are outside of the qualifying positions after losing their opening matches.

STATS

• Poland were stunned in their first match at the World Cup as Senegal went two goals ahead in a 2-1 win. An 86th-minute consolation goal from Grzegorz Krychowiak made the scoreline more respectable but it wasn’t the start Poland were expecting. They need must now beat Colombia to keep hopes of a Round of 16 place alive before facing Japan.
• Colombia were victims of the same scoreline against Japan on Tuesday after Carlos Sanchez was sent off for a handball in the box after just three minutes, the second fastest World Cup red card of all-time. Despite coming back from a goal down, the Colombians were ultimately beaten 2-1, leaving them needing a positive result against Poland.
• There are no prizes for identifying Poland’s main attacking threat but Robert Lewandowski was quiet against Senegal and there’s a worry he’ll be marked out of the game once again on Sunday.
• Radamel Falcao also failed to have an influence in Colombia’s opener and his attacking partner, James Rodriguez was introduced too late to have an impact on proceedings.

HEAD TO HEAD

These two big footballing nations have met on four occasions but never in an international tournament. Poland have beaten Colombia twice in those fixtures, back in 1980 and 1985. In the two friendlies since Colombia have won both including the most recent meeting in 2006 in the build-up to the World Cup. Both teams have scored in three of the four and over 2.5 goals were scored in all three.

POLAND NEWS

Poland will need to be much stronger at the back for this one as Colombia will pose more of an attacking threat. Kamil Glik may come back into the defence but is still a doubt with the shoulder injury he picked up.

Latest matches: Poland

19.06.2018	Worl	Poland	Senegal	1:2	L
12.06.2018	Int.	Poland	Lithuania	4:0	W
08.06.2018	Int.	Poland	Chile	2:2	D
27.03.2018	Int.	Poland	South Korea	3:2	W
23.03.2018	Int.	Poland	Nigeria	0:1	L

COLOMBIA NEWS

The only guaranteed absence for this match is Sanchez, who is suspended after his red card. Rodriguez should slip straight into the starting XI as it is a must-win fixture and Luis Muriel is expected to line-up alongside Falcao in attack.

Latest matches: Colombia

19.06.2018	Worl	Colombia	Japan	1:2	L
01.06.2018	Int.	Egypt	Colombia	0:0	D
27.03.2018	Int.	Australia	Colombia	0:0	D
23.03.2018	Int.	France	Colombia	2:3	W
14.11.2017	Int.	China	Colombia	0:4	W

SUMMARY

With both sides heading into this World Cup as favourites to make the knockout stage, it’s a huge shock to see neither team with any points after their first fixture. It’s incredibly hard to split the two and a draw seems to be the most likely outcome which would keep both of their hopes alive. A win for either side would eliminate the losing side which is why it’s expected to be a cagey affair, it could quite easily be the first goalless game of the World Cup.