World Cup Previews: Group E
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Group E
Holland are justified favourites to win this group and they should be followed closely behind by Cameroon.
They could be the most fancied African side to make it out of the group stages, and on paper look stronger than Denmark and Japan.
Paul Le Guen has a strong core of players, including Geremi and Assou-Ekotto as well as Eto’o and Ireland’s 2002 opponents have most of the host continent pinning their hopes on them.
Holland are many people’s dark-horse for glory. And with reports that Arjen Robben could be fit for the Netherlands’ opener against Denmark, the Dutch should have a comfortable passage into the second round.
There always seems to be some form of in-fighting but touch-wood, for those of an Oranje persuasion anyway, it hasn’t surfaced yet this year.
With Robin Van Persie returning to fitness, there is no doubting that they have some superb attackers.
Dirk Kuyt has the work-horse mentality, while in Klaas Jan Hunterlaar, Bert VanMarwijk has an infuriating but potentially fantastic striker.
In midfield there are players like Rafael Van Der Vaart and Wesley Sneijder, leaving no doubts that this is a supremely gifted squad of players.
Although Edwin Van Der Sar, their lynchpin in keeping clean sheets for so many years, is not involved anymore, Ajax stopper Maarten Stekelenburg has been given the number one shirt.
Denmark, meanwhile, should finish third in the group. Stoke City ‘keeper Thomas Sorensen will be under fierce pressure with a defence in front of him that has the far from infallible Daniel Agger as its best known name.
With the hit and miss Nicklas Bendtner leading the line, goals may be hard to come from too.
The Japanese are arugably most fondly remembered for being the host that couldn’t qualify out of the group in 2002. They have a squad mostly assembled in the ever-improving J-League but that won’t be enough to get out of this group.
A commentators nightmare, they will need French-based midfielder Daisuke Matsui to be in the form of his life. Their most well-known player is Junichi Inamoto, now plying his trade with Kawasaki Frontale.
Predictions:
Holland
Cameroon
Denmark
Japan
Holland are justified favourites to win this group and they should be followed closely behind by Cameroon.
They could be the most fancied African side to make it out of the group stages, and on paper look stronger than Denmark and Japan.
Paul Le Guen has a strong core of players, including Geremi and Assou-Ekotto as well as Eto’o and Ireland’s 2002 opponents have most of the host continent pinning their hopes on them.
Holland are many people’s dark-horse for glory. And with reports that Arjen Robben could be fit for the Netherlands’ opener against Denmark, the Dutch should have a comfortable passage into the second round.
There always seems to be some form of in-fighting but touch-wood, for those of an Oranje persuasion anyway, it hasn’t surfaced yet this year.
With Robin Van Persie returning to fitness, there is no doubting that they have some superb attackers.
Dirk Kuyt has the work-horse mentality, while in Klaas Jan Hunterlaar, Bert VanMarwijk has an infuriating but potentially fantastic striker.
In midfield there are players like Rafael Van Der Vaart and Wesley Sneijder, leaving no doubts that this is a supremely gifted squad of players.
Although Edwin Van Der Sar, their lynchpin in keeping clean sheets for so many years, is not involved anymore, Ajax stopper Maarten Stekelenburg has been given the number one shirt.
Denmark, meanwhile, should finish third in the group. Stoke City ‘keeper Thomas Sorensen will be under fierce pressure with a defence in front of him that has the far from infallible Daniel Agger as its best known name.
With the hit and miss Nicklas Bendtner leading the line, goals may be hard to come from too.
The Japanese are arugably most fondly remembered for being the host that couldn’t qualify out of the group in 2002. They have a squad mostly assembled in the ever-improving J-League but that won’t be enough to get out of this group.
A commentators nightmare, they will need French-based midfielder Daisuke Matsui to be in the form of his life. Their most well-known player is Junichi Inamoto, now plying his trade with Kawasaki Frontale.
Predictions:
Holland
Cameroon
Denmark
Japan
About Alan Smith
Alan Smith works as a sub-editor for the Guardian newspaper in London. Originally from Cork, he freelances for several other newspapers and websites. Follow him on twitter @alansmith90. View Full Profile