TEAM NEWS
Japan midfielder Keisuke Honda suffered a bruised thigh after coming on as a substitute in the 2-1 win against Colombia, and will be monitored.Forward Shinji Okazaki was a doubt prior to the opening match because of a calf problem but played the final five minutes, so should be in contention.
However, Okazaki is unlikely to displace Yuya Osako, who impressed as a lone striker in their last match.Senegal also won their first game and they may be unchanged.
Stoke’s Mame Diouf started against the Poles but didn’t register a single shot, and was withdrawn after an hour.Should Senegal opt for a change up front, Moussa Konate and Moussa Sow are alternative options.
Overview
Japan and Senegal are the pacesetters in Group H with a win apiece after both capitalised against opponents who hit the self-destruct button.
Senegal, meanwhile, were gifted their second goal against Poland, with the quick-thinking Mbaye Niang tapping into an empty net after a calamitous back-pass from Grzegorz Krychowiak.
Japan’s win was the first at a World Cup for an Asian team against a South American side. Opponents Senegal have also been flying the flag for their continent, as they were the only African side to avoid defeat in the opening round of games.
Another Senegal victory will leave them on the brink of the last 16 – progress would be confirmed if Colombia fail to beat Poland later in the day. Conversely, Japan will go through if they win and the Poles fail to record a victory.
Views from both camps
Japan captain Makoto Hasebe: “We must keep our feet on the ground… we have to take into account that we played against 10 men for almost 90 minutes. The next game will be a different story.”
Senegal head coach Aliou Cisse: “Senegal won (against Poland) due to discipline. You saw a Senegal team very solid, very compact.”
Head-to-head
Senegal are unbeaten in their three previous games with Japan, all of which were friendlies.
The Senegalese have won the last two encounters, keeping clean sheets in both games (2-0 in 2001 and 1-0 in 2003).
Victory would see Japan become the first Asian side to win their opening two games at a World Cup.
The only previous occasion Japan have won consecutive games at a World Cup came at the 2002 tournament, which they co-hosted.
The Japanese played 377 passes in the second half against Colombia, compared to just 218 in the first half (despite their opponents playing virtually the entire game with 10 men).
Keisuke Honda has been directly involved in six of Japan’s last eight World Cup goals, scoring three and assisting three.
Honda has not scored in his last 15 international games, a run stretching back to September 2016.
Senegal
Senegal have the best win rate of any African side to have played at a World Cup, winning three of their six matches..
This will be the first time Senegal have faced Asian opponents in a World Cup game.They have conceded five times in their last nine games in all competitions, with just one of those goals coming in the first half.