Japan closing in on second round World Cup berth and more talking points ahead of Poland clash

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  • In for a fight: Japan need a point to secure round-of-16 berth.

    Japan and Poland face-off in their final World Cup Group H match in Volgograd on Thursday evening (18:00 kick-off UAE time).

    Both teams enter the clash with contrasting fortunes as Japan look to prolong their journey in the competition while Poland are already out.

    Here, we assess the key talking points.

    What is on the line for Japan

    By avoiding defeat, Japan will seal their passage through to the second round. Even better, a victory could see the Asian giants top the group – only if Senegal fail to defeat Colombia.

    Should neither of those permutations come to fruition, Japan can still progress – even if they lose. Indeed, Akira Nishino’s men will qualify if Senegal overcome Colombia in a match that kicks off simultaneously at the Samara Arena.

    However, if those two teams draw and the Samurai Blue lose, then it would be Japan who will be eliminated from the competition due to Colombia’s superior goal difference.

    Furthermore, a qualification spot could be decided by the fair play points ruling (the amount of yellow and red cards) if Senegal and Japan both lose or draw by equal scorelines.

    The prize for the winner of the group is a round-of-16 meeting with Group G runners-up, to be either Belgium or England.

    The team who finishes second in Group H will of course also take on one of those aforementioned teams.

    KAZAN, RUSSIA - JUNE 25: Japan players arrive on the pitch during a Japan training session on June 25, 2018 in Kazan, Russia. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)

    A nation expects: Japan will be doing everything to ensure progression.

    Can Poland restore any pride?

    The only certainty in Group H is that Poland are long gone having lost their opening two matches.

    The Poles headed into this tournament as one of the favourites to advance from their pool but they have been a huge disappointment.

    Lacking what many have questioned as spirit, desire, work-rate and energy, the Poles were eliminated with a whimper after defeats, 2-1 to Senegal, and a 3-0 thrashing to Colombia.

    It means their unwelcome record of not progressing beyond the group stages of the tournament since 1986 goes on.

    Even though it is a lost cause, can Adam Nawalka’s men at least give their passionate travelling support in Russia something to cheer about?

    It will be difficult, the odds are stacked against them and facing a Japanese side who have everything to play for makes it look unlikely.

    If they are to salvage some pride, getting the best out of star man, Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski, will be pivotal.

    Goalless in the opening two games, the nation’s captain has openly criticised his team-mates for a lack of service. Against Colombia, he managed two shots on target, one a speculative drive from range, in a team devoid of creativity and invention. Clearly, he was a frustrated man.

    Indeed, in that game, no starting Poland player averaged above an 84 per cent pass completion success rate – going some way to showing the frailties in this side.

    Lewandowski can not do it all alone and the 29-year-old will need assistance from his teammates in order to put him in more formidable attacking positions. A goal or a performance of note would at least ease some of the pain on Thursday.

    The return of Arkadiusz Milik – the Napoli maestro who was dropped for the Colombia clash – could bring some crucial substance and help Lewandowski as Nawalka is set to revert to his more well deployed 4-2-3-1 system.

    Poland's forward Robert Lewandowski reacts during a press conference at the Sputnik Sports Ground in Sochi on June 25, 2018 at the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup football tournament. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)

    Downbeat: Robert Lewandowski in his pre-match press conference.

    Back Keisuke Honda to make more history with Japan

    Only twice before have Japan reached the round of 16, as joint-hosts in 2002 and back in 2010.

    Pachuca star Honda – his nation’s darling – was part of the latter and magnified his status as Japan’s best-ever player in the thrilling draw with Senegal.

    By netting the equaliser in that contest with a cool finish into an empty net at the back post, he became the only Japanese player to score in three World Cups and is also the highest-scoring Asian in the history of the competition with four.

    His introduction off the bench for Shinji Kagawa with just 18 minutes to go last Sunday, inspired Japan’s fightback. Indeed, it took Honda just six minutes to find the net.

    Japan have kept the same side for both games so far but former AC Milan man Honda also made his mark in the first match, assisting Yuya Osako for the winner against Senegal within three minutes of coming on again.

    Handing the 32-year-old a start from the off has to be an option here to ensure Japan experience no nerve-wracking moments late on, or perhaps sticking to a trialled and tested formula that has worked to good effect so far is the best call.

    Either way, Honda is set to make an impact and don’t be surprised if he’s the difference once more.

    Japan's midfielder Keisuke Honda celebrates a goal during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group H football match between Japan and Senegal at the Ekaterinburg Arena in Ekaterinburg on June 24, 2018. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - NO MOBILE PUSH ALERTS/DOWNLOADS (Photo credit should read ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images)

    A familiar sight: Keisuke Honda celebrates finding the back of the net.

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