World Cup Digest: Day 4
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Day four saw the Dutch eventually overcome a limited Danish side, Cameroon roll over for a limited Japanese side, and Italy scrape a draw against another limited side, Paraguay.
Netherlands 2 Denmark 0
Netherlands are the form team in this World Cup, with a better recent record than even Spain, and they should have done better against a Danish side who couldn’t defend and had little in the way of attacking threat.
The Dutch were entirely in the ascendancy throughout the first half but couldn’t find a way to score with players such as Kuyt, Sneijder, Van der Vaart and Van Persie attacking at every opportunity.
However after frustrating their opposition in the first 45 minutes, Denmark gifted them the lead at the start of the second through an unlucky OG following yet another Dutch attack. Dirk Kuyt sealed the win which sees the Dutch halfway to the second round, with the Japanese and dreadful Cameroon still to come.
Japan 1 Cameroon 0
Cameroon were just dreadful. The Japanese were energetic and got about the African side a fair bit, but physically they were no match whatsoever as Cameroon were taller, stronger and faster in almost every position.
Yet the Japanese seemed intent on attacking down the right, where Benoit Assou Ekotto conceded a lot of crosses in the first half. Given the height disadvantage, it seemed odd that the Japanese would persist with their ‘cross on sight’ policy but it caused problems in the Cameroon defence and ultimately led to the opener when Dalsuke Matsui's cross evaded Stephane M’bia and was met by Keisuke Honda, who finished quite well at the back post.
M’bia almost equalised at the death, but his powerful shot from outside the box smacked the crossbar and stayed out. The result leaves Cameroon the likeliest of the four to go out of Group E, however when they face Denmark it could be just as boring as this snooze-fest.
Italy 1 Paraguay 1
Paraguay almost grabbed a win against the Italians who had started quite well but ultimately struggled to create much in a rain soaked evening fixture. Antolin Alcaraz's first have header gave the South American’s the lead as he beat Fabio Cannovaro and Daniel De Rossi to head in an impressive goal.
Marcelo Lippi has at least brought his World Champions to the tournament and beaten France’s woeful record of 2002, when the then reigning champions failed to score at all. But Italy were lucky to equalise against Paraguay, and it took some fairly childish goal-keeping from Justo Villar to gift Daniele de Rossi an equaliser at the back post.
Ultimately it was a fairly uninspiring Day 4, but the Japanese, Dutch and Paraguayans won’t care as they each got the result they deserved. Roll on the Brazilians for some entertainment on Day 5 please…
Netherlands 2 Denmark 0
Netherlands are the form team in this World Cup, with a better recent record than even Spain, and they should have done better against a Danish side who couldn’t defend and had little in the way of attacking threat.
The Dutch were entirely in the ascendancy throughout the first half but couldn’t find a way to score with players such as Kuyt, Sneijder, Van der Vaart and Van Persie attacking at every opportunity.
However after frustrating their opposition in the first 45 minutes, Denmark gifted them the lead at the start of the second through an unlucky OG following yet another Dutch attack. Dirk Kuyt sealed the win which sees the Dutch halfway to the second round, with the Japanese and dreadful Cameroon still to come.
Japan 1 Cameroon 0
Cameroon were just dreadful. The Japanese were energetic and got about the African side a fair bit, but physically they were no match whatsoever as Cameroon were taller, stronger and faster in almost every position.
Yet the Japanese seemed intent on attacking down the right, where Benoit Assou Ekotto conceded a lot of crosses in the first half. Given the height disadvantage, it seemed odd that the Japanese would persist with their ‘cross on sight’ policy but it caused problems in the Cameroon defence and ultimately led to the opener when Dalsuke Matsui's cross evaded Stephane M’bia and was met by Keisuke Honda, who finished quite well at the back post.
M’bia almost equalised at the death, but his powerful shot from outside the box smacked the crossbar and stayed out. The result leaves Cameroon the likeliest of the four to go out of Group E, however when they face Denmark it could be just as boring as this snooze-fest.
Italy 1 Paraguay 1
Paraguay almost grabbed a win against the Italians who had started quite well but ultimately struggled to create much in a rain soaked evening fixture. Antolin Alcaraz's first have header gave the South American’s the lead as he beat Fabio Cannovaro and Daniel De Rossi to head in an impressive goal.
Marcelo Lippi has at least brought his World Champions to the tournament and beaten France’s woeful record of 2002, when the then reigning champions failed to score at all. But Italy were lucky to equalise against Paraguay, and it took some fairly childish goal-keeping from Justo Villar to gift Daniele de Rossi an equaliser at the back post.
Ultimately it was a fairly uninspiring Day 4, but the Japanese, Dutch and Paraguayans won’t care as they each got the result they deserved. Roll on the Brazilians for some entertainment on Day 5 please…
About Gordon Hunt
Gordon Hunt is one of extratime's Dublin based reporters. Having worked with the site since it's inception, Gordon's name is carved into the foundations of extratime's tower block. View Full Profile