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Highlighting the best World Cup matches of Round 1

By Zack Nelson

VILLAREAL, SPAIN - JUNE 03: The Spain team line up for a photo prior to kick off during the International Friendly match between Spain and Switzerland at Estadio de La Ceramica on June 3, 2018 in Villareal, Spain. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images)
VILLAREAL, SPAIN - JUNE 03: The Spain team line up for a photo prior to kick off during the International Friendly match between Spain and Switzerland at Estadio de La Ceramica on June 3, 2018 in Villareal, Spain. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images) /
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MARSEILLE, FRANCE – JUNE 30: Robert Lewandowski (L) of Poland celebrates scoring the opening goal with his team mate Grzegorz Krychowiak (R) during the UEFA EURO 2016 quarter final match between Poland and Portugal at Stade Velodrome on June 30, 2016 in Marseille, France. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
MARSEILLE, FRANCE – JUNE 30: Robert Lewandowski (L) of Poland celebrates scoring the opening goal with his team mate Grzegorz Krychowiak (R) during the UEFA EURO 2016 quarter final match between Poland and Portugal at Stade Velodrome on June 30, 2016 in Marseille, France. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) /

Tuesday 19th June – Poland v Senegal

Poland may have the big-name player in Robert Lewandowski, but don’t sleep on Senegal. Lewandowski will find it difficult getting past a pair of exceptional center-backs in Kalidou Koulibaly and Salif Sane.

Another pair that Poland will have to worry about is the attack that will be coming at them from either wing in the form of Sadio Mane and Balde Keita.

Mo Salah may have gotten all the glory in Liverpool’s Champions League run, but Sadio Mane can be just as dangerous.

Poland is deeper than just Lewandowski, though. His strike partner, Arkadiusz Milik, is back to full strength after tearing his ACL last year, and he’ll be a handful for the Senegalese defense.

He’ll be set up by his Napoli teammate, Piotr Zielinski, who had a pass conversion rate of 88% in Serie A this season.

Prediction: Poland 1-1 Senegal

Honorable mention: Colombia vs Japan

Finally, as the only remaining match featuring two teams that haven’t played yet, Colombia will look to gain an edge in Group H against Japan.

Colombia’s potent attack is back again, led by Radamel Falcao and James Rodriguez, who had a combined 30 goals and 17 assists in all competitions this year. While Colombia is known for their attack, they really haven’t been known for their defending.

However, that may be about to change with the emergence of Davinson Sanchez and Yerri Mina. They’re still young and unproven, but having even an above-average defense will be enough to put them through to the knockout stages.

Prediction: Colombia 3-1 Japan

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