World Cupdate

We start off Saturday play with Netherlands vs Japan in Group E.  The Oranje opened up with a 1-3-2-4 set with striker Robin Van Persie at point, while the Samurai Blue went 1-2-3-4 with the front 2 midfielders wide and the deadly Keisuke Honda leading the attack.  The first half started out strong for both sides but then moved into an odd defensive battle as neither side had the power to cut through nine men in the middle and back, and it turned into a floating free-for-all at the hash line.  Japan clearly decided early that a draw versus Big Orange was a win, and collapsed on any Dutch ball on their side.  The second half saw the Dutch go on the assault, and it paid off with a cross to Wesley Sneijder who ripped it in past keeper Kawashima at 53'.  Japan suddenly had to go all out to equalize, but the Dutch then locked the ball down and Japan just couldn't convert despite a number of nerve-wracking chances.  The Oranje made it to the end of full time with the win here to lock up the group, and Japan can still advance with a point next week.

Match 2 was Ghana and Australia, and the Black Stars were in the driver's seat after the Serbs handed the Germans the loss yesterday.  Meanwhile, the Socceroos came in at the worst position in the Cup at a loss and minus 4 AND down Tim Cahill on a red card after Germany pummeled them last week.  They needed a huge win here just to stay alive.  Both teams were playing that popular 1-3-2-4 front to back that we've seen in this tourney, Asamoah Gyan the striker for Ghana and Harry Kewell the point man for the Socceroos.  But Australia finally shook off the horrific game last week as Brett Holman scored off of keeper Kingson's misplayed rebound off the free kick at 11'.  The victory was short-lived however as the Socceroos' luck turned black again as Kewell took a red card for a handball that blocked a goal in the penalty area for Ghana, and on the penalty kick Asamoah Gyan made them pay and equalized at 25'.  Australia, now a man down was on the edge of disaster.  The second half however saw the Socceroos play their game as Ghana got sloppy and couldn't push forward enough outside of Gyan to score.  If it wasn't for that red card, Australia would have won, but they will settle for the 1-1 draw and keep their chances alive.

Finally rounding out the other Group E match was Cameroon at Denmark, with the Indomitable Lions favored against the Danish Dynamite and both squads badly needing a win to try to catch Japan for the #2 slot.  The Lions ran a 2-4-4 formation with Samuel Eto'o and Webo up front, with the Danes running a familiar 1-3-2-4 setup with Nicklas Bendtner at point.  Cameroon's 2-front formation paid off instantly as Eto'o scored from 12 yards out at 10'.  Denmark however played tight and Bendtner equalized at 33'.  The second half was all Denmark as they adjusted to pick up Eto'o and it was Rommedahl who put in the back of the net at 61'.  Cameroon came on strong but it wasn't enough as Denmark win 2-1, and Cameroon are the first team eliminated in this World Cup.