FIFA World Cup 2010- Netherlands Vs Japan: Dutch Looking to Secure Knock-out Place
Japan have never made it past the second round of the world cup, except for once at the ‘Japorea 02’. However, after notching an impressive and deserved shock win against the Cameroon, they are highly optimistic of progressing this time around. All they have to do is notch up 2 more points from their remaining two games in the first round.
Their opponents tonight are the highly talented but equally underachieving Netherlands at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
The victory over the indomitable lions, their first ever in the world cup outside their homeland, has given the Blue Samurai a huge boost in confidence and going into a tough match against they will fear nothing.
In Shunsuke Nakamura and Kesuke Honda, they have two sublime talents that can turn any game on its head. Nakamura is a vastly experienced winger who has played in Italy, Spain and Scotland for Reggina, Espanyol and Celtic respectively, while Kesuke earns his bread playing for the Russian outfit CSKA Moscow.
The Blue Samurai will again be pinning their hopes of success on the CSKA forward, who was singled out by coach Okada before the start of the tournament to carry the burden of a nation. He repaid the fait of his country and manager with a winning goal in their first group game. Japan have never lost a game in which the CSKA forward has scored a goal and have kept clean sheets in all those games.
While containing a poor Cameroon side in the first match, may be a huge achievement for Japan but keeping the free scoring Dutch is a different matter altogether. It will prove to be their acid test if they are to break the hoodoo of progressing into the second round.
The Dutch may have been unimpressive and underwhelming in their first outing against the Danes but Coach Van Marwijk, has put it down to the opening game nerves and promises an improved and more fluid performance against the Asians.
The Dutch will continue their endeavours in the tournament without their twinkle-toed winger Arjen Robben, who continues his rehabilitation from a niggling hamstring injury. He suffered the injury during the teams practice session, when the Dutch sensation attempted an audacious back heel. After an eye catching performance by Eljero Elia, the Hamburg winger, the Dutch have a more than an able deputy for Robben.
The only previous meeting between the two side was in September last year, where the Dutch came out surprise 3-0 winners after the Japanese had dominated for more than an hour on the night. The Dutch Champion’s League winning midfielder thinks that will be the last time they let their opponents dominate them.
"Our coach said that was the only match our opponents really made it difficult for us, so let that be the only one." Said the Internazionale talisman.
Going by their record against Asian sides, Wesley’s words are ever more believable, as the Dutch have never lost to an Asian opposition at the world cup. Their previous three meetings with Iran, Saudi Arabia and South Korea ending in 3-0, 2-1 and 5-0 wins for the La Naranja Mecánica.
Van Marwijk’s side are unbeaten in their last 20 outings, a run leading back to September 2008 when they lost 2-1 to Australia in Eindhoven.
Tonight in Durban both sides are expected to field the same 11 they put out in their first group game and Japan are likely to go into the match with an ultra defensive 4-1-4-1 formation, while the Dutch will be employing an attacking 4-3-3.
Japan have nothing to lose in the game, as it they will live to fight another day even if they lose tonight but the Dutch after an unimpressive first out will be out to make a point tonight.
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