Some random observations after the third group fixtures:

Cameroon 1-2 Netherlands: With neither team having anything to play for, pride was the only issue. The early game is largely played in the middle third as each team cautiously poked and prodded for openings. As the half progressed, the Dutch offense started switching field effectively and spreading Cameroon’s defense, resulting in an opportunity for striker Dirk Kuyt in the box, but he hit it wide. Robin Van Persie and Rafael Van der Vaart then performed a nifty give and go at the top of the box with Van der Vaart one-touching a through ball back to Van Persie bursting through the defense and then shooting through the goalie’s legs for the lead. The back end of the first half saw the Indomitable Lions picking up their pace and getting a few good openings, but were not able to convert. Midway in the second, Van der Vaart made a critical mistake throwing his arm up to block a free kick. Samuel Eto’o buried the resulting penalty shot. A short time later, the Dutch brought on superstar forward Arjen Robben for his first appearance after a hamstring injury just before the Cup. Robben looked a bit rusty, but stilled flashed some magic, beating a defender just outside the box and then bending a shot that hit the far post, but rebounded to Klaas-Jan Huntelaar for the winning goal. The Orange won all three of their group games, but without their usual offensive flair. If Robben is healthy, it will be interesting to see if their juggernaut offense returns to form.

Denmark 1-3 Japan: The only drama left in Group E is which one of these two will advance. Both teams pushed up-tempo from the start and created great opportunities that just missed. Japan drew first blood when Keisuke Honda looped a 35-yard free kick from the right flank into the far corner of the net. It was the best free kick goal of the tournament so far, looking first like it might hook to the near post before swerving to the far post. The Danish goalie never had a chance. The Blue Samurai repeated the feat a short while later when Yasuhito Endo curled a 25-yard free kick around the wall and just inside the right post. The Japanese duped the Danes on the play by having Honda set up as if he was going to take the kick. Early in the second half, Danish goalie Thomas Sorensen nearly misplayed a long chip shot into the goal and was fortunate the ball found the post. A defensive miscue gave an excellent opportunity for veteran Danish striker Jon Dahl Tomasson at the 6-yard line, but he completely flubbed the shot attempt. The miscue aside, the Japanese defense was choking the box and the Danes could not penetrate. However, an elbow in the back and nice bit of acting got the Danes a penalty kick. Tomasson’s penalty shot was weak and blocked, but rebounded just far enough out of reach of the goalie that Tomasson was able to play it into the net. The Blue Samurai got the goal right back when Honda made a terrific back foot, reverse field move to beat a defender in the box and then laid the ball off to Shinji Okazaki all alone in front of the goal. Japan showed far more inventiveness, particularly on free kicks, and definitely earned their spot in the next round.

-amwoods13

Some random observations after the second group fixtures:

Netherlands 1-0 Japan: Although Japan promised a more attacking style against the Dutch, they again played a cautious defensive game in the first half, ceding possession and looking for counterattacks. The Dutch looked frustrated and could not find shots, though Dirk Kuyt’s bicycle kick looked impressive if not on target. The Dutch resorted to frequently switching their strikers from side to side, trying to confuse the Japanese defense, but the Blue Samurai held steady. The Netherlands began to get some good shots early in the second half though. Van Persie and Wesley Sneijder, who famously dislike each other, connected with Van Persie laying the ball back to Sneijder just outside the box who blasted a half-volley off a diving Eiji Kawashima’s hands and into the back of the net. The goal finally takes the Japanese out of their defensive mindset and they got a little more aggressive offensively, but didn’t bring on any new strikers until 13 minutes remained. Japan appeared to be more concerned with staying close and maintaining their goal differential edge. Given how explosive the Dutch offense can be, it may have been a good strategy, even if it did make for a dull game. Neither team was able to create much offense in this defensive slugfest and Kawashima made two great saves on late shots by Ibrahim Afellay to preserve the one-goal loss. The Blue Samarai got one final opportunity near the end, but Shinji Okazaki couldn’t control a bouncing ball and his shot sailed high. The Orange became the first team to qualify for the 2nd round with the Cameroon loss later, but they have to find a way to create offense when teams play a heavy defensive formation against them. Fortunately for the Dutch, superstar Arjen Robben should be back from injury in their next game and his creativity should serve them well. Japan will advance if they can beat or tie Denmark in their final group fixture.

Cameroon 1-2 Denmark: After Cameroon’s weak showing in its first fixture, the team approached their French coach Paul Le Guen and asked him to insert three veterans into the starting line-up. Le Guen complied and Cameroon responded with a good showing early on. Star Samuel Eto’o also played up top instead of the right wing where he spent so much time in the first fixture. A weak pass out of the Danish defensive backfield resulted in a steal and a pass that found Eto’o alone at the top of the box with plenty of time to find his shot that he buried. The Danish defense cannot leave Eto’o so open and must close better. As they did in their first game, the Danes switch side-to-side well, but aren’t connecting well in the final third until Dennis Rommedahl received a long pass down the right flank and put a great pass into the box past the goalie where Nicklas Bendtner beat a defender to it and found the back of the net. The Indomitable Lions’ defense reacted sluggishly on the sequence. The first half ended with both teams missing great scoring opportunities; Eto’o hit a post and Danish forward Jon Dahl Tomasson couldn’t get his shot over a sliding Alex Song. This could easily be a high-scoring game if the defenses continue to play so poorly. 15 minutes into the second half, Rommedahl received another long pass on the right flank, but this time juked the defender and powered a shot just inside the far post for the lead. Cameroon made a desperate charge at the end, but failed to break through. The 2-1 final belied the pace and excitement with both teams repeatedly breaking down the other’s defense for excellent scoring opportunities, but failing to finish. Both defenses played very shoddy, failing to mark well and allowing the other team to operate far too freely in the box. With the loss, Cameroon is the first team to be eliminated from advancing and will forever rue wasting so many chances. Denmark now faces a do or die game against Japan needing a win to advance.

-amwoods13