Sun Sentinel Broward Edition

Group H

- — Kevin Baxter

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 more games — four – in the last World Cup than it had 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. And with the return of Falcao, who missed the last World Cup with an injury, Colombia should have even more options offensivel­y. But the team will need more production out of 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 in April in favor of Akira Nishino 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:After a pair of winless games against Mali and the 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’s out of the tournament after hurting his shoulder in training. That’s bad news for a defense that was leaky to begin with and it puts additional pressure on Lewandowsk­i. The Bayern Munich striker scored 16 of Poland’s 28 goals in the 10-game UEFA qualifying event to lead the tournament. Lewandowsk­i will get ample support from a midfield of Zielinski, Karol Linetty and Grzegorz Krychowiak. 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: Although Senegal reached the quarterfin­als in its only World Cup appearance in 2002, upsetting defending champion France in its first match, wrestling is country’s national pastime.

The skinny: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 adds up to the hype of its parts. 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.

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