Here’s something that few soccer fans or bettors expected after the first round of games in Group H: Japan and Senegal atop the standings. Both have a chance to advance to the knockout round with a win Sunday and depending on what happens later that day in Poland-Colombia. The Senegalese are slight betting favorites at MyBookie Sportsbook.If you want to keep up with everything around the 2018 FIFA World Cup, be sure to check our soccer news page on a daily basis, which includes previews, reviews, predictions, and more.
“Senegal won due to discipline,” said coach Aliou Cisse, who captained the side which famously beat defending champions France in their first ever World Cup match in 2002. “You saw a Senegal team very solid, very compact. We were able to put them under pressure. Every time they made a mistake we were able to find the action we needed and get back at them. We managed really well to get them out of their comfort zone in the first half.”Unlike some of the other African teams at this tournament, Senegal played to their strengths. They were energetic, full of running, determined, and battled throughout. Senegal wasn’t clinical enough during the first half, in which they had five shots, but none on target. Similarly, despite their athletic and physical prowess, their set pieces – an important element at this World Cup – were ineffective offensively.Senegal has won 50 percent of their World Cup matches (3/6) all time, the best win rate of any African nation in the competition. All three of Senegal’s World Cup wins have been against European nations (France, Sweden, and Poland).Amsatou Fall, executive director of Senegal’s professional league had this to say about Sunday’s match: “The match against Japan will be very different from the one against Poland. Japan is a very skillful team, who have good collective control.”
Japan v Senegal Group H 2018 World Cup Betting Preview
Japan defeats Colombia 2-1.
This is the 1st ever win by an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) team over a South American (CONMEBOL) opponent at the #WorldCup (18th meeting). pic.twitter.com/YGWnjsN5JH— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) 19 de junio de 2018
- When: Sunday, 11 AM ET
- Where: Ekaterinburg Arena, Ekaterinburg, Russia
- TV / Live Stream: Fox / Fox Sports Go
- 2018 World Cup Betting Odds: Senegal +124 / Japan +230 / Draw +215 (total 2)
Why Bet on Japan?
- Confederation: AFC
- Head coach: Akira Nishino
- Captain: Makoto Hasebe
- FIFA Ranking: 61
- World Cup Appearances: 6
Projected Line-Up
- 1-E. Kawashima
- 22-M. Yoshida
- 5-Y. Nagatomo
- 19-H. Sakai
- 3-G. Shōji
- 17-M. Hasebe
- 14-T. Inui
- 10-S. Kagawa
- 8-G. Haraguchi
- 7-G. Shibasaki
- 15-Y. Ōsako
Why Bet on Senegal?
- Confederation: CAF
- Head coach: Aliou Cissé
- Captain: Sadio Mané
- FIFA Ranking: 27
- World Cup Appearances: 2

Projected Line-Up
- 16-K. N’Diaye
- 3-K. Koulibaly
- 6-S. Sané
- 12-Y. Sabaly
- 22-M. Wagué
- 13-A. N’Diaye
- 5-I. Gueye
- 9-M. Diouf
- 19-M. Niang
- 10-S. Mané
- 18-I. Sarr