By Michael Place
MOSCOW, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Xinhua identifies four things to look out for on matchday six of the FIFA World Cup in Russia on Tuesday.
1. Will James Rodriguez play?
Mystery surrounds whether Colombia's influential playmaker will be available for his side's tournament opener against Japan in Saransk.
The Bayern Munich star has barely trained since the team arrived in Russia last week as he struggles to recover from a calf injury. At a press conference on Monday, Cafeteros coach Jose Pekerman said medical staff would wait until the last minute to evaluate the 26-year-old.
Rodriguez will be key to Colombia's chances of advancing beyond the group phase here. He won the golden boot in Brazil four years ago by scoring six times, including the goal of the tournament in their round-of-16 victory over Uruguay.
Pekerman's team are unbeaten this year amid a run that has included a 3-2 victory over France in Paris.
2. Japan's experience
Japan are ranked 61st in the world compared to Colombia's 16th and the Blue Samurai's manager Akira Nishino said it would be a "small miracle" if his team overcome the South Americans.
The Japanese squad includes three players with more than 100 caps: Yuto Nagatomo, Shinji Okazaki and captain Makoto Hasebe.
In April, the Japanese Football Assocation sacked coach Vahid Halilhodzic and replaced him with 63-year-old Akira Nishino.
The former national team midfielder has since recalled Keisuke Honda, Shinji Kagawa and Okazaki, who were controversially sidelined by Halilhodzic.
3. Can Senegal surprise again?
Senegal are making their second appearance in football's flagship tournament, 16 years after their first in Japan and South Korea.
On that occasion, the African side beat defending champions France in the opening match and went on to reach the quarterfinals.
A repeat of those heroics seem unlikely however the team is not short of quality, led by Liverpool forward Sadio Mane and midfielders Idrissa Gueye and Badou Ndiaye.
Their coach is 42-year-old former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Aliou Cisse, who captained the team in 2002.
4. Salah set for return
Egypt's Liverpool forward has not played since suffering a shoulder injury in the Reds' Champions League final loss to Real Madrid in May.
Egypt coach Hector Cuper opted not to risk the 26-year-old in the team's World Cup opener against Uruguay, which they lost 1-0 after a late Jose Gimenez strike.
However Salah looks set to start against hosts Russia in Saint Petersburg, with Egypt's team doctor and his agent declaring declaring him 100% fit.
Russia, who kickstarted their campaign with a 5-0 victory over Saudi Arabia, will be without key midfielder Alan Dzagoev because of a hamstring injury.
