Japan V Senegal World Cup 2018

Japan V Senegal

(Synopsis in red)

Pregame bets:

Going with my old fav Honda who won me money in previous tournos.

€3.00 Single
Japan v Senegal – Anytime Goalscorer Keisuke Honda 11/4

But fancy Senegal to continue with the good football they showed in the first game to outscore and out muscle Japan.

€5.00 Single
Senegal 13/10

Full betting review here>https://www.thisdrinkinglife.com/top-bets-of-the-world-cup-2018/

Get in Honda, you old fella, nice one, was not expecting that one considering he came on late enough. Brilliant.

Beers: Group H of Beer World Cup:

World Cup of Beer Group H

Asahi Super Dry of Japan on its own today, no beer sourced from Senegal, pity.

Asahi Super Dry of Japan, ok beer, but no competition today so good enough for the win.

PreGame:

In their first game, I knew Japan would score goals, but I never guessed they would come out as victors. Excellent win, and fully deserved as they totally had Colombia in their pockets all through the second half. Well done Japan.

A fast break at the start rattled Colombia and ended up with C Sánchez touching the ball in the box with his hands. That’s a big no no and so he was sent off and gave away the penalty, a peno that Kagawa dispatched with no bother. Great start from Japan.

It took Colombia along time to get back into the game after that shock to the system. And they did. It resulted in an open ended game with both teams running at each other, hell for leather. A great contest to see. The Japanese defence holding up very well though.

In the second half Japan came out all guns ablazing and pretty much that’s what the whole second half was all about. Relentless attack after attack from Japan, intricate shot passing to get behind the Colombian defence there pressure played dividends when in 73rd minute, Osako, who had a fine game, scored with a power header, from a lovely out swinging cross by Honda (who eventually came on!).

Japan held on to record a famous win, and totally unexpected result, and another shock in this years World Cup. Japan now know probably one more point might be enough to get them through.

It was Senegal who did most of the pressing in the first game V Poland. On the box the commentators were not impressed with both teams, but I thought Senegal played some good football. They passed it well, were pacey and lively, showed some great ball control and pressed high up the field. They also created some decent chances, Niang in particular missing an easy opportunity to get on the score sheet.

The goal that did come was a bit of good fortune, getting a bad deflection off Cionek who diverted a shot into his own net. Was a lucky goal, but no more than Senegal deserved as Poland did nothing in the first half.

Senegal did drop the tempo a bit in the second half, but Poland didn’t react at all. And after Senegal poxed another goal from a comedy goal they kind of gave up. The goal was a mix up between midfielder Krychowiak who booted an aimless back pass towards his goalkeeper Szczesny, who wasn’t expecting it and came off his line to intercept, but he missed it and Niang got the bounce and scored into an empty net to make it two nil.

If Poland were dead before that then they were well buried after that goal. With 20 minutes to go they looked out for the count. Eventually they did get a goal back with a good header by Krychowiak, but with 4 minutes left it was too little too late.

This result, and the Japanese one in the first game, sets up a mouth watering tie between the two today where the winner knows they are straight through to the last 16 of the World Cup.

A more detailed review on Japan here and on Senegal here

Well done to Japan, for coming behind twice to get back into the game, and I am sure if there were another ten minutes or so to the game they might have nicked it, as they had all the momentum near the end of the game. Also great to see the old warrior Honda again on the score sheet.

Good start to the game from Senegal, and sure enough it didn’t take long for them to take the lead. A lucky goal but Mané wont mind, capitalizing on a bad mistake by the Japanese goalie, Kawashima, who palmed the ball straight into the path of the Senegalese striker. What a gift for Senegal to take the lead.

But Japan came back with a lovely goal by Inui, who placed it lovely into the back of the net, great goal and a nice run and pass from by Nagatomoto set it all up. Senegal were sitting on their lead by this time and deserved to be punished.

Osako had not one but two simple chances to put Japan into the lead. One was a free header, he hit straight at the goalkeeper, and the other was a complete sitter with the ball right in front of him and he missed it completely. I have seen him play football in the flesh, he really is a hopeless footballer, I wonder if he is not an exchange student in Germany rather than a professional footballer.

In the second half there really was only one team, Japan. Inui hitting the top of the crossbar with an unbelievable strike, unlucky. But against the run of play Senegal only just went up the field and scored another goal. Wagué with a nice goal from a tight angle from a lovely ball into the box from Sabaly.

But once again, Senegal decided to site on their lead and once again they were punished for some diabolical defending and play. A goal keeping mistake from K N’Diaye, where he completely missed the ball not once but twice, let Honda tap in for the equaliser.

A good second half, especially from Japan. Japan now play Colombia knowing a draw could be enough, while the same is in play for Senegal. Still all to play for in a very tight group.

Music to get you in the mood

BUCK-TICK – ROMANCE (Japan) V MC ★ Solaar – AIWA (Senegal)