Dutch defeat Japanese 1-0
Sunday, 20 June 2010
JOHANNESBURG, June 19 (AFP): Nether-lands retained control of World Cup Group E by defeating Japan 1-0 Saturday.
The Durban scoreline flattered a Japanese side on the back foot for most of a match staged in sunny weather far removed from the freezing Highveld late-match conditions of this week.
Wesley Sneijder from European and Italian club champions Inter Milan scored the winner eight minutes into the second half with a drive from outside the penalty area that flew into the net off the left glove of Eiji Kawashima.
Japan had a chance to level in the final minute at Moses Mabhida Stadium in the Indian Ocean city, but substitute Shinji Okazaki fired over under pressure after a cross had been flicked on.
Coach Takeshi Okada, whose pre-tournament claim that the Blue Samurai would reach the semi-finals was widely dismissed as hyper optimistic, will draw some comfort from the scoreline after a three-goal hiding by the Dutch last year.
Netherlands complete their mini-league schedule on June 24 against Cameroon in Cape Town while Japan meet Denmark at the same time in a Rustenburg fixture that could settle who finishes runners-up.
Opening-game losers Cameroon and Denmark square off later Saturday, knowing maximum points in Pretoria will get them back on track for a top-two finish and a place in the knockout second round.
All is not well in the African camp with senior squad members criticising French coach Paul le Guen for using too many youngsters against Japan, a match the 1990 World Cup quarter-finalists were expected to win comfortably.
And there was a veiled warning to Le Guen from star striker Samuel Eto'o, who said the pair would face the consequences if the Indomitable Lions fail to survive the first-round cull.
Although refusing to comment, Eto'o was clearly upset at being ordered by Le Guen to play on the right side of attack instead of his preferred central attacking role.
Denmark will be encouraged that it took hot group favourites Netherlands 85 minutes to clinch victory and although limited going forward, it would be no surprise if they sneaked through.
The Durban scoreline flattered a Japanese side on the back foot for most of a match staged in sunny weather far removed from the freezing Highveld late-match conditions of this week.
Wesley Sneijder from European and Italian club champions Inter Milan scored the winner eight minutes into the second half with a drive from outside the penalty area that flew into the net off the left glove of Eiji Kawashima.
Japan had a chance to level in the final minute at Moses Mabhida Stadium in the Indian Ocean city, but substitute Shinji Okazaki fired over under pressure after a cross had been flicked on.
Coach Takeshi Okada, whose pre-tournament claim that the Blue Samurai would reach the semi-finals was widely dismissed as hyper optimistic, will draw some comfort from the scoreline after a three-goal hiding by the Dutch last year.
Netherlands complete their mini-league schedule on June 24 against Cameroon in Cape Town while Japan meet Denmark at the same time in a Rustenburg fixture that could settle who finishes runners-up.
Opening-game losers Cameroon and Denmark square off later Saturday, knowing maximum points in Pretoria will get them back on track for a top-two finish and a place in the knockout second round.
All is not well in the African camp with senior squad members criticising French coach Paul le Guen for using too many youngsters against Japan, a match the 1990 World Cup quarter-finalists were expected to win comfortably.
And there was a veiled warning to Le Guen from star striker Samuel Eto'o, who said the pair would face the consequences if the Indomitable Lions fail to survive the first-round cull.
Although refusing to comment, Eto'o was clearly upset at being ordered by Le Guen to play on the right side of attack instead of his preferred central attacking role.
Denmark will be encouraged that it took hot group favourites Netherlands 85 minutes to clinch victory and although limited going forward, it would be no surprise if they sneaked through.