World Cup 2018, Japan vs Senegal: What time is kick-off today, what TV channel is it on and what is our prediction?
What is it?
Japan and Senegal will both be hoping to build on their winning starts to the 2018 World Cup, with a place in the knockout stages at stake for the victor on Sunday.
When is it?
Today - Sunday, June 24.
What time is kick-off?
4pm in the afternoon.
What TV channel is it on?
The match is being shown live on BBC One, with build up to the game beginning from 3:30pm.
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Where is the game being played?
The Ekaterinburg Arena, which is located on the geographical borderline of Europe and Asia at the foot of the Ural Mountains.
World Cup 2018 stadium: Ekaterinburg Arena
What is the team news?
Leicester City striker Shinki Okazaki could start up front for Japan after making a substitute appearance in their opening game win over Colombia.
The 32-year-old was a World Cup doubt after sustaining a calf injury in Japan's 4-2 World Cup warm-up win over Paraguay, but the Foxes striker came on in the 85th-minute for his 114th international appearance.
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Senegal defender Saliou Ciss is unavailable after injuring his ankle in a World Cup warm-up match with Luxembourg.
Head coach Aliou Cissé, who used to play for Birmingham City in the Premier League, has no new injury concerns following Senegal's 2-1 win over Poland.
Liverpool forward could captain the side if usual skipper Cheikhou Kouyaté fails to earn a recall to Cisse's starting XI.
What's the latest news on the two teams?
Senegal fans cleaning up their part of the stadium after their victory against Poland is the best thing you’ll see today������ pic.twitter.com/nhojG0CHaU
— PF | World Cup�� (@PurelyFootball) June 19, 2018
The match will see two sets of the competition's most litter-conscious fans come together under one exceptionally tidy roof.
Japan and Senegal supporters were lauded earlier this week after volunteering to clean litter after their team's respective Group H openers.
On the pitch, no African team has ever reached the last four of the World Cup, but Senegal head coach Aliou Cisse believes a team from the continent will definitely win the competition in the future.
"Africa is full of quality and we're on the way," said Cisse.
"It's a bit more complicated in our countries. We face realities that are not there in other continents.
"But we fully trust our football, we have no hang-ups.
"I'm certain that one day an African team, an African country, will win the World Cup,"
What are the odds?
Senegal win 7/2
Japan win 10/11
Draw 9/4
What's our prediction?
The match could be decided by who, out of Senegal's Sadio Mane and Japan's Shinji Kagawa, can have a greater impact for their side. Mane's prowess in front of goal could just make the difference.
Prediction: Japan 1-2 Senegal
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