Our football match prediction:
Japan
Match Time & Date:
24/06/2018
16:00 GMT
Prediction: 0-2
Senegal
Ekaterinburg Arena will host Sunday’s football game between Japan and Senegal, who take on each other in the second group game at the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals. The Samurai Blue defeated ten-man Colombia in their opener, with the team regaining a much-needed confidence. Japan are likely to adopt a cautious approach in the clash against Senegal, but they will have a big fish to fry against the Lions of Teranga. Senegal proved their worth in a 2-1 win over Poland, with the African team defenders preventing Bayern Munchen superstar Robert Lewandowski from scoring. The Lions of Teranga aim to cement top position in Group H and we predict that they are going to pick up all three points from Sunday’s clash against Japan, who were struggling in warm-up games. A man to watch in the African team will be Liverpool superstar Sadio Mane.
Highlighted Player (Wataru Endo):
Wataru Endo is a Japanese footballer who plays for Urawa Red Diamonds as a defender. Endo is a product of Shonan Bellmare youth academy and he continued playing for the club at senior level. After scoring 21 goals in 153 appearances (league) for the club the 178-cm tall centre-back moved to Urawa Red Diamonds in 2016 and he has been playing for the J1 League club ever since. Endo won the AFC Champions League with Urawa in 2017 as the Reds defeated Al-Hilal in the final of the competition. The Japanese defender played 90 minutes in the victory over the Saudi Arabian side and the winning of the AFC Champions League trophy is considered the biggest success of his career. Wataru Endo made his debut for Japan on August 2, 2015 in a 2-1 loss to Korea DPR at the EAFF E-1 Football Championship. In 2016 he was the AFC U-23 Championship trophy with the Samurai Blue. The Urawa Red Diamonds footballer was born in Totsuka-ku, Yokohama (Japan) on February 9, 1993.
Highlighted Team (Senegal):
The Senegaesel national football team made their first appearance at Africa Cup of Nations back in 1965, with the team finishing the tournament in fourth place. The Lions of Teranga booked their place at the FIFA World Cup finals in 2002 (for the first time) and they did remarkably well to make it to the quarter-finals of the showpiece tournament in South Korea and Japan. Senegal defeated Sweden in the last 16, with Henri Camara scoring the winner for the African team in the extra time. The Lions of Teranga have yet to win the Africa Cup of Nations, but they made it to the final of the tournament in 2002. Senegal faced Cameroon in the title game and they were more than unfortunate to lose the Africa Cup of Nations final on penalties. Former Liverpool ace El Hadji Diouf is probably the most famous footballer who played for the Senegalese national team. Senegal play their home games at Stade Leopold Sedar Senghor and the capacity of the venue is 60,000.
